MassArt to Celebrate Visionaries in Art, Design, and Civic Life at 2026 Commencement

Harvard Professor, Author, and Vision & Justice Founder Sarah Lewis to Deliver Commencement Address

BOSTON – Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), the nation’s first and only independent public college of art and design, will honor the next generation of artists and designers at its 2026 Commencement on Thursday, May 21 at the Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston. 

Graduates and their families will hear from commencement speaker Dr. Sarah Lewis, a distinguished scholar, author, and founder of the civic initiative Vision & Justice, recently named to TIME magazine’s “Closers” list of 18 extraordinary Black leaders working toward greater equality. Lewis will also receive an honorary degree. 

The college will also honor urban planner, educator, and civic leader Dr. Ted Landsmark with the Morton R. Godine Medal, awarded annually to an individual whose professional and personal contributions advance arts and culture in society. Acclaimed photographer and MassArt faculty emeritus Abelardo Morell and musician Peter Wolf (The J. Geils Band) will also receive honorary degrees.

“Each of this year’s honorees have made extraordinary contributions to our community and our world, demonstrating the essential role of art and design in shaping a more just and vibrant society,” said Dr. Mary K. Grant, President of MassArt. “As our graduates step into life after graduation, we know that our honorees will provide a powerful example of how creative practice can influence culture, challenge assumptions, and expand opportunity.”

“This year’s honorees reflect the breadth and impact of creative leadership, from shaping public discourse to redefining artistic practice and strengthening communities,” said Daren Bascome, Chair of the MassArt Board of Trustees. “Their work will inspire our graduates as they begin their own paths as artists, designers, and changemakers.”

The commencement ceremony will be live-streamed at massart.edu/commencement.

Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient

Sarah Lewis is the John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Humanities and Associate Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University and the founder of Vision & Justice. A widely recognized scholar of art, culture, and race, Lewis has authored and edited more than 60 publications, including The Unseen Truth, winner of the American Book Award, and the bestselling The Rise.

Her work explores the role of narrative in shaping society and advancing equity, bringing her scholarship into national and global conversations on racial justice. Lewis has organized landmark Vision & Justice convenings, founded a book series to expand the canon of lens-based artists, and curated major exhibitions, including If Emmett Till Lived: Freedom on American Ground, opening in 2026.

A former curator at The Museum of Modern Art and Tate Modern, Lewis has also served as a critic at the Yale University School of Art. Her TED Talk, Embrace the Near Win, has reached millions worldwide. She has received numerous honors, including the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship and the Infinity Award from the International Center of Photography, and was named to the 2026 TIME magazine “Closers” list, recognizing 18 extraordinary Black leaders working toward greater equality.

Honorary Degree Recipients

Abelardo Morell is an internationally acclaimed photographer known for his innovative exploration of light, space, and perception. Born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in the United States, Morell served as a professor of photography at MassArt for nearly three decades, influencing generations of artists.

Morell received his undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College and his MFA from The Yale University School of Art. His many awards and grants include a Guggenheim fellowship, an Infinity Award in Art from ICP, Lucie Award for Achievement in Fine Art, and honorary degrees from Bowdoin College and Leslie University.

His work has been collected and shown in many institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Williamstown’s Clark Art Institute, Art Institute of Chicago, The Getty in Los Angeles, High Museum in Atlanta, and many others. He has published several monographs of his work, including A Book of Books (2002, Bulfinch Press), The Universe Next Door (2013, The Art Institute of Chicago Press), and Flowers for Lisa (2018, Abrams), and continues to exhibit widely. 

Peter Wolf, the longtime lead vocalist of The J. Geils Band, discovered rock ’n’ roll at age eleven after attending an Alan Freed All-Star Revue featuring performers such as Little Richard and Chuck Berry. At the same time, he developed a serious interest in visual art, meeting Norman Rockwell and later attending the prestigious High School of Music and Art.

He aspired to become a painter and moved from his home in New York to Boston to attend the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, but a spontaneous and life-changing performance at a loft party led him to music. He soon formed the Boston-based band The Hallucinations, performing alongside artists such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and the Velvet Underground. He later became an influential DJ at the fledgling WBCN, where his deep knowledge of rhythm and blues helped shape the sound of the emerging Boston rock scene, exposing listeners to Black soul, R&B, and funk artists in a rock radio context that often excluded them.

As frontman of The J. Geils Band, Wolf helped propel the group to national and international success, beginning with their signing to Atlantic Records and continuing through their chart-topping years with EMI America Records. Known for their electrifying live performances, the band achieved widespread acclaim with hits including “Freeze Frame,” “Love Stinks,” and “Centerfold.”

He launched a solo career in 1984 and has since collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Aretha Franklin, Merle Haggard, John Lee Hooker, and Mick Jagger. His album Sleepless was recognized by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

In addition to his musical achievements, Wolf has remained dedicated to visual art, maintaining a lifelong painting practice and close ties to the art world. His 2025 memoir, Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses, became a New York Times bestseller and earned praise from Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. 

The Godine Award and 2026 Awardee

The Morton R. Godine Medal for Service to the Community was established in 1989 in memory of a former MassArt Vice President and Trustee, honoring individuals whose commitment to community reflects the college’s mission.

Ted Landsmark is a nationally recognized urban planner, educator, and civic leader whose work has shaped public policy and design education both across Boston and around the world. A longtime advocate for equity in the built environment, Landsmark has held leadership roles in academic, civic, and cultural institutions, advancing inclusive approaches to design, strategic planning, and public engagement. 

Serving on the Boston Planning and Development Agency’s Board of Directors, Landsmark brought to the board a wealth of expertise in urban design, civic leadership, environmental law, accessibility, and advocacy. During his time on the board, the agency held hundreds of community meetings annually, planning and facilitating the development of over $50 billion in real estate investment, including 60,000 total housing units, 16,000 affordable units, and millions of dollars in job training funds.

Landsmark has served as distinguished professor of public policy and urban affairs at Northeastern, academic vice president of the American College of the Building Arts in Charleston, SC, faculty member at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and UMass Boston, an administrator at Harvard University, and a dean at MassArt. He served as president of the National Architectural Accrediting Board and of the Association of the Collegiate School of Architects. During his 17-year tenure as president and CEO of the Boston Architectural College, Landsmark led the growth of the school from a design center into an internationally recognized, fully accredited, higher education institution.  

He also serves as a trustee or board member for numerous non-profit organizations, including the Museum of Fine Arts Boston (trustee emeritus), the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Leventhal Map Center, and Trustees of Reservations.

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About Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt)

Founded in 1873, Massachusetts College of Art and Design is the nation’s first public, independent college of art and design. The College is dedicated to fostering the creativity of artists, designers, and educators who will shape communities and culture for the common good.

Media Contact

Temple Gill
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