On Saturday, June 14, the culminating work of the graduating class of the 2025 Master of Fine Arts in Illustration goes on view at Gallery FIT. Titled Syndicate XVI, the show marks the moment the class of 16 individual, talented artists became a cohesive group, according to Brendan Leach, associate professor and chair of Illustration MFA.
“They’re so supportive and so dedicated to each other that the title with the number makes more sense than it does some other years,” Leach said. “I’m always trying to highlight how generous they are within their cohort, with their classmates. That’s one of the distinguishing factors, other than the work is great and the work is a lot of fun. Even though it’s diverse and independent projects, they are a real unit.”
Each graduating student develops and executes a unique body of work that represents the cumulative experience of three years of technical exploration, artistic growth, academic research, and professional development.
Individually, the projects are varied and diverse, in a variety of media, and examples of this year’s work include:
- Roo Guliyev, who created The Ark of Oominoor, a Traveler’s Handbook to Another Earth, featuring a fully illustrated gateway to another world with flora and fauna, transportation, creatures, fashion, food, infrastructure, insects, and the environment;
- Cassandra Li, who developed a children’s book called Lobster Kingdom about a young girl whose father is a lobster fisherman who is often away in search of the “Lobster King,” featuring stunning seascape illustrations;
- Lily Qian, who created Ruby in the Deep End, the fantastical adventure of a young girl and her friend on the first day their pool opens;
- Brendan Winick, who did a reportage location drawing project about Manhattan city government by going to City Hall and drawing local government at work.
The 2025 Illustration MFA Visual Thesis Exhibition: Syndicate XVI opens June 14 in the lobby of The Museum at FIT on the southwest corner of West 27th Street and Seventh Avenue in New York City. The exhibition is on display through July 13 and is free and open to the public.