See it here first! Join us for boundary-breaking exhibitions and events featuring work by School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) students completing their degrees. Free and open to the public.
Graduate Exhibition One
February 26—March 6
SAIC Galleries, 33. E. Washington St.
Reception: Saturday, March 2
12:00–5:00 p.m.
The culminating presentation of new and ambitious work by 54 MFA candidates in SAIC’s class of 2024. Graduate Exhibition One is the first of two graduate exhibitions this spring.
Hours
Mondays–Saturdays when exhibitions are open.
11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Post-Baccalaureate Annual Exhibition
February 26—March 6
SAIC Galleries, 33 E. Washington St.
Reception: Saturday, March 2
12:00 p.m.–5 p.m.
This presentation features the work of students completing the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Studio.
Hours
Mondays–Saturdays when exhibitions are open.
11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
ArtBash
March 22—April 6
Sharp Building, 37 S. Wabash Ave.
Reception: Friday, March 22
4:00–6:00 p.m.
First year students from the Department of Contemporary Practices (CP) exhibit new interdisciplinary art and design works. Students have the opportunity to participate through site specific proposals, an open call for work, and by faculty selection.
Spring Undergraduate Exhibition
April 5—April 13
SAIC Galleries, 33. E. Washington St.
The culminating work of more than 200 graduating seniors. This exhibition features the ambitious and innovative interdisciplinary work of our students, the next generation of artists, scholars, and citizens. It is a living example of the crossing of disciplines and challenging assumptions that SAIC encourages in each student.
Public Reception: Saturday, April 6
11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Hours
Mondays–Saturdays when exhibitions are open.
11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
MA Visual & Critical Studies Symposium & Exhibition
April 6
MacLean Ballroom, 112 S. Michigan Ave
Reception: Saturday, April 6
11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Graduating Master of Arts in Visual Critical Studies students present their scholarship and work.
IMPACT Performance Festival
April 6—April 7
280 Building, 012 Performance Space, 280 S. Columbus Dr.
Saturday, April 6, 5:30–9:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 7, 2:00–5:00 p.m.
IMPACT is an in-person festival that features live performances by MFA and BFA students completing their degrees. More information about the program is coming soon.
Pedagogical Palooza
April 13—April 14
Neiman Center, 37 S. Wabash Ave.
Receptions: Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14
1:00 p.m.–5 p.m.
Geek out at Pedagogical Palooza. The Master of Arts in Arts Education 2024 Pedagogical Palooza presents the thesis projects of artists, educators, designers, curators, teachers, organizers, and activists. Students will showcase their thesis projects via presentations, exhibitions, live panel discussions, and interactive workshops exploring themes including cultivating care, counter-hegemonic teaching, and place-based education. This event celebrates the ongoing exploration of students’ research focuses and artistic practices.
Fashion 2024: Senior Capstone Fashion Show
May 3, 7:00 p.m.
MacLean Ballroom, 112 S. Michigan Ave.
A showcase of collections on the runway by SAIC Senior Fashion Design students.
FVNMAS Festival
May 9—May 11
Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N State St.
Reception: TBA
The Film, Video, New Media, Animation, and Sound Festival will highlight the work of graduating students presenting moving image and sound work.
Graduate Exhibition Two
May 10—22
SAIC Galleries, 33. E. Washington St.
The culminating presentation of new and ambitious work by more than 82 MFA, MDes, MArch, and MArch-IA candidates in SAIC’s class of 2024. Graduate Exhibition Two is the second of two graduate exhibitions this spring.
Public Reception: Saturday, May 11
11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Hours
Mondays–Saturdays when exhibitions are open.
11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
MAATC Exhibition
May 10—May 18
Fine Arts Building, 2nd & 7th Floors 410 S Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605
Opening: Friday, May 10 5PM – 9PM
Closing Reception: May 18 6PM-8PM
Hours
Monday – Closed
Tuesday – Thursday 11AM – 6PM
Friday – Sunday 11AM -7PM
Due to unforeseen circumstances in the SAIC Galleries, the MAATC Exhibition 2024 was rescheduled and will be held at Fine Arts Building. This cohort has consistently shown great tenacity and creativity, taking this challenge on with determination and grace. The show we see now, in collaboration with SAIC Galleries and Fine Arts Building, is a testament to their belief in the power of artistic expression, and above all, their belief in each other.
The annual MAATC Exhibition presents the artwork and practices of students graduating with a Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling. The educational aim of this exhibition is to provide an opportunity for students to present their own individual lived practices and collaboratively examine the clinical, ethical, and aesthetic implications of presenting the profession of art therapy through an exhibition. Deeply reflective and inquisitive, the artists present a multitude of approaches, exemplifying the program’s philosophy of integrating the emergent artist-art-therapist identity. For more information about the program, visit saic.edu/arttherapy.
MFA in Writing Graduate Reading
May 17
MacLean Building, 112 S. Michigan Ave.
Reception: Friday, May 17
4:30 p.m.
Graduating students from the Master of Fine Arts in Writing program read selections from their work, including, but not limited to, fiction, nonfiction, and text off the page. Discover what writing becomes when students adapt the practices of their studio-artist peers.
BA Art History Symposium & Senior Thesis
May 18
MacLean Building, 112 S. Michigan Ave.
Reception: Saturday, May 18
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Graduating Bachelor of Arts in Art History, Theory, and Criticism seniors present theses with panels and discussions.
BFA in Writing Thesis Reading
May 18
Neiman Center, Sharp Building, 37 S. Wabash Ave.
Reception: Saturday, May 18
5:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m.
Graduating students from SAIC’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Writing program read, perform, and otherwise represent their work in traditional as well as hybrid and experimental forms, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, scripts, electronic media, and performance.
Low-Residency MFA Thesis Exhibition
July 8—28
SAIC Galleries, 33 E. Washington
Public Reception: Saturday, July 13
Noon–5 p.m.
The culminating presentation of 24 interdisciplinary Low-Residency MFA Candidates in SAIC’s class of 2024. This exhibition marks the 10th Anniversary of the Low-Res MFA Program, and is an opportunity for the graduating class to share their ambitious new work with the public.
Hours
Mondays–Saturdays when exhibitions are open.
11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Fall Undergraduate Exhibition
November 8–22
SAIC Galleries, 33. E. Washington
Public Reception: Saturday, November 9
Noon–5 p.m.
This exhibition features the culminating work of over 160 graduating students. See the ambitious and innovative interdisciplinary work of our students—the next generation of artists, scholars, and citizens. It is a living example of the crossing of disciplines and challenging of assumptions that SAIC encourages in each student.