This year’s Illustration MFA Visual Thesis Exhibition, titled Pick Up the Pieces, and currently on display through July 12 in the Goodman Center Lobby, is not to be missed. The projects—traditional and digital artwork, painting, picture books, and comics—represent the fruits of three years of graduate study, and each one shines in a different way. Here are images from our favorite projects, along with statements from the artists.
Qi Chen
Sosso
Opaque watercolor and colored pencil on paper
“Sosso was inspired by the small worries that can feel very big when we do not know what is waiting for us. While making this book, I also thought about my own experience of avoiding difficult things or delaying the first step, and I noticed many people have similar feelings. Through Sosso, I wanted to create a gentle and playful story about fear, courage, and taking one small step forward.”
Iris Du
Seeds Come Seeds Go
Watercolor and Photoshop
“My artistic practice is deeply rooted in my love for gardening. Tending to my plants is more than a hobby; it is an endless source of inspiration. Through this work, I hope to invite readers, in a gentle and poetic way, to slow down and discover the wondrous moments of life that are often overlooked in our busy days.”
Aidan Holloway-Bidwell
Archive
Acrylic and gouache on illustration board
“This project started as a worldbuilding exercise. I wanted a bottomless source of inspiration for my fantasy illustration. I also wanted to explore themes of human frailty, the collective, and existential threats, while incorporating a sense of excitement and wonder.”
Jonathan Kaplan
Solitudes
Acrylic on board
“Solitudes is a series of sunset and nocturne paintings set in Nassau and Suffolk County on Long Island. They are a window into my life. I often feel isolated from the world, and I want these paintings to express the distance I feel from both my own past and the present moment. At the same time, I value solitude and experience it as meditative, so these works come out of the space between loneliness and a chosen, reflective quiet.”
Pauline Seuen Lee
Dawn
Pencil on paper and Photoshop
“I was inspired to do this work because I feel that there is an imbalance in retribution in this world. Some continue committing misdeeds because they do not learn from overly light punishments, whereas others do it out of spite because they are not given chances to rectify the wrong and grow from the experience. This imbalance causes the ones who did wrong to continue what they did, while those who have been suffering continue to suffer, creating more hate and spite from both sides. I believe a way to solve this is to allow those who do wrong to face the consequences of their actions and guide them to rectify the wrong. Through the story, I tried to reflect this progress of redemption.”
Anna Owens
Oliver in Winter
Watercolor, colored pencil, and ink on paper
“My picture book is inspired by my own experiences during the change of seasons and the heavy emotions that winter can often bring. As the sun slips away at 4 pm and the temperatures dip below freezing, I find myself retreating further inward and being less open to new opportunities. I wanted to create a story that helps people embrace and celebrate winter. While creating this book, I have found myself connecting with the small moments and joys that winter brings.”
Huaixuan Xiang
Rule of Dreams
Acrylic on canvas
“Rule of Dreams is a series inspired by my recurring dreams about childhood and past memories. In these works, I paint my present self entering dream spaces and moving through different places, moments, and emotions. I see these dreams as reflections of my subconscious, but also as images that may connect to shared cultural memories and emotions. Through this project, I wanted to explore feelings that are difficult to express in words and transform them into visual images. Before each painting, I spent time recalling the details and emotions of the dream, then carried that feeling into the sketch and painting process.”
Yvette (Hanyu) Yang
Chat History
Digital illustration
“My project is inspired by my thoughts and observations surrounding the chat histories stored on my phone. The idea began when I realized I might have lost the chat history with someone who had passed away, and I felt a sudden sense of panic. That experience made me aware of how deeply digital conversations have become tied to memory, emotion, and the way we relate to others.
“The project consists of ten digital illustrations that explore how chat records influence our emotions, memories, and relationships. Using digital drawing, expressive line work, and a muted color palette, I translate personal experiences into visual narratives that reflect on connection, loss, and the traces people leave behind.”