Painting Faculty & Administrators within the Fine Arts 2D Department

All programs

Painting

Painting students pursue artistic excellence, experimental expression, and technical mastery through rigorous work and a deep sense of dedication.

In a world steeped in imagery and new technologies, painting is timeless. It connects us to history, culture, and humanity, while grounding us in the present through deep observation and reflection.

MassArt also offers an MFA in Studio Arts, in which students can choose to concentrate in Painting. Our full-time, two-year (60-credit) MFA Studio Arts program encourages students to experiment and explore, while refining the technical and conceptual strategies in their work.

Featured Work

The painting depicts a woman lying in a bathtub with water, wearing a white dress reminiscent of baptism. Her long dark hair spreads around her, and she crosses her arms over her chest. The artwork, evoking the solemnity of fall, is on an unframed canvas with a black background.

Francesca Santiago, ’25 BFA, Painting Fall: Baptism, Oil on canvas, 2023

A painting of a table scene with black and red

Kady Whynott, ’24 BFA, Painting Time is Fed, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 2023

An oil panting of a man and a woman sitting on a couch with somber looking faces.

Benjamin Henson, ’24 BFA, Painting Ben and Isabel, Oil on canvas, 2023

News & Features

Toni Elka (BFA Painting ’86), Founder of Future Chefs
Toni Elka ’86 BFA, 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

Alumni Relations

Painting

President’s Office

Gaby Moreno ‘25 BFA Painting, working in her studio.

From First-Gen to Aspiring Art Therapist
Gaby Moreno ’25 BFA Painting

Artward Bound

Fine Arts 2D

Painting

A person wearing a colorful floral dress beams with creative passion while standing beside an abstract art installation made of vibrant mesh, fabric, and netting. The background is a mix of purple, blue, and red hues, sparking wonder in a lively and artistic atmosphere.

Cicely Carew on transforming one’s creative passion into a fulfilling career — and maybe sparking a bit of wonder along the way.
Cicely Carew ‘05 BFA Painting

Alumni Relations

Fine Arts 2D

Painting

Toni Elka ’86 BFA, 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

Gaby Moreno ’25 BFA Painting

Cicely Carew ‘05 BFA Painting

The International Astronomical Union names an asteroid after MassArt Alum Sean Walker

MassArt alumnus Sean Walker, BFA ’96 (Painting), longtime Sky & Telescope editor has asteroid named after him.

Community Canvas Mural on Life in El Salvador

Gabriela Moreno, BFA ’25, was recently selected by GBH’s Community Canvas for her mural reflecting everyday life in El Salvador.

A Painter Famed for Recreating What She Lost, in the Spotlight

New York Times feature on MassArt Alumna, Ann Craven, BFA ’84.

New York Times

Meet Eric Standley (BFA ’94)

MassArt alum Eric Standley (BFA) pushes artistic boundaries with intricate, laser-cut paper sculptures that explore paradox and perception. Discover his unconventional journey, from self-proclaimed “failed painter” to visionary artist.

CanvasRebel

Pollination Mural Explores Interconnectedness on GBH Community Canvas

Fourth-Year Colomba Klenner’s artwork selected for GBH Community Canvas.

A Celebration of Joy and Inspiring Creativity

In 2024, MassArt honored six Common Good Award recipients—local leaders who are transforming lives and strengthening communities: Toni Elka, May Chau, Shirley Edgerton, Thaddeus Miles, Frederick Wiseman, and Yinette Guzman.

Rising Stars: Alumna Monica Srivastava

MassArt alumna Monica Srivastava (BFA ’19) shares her journey of artistic growth, overcoming obstacles, and finding her voice as a contemporary artist in a CanvasRebel Q&A.

This Artist’s Vibrant Beachside Scenes Create Endless Summer

Alum Erin Clark’s paintings featured in Boston Magazine: This Artist’s Vibrant Beachside Scenes Create Endless Summer

Boston Magazine

MassArt Alumna Kristina Durocher Appointed Visual Arts Director at UMass Amherst

Kristina L. Durocher, MassArt alumna in art history and painting, has named visual arts director at UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center.

In ‘La Toilette,’ four artists shift narrative of bathing scenes at LaiSun Keane

MassArt painting alum Isabelle Higgins explores themes of intimacy, self-perception, and mental health. With bold, saturated hues and a fearless gaze into her own experiences, her art invites viewers into an introspective dialogue on shame, confrontation, and healing.

A student sits at a canvas in his painting studio

22 sec

The Joy of Painting featuring MassArt student Nasiri Guzman ’22. Filmed by Piyu Somani ’23 MFA Film/Video. Directed and edited by Daisy St. Sauveur ’19 BFA Printmaking.

Our students enjoy progressive guidance and freedom to explore and strengthen their personal visions, focusing on technique, tradition, and innovative experimentation. Cecilia Vázquez Chair, Fine Arts 2D

Featured Faculty

Cecilia Vázquez

Chair, Fine Arts 2D

Faculty

Kayla Mohammadi

Program Area Chair, Painting

Faculty

James Stanley

Associate Professor, Painting

Faculty

Painting Studios Explore our Studios

Once you declare your major in Painting as a sophomore, you’ll have access to personal studio space, which increases in size throughout your junior and senior years.

18 UNIQUE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS. A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY.

Apply Undergraduate

All MassArt news

State Of The Arts: 9 Visual Artists Leading The Cultural Conversation Right Now

Alumni in the News
Painting

Learn more about Cicely Carew, a MassArt alum, and her miraculous return to art.