Bookends: The MFA in Illustration Exhibition, on View June 11-July 9

The annual exhibition of the Illustration MFA graduating students will open on Saturday, June 11 in Gallery FIT in The Museum at FIT. This year’s theme and title, “Bookends,” was chosen because it conveys a sense of narrative—that of starting and ending a chapter in one’s journey. The 11 artists in the show ― Laura Boren, Maria Carluccio, Giuseppe Castellano, Mildor Chevalier, Joshua Frank, Naru Kang, MJ Kim, Ligang Luo, Stephen Schaffenberger, Diana Schoenbrun, and Sharon Volpe ― were challenged to convey a feeling of completion, but also of continuation, through their work.

Illustration by Maria Carluccio
Illustration by Maria Carluccio

The exhibition, on view from June 11-July 9, is free and open to the public. The exhibition comprises the visual thesis for each of the graduating students. In the MFA Illustration program in FIT’s School of Graduate Studies, students develop their studio practice in drawing, painting, and digital media—plus the integration of all three. Through a focus on studio practice, along with classes in creative writing and research, they gain a broad perspective on the illustrator’s role across different media and work in a range of areas, including animation, concept art, children’s books, graphic novels, murals, and reportage.

The artists will explain the genesis of their work at an event taking place at the Society of Illustrators at 128 E. 63rd St. on Thursday, June 9, at 6:30 pm. If you would like to attend, please email [email protected].

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