The new exhibition space in Boston’s SoWa district will open May 5 with the 2021 MFA Thesis Show

Boston (April 21, 2021) — Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) today announced its graduate program will open a new gallery, “MassArt x SoWa” at 460 Harrison Avenue in Boston’s art and design district in the South End. In its pilot year, the exhibition space will feature the thesis work of the program’s Master of Fine Arts students and premier work from the graduate design programs, as well as curatorial projects, alumni exhibitions, student and faculty curated shows, and collaborative exhibitions with community partners. On May 5, 2021 MassArt x SoWa will open with MassArt MFA Thesis 2021, a show of work by eight graduating MFA students curated by MassArt Art Museum Executive Director, Lisa Tung.

MassArt x SoWa will provide MassArt’s graduate students with a dedicated space to exhibit their work while offering them an expanded educational opportunity. The presentation of students’ art and ideas, through exhibition, is a key component of an education in art and design. This new venture will give MassArt graduate students the opportunity to extend their work beyond the walls of MassArt’s campus into a public setting, connecting students with a broad and diverse audience.

“As the first public college of art and design in the nation, MassArt is committed to being part of the public conversation, so it feels natural to launch a new venture off campus in the heart of the art and design district,” said Lucinda Bliss, Dean of Graduate Studies at MassArt. “Our role in graduate studies is to provide our students with the tools for building and sustaining a career in art and design and to help them build networks that support a life-long commitment to their practice. MassArt x SoWa is an extension of MassArt’s mission, to prepare artists, designers, and educators of diverse backgrounds to shape communities, economies, and cultures for the common good.” 

In addition to providing a launching pad for MassArt graduate students, MassArt x SoWa will offer new opportunities for the development of professional skills. Students and alumni will have opportunities to curate exhibitions and work in the gallery in public-facing roles as preparers, designers, or marketers. MassArt x SoWa will also serve as an off-site location for presentations and events, and a convening space for students, faculty, alumni, and partners in the art and design community. 

MassArt’s MFA students participating in MassArt MFA Thesis 2021 are from the Photography, Film/Video, and 2D Fine Arts programs: Salman Farhadi , Sebastian Gonzalez Quintero, Sarah Hull, Yangfan Luo, Jesus Pizarro, Yang Sun, Madison Suniga, and Ronghao Zhang. A virtual exhibition on the online platform Kunstmatrix will also be offered, and on Friday, May 27, 1-3pm EST the exhibiting students will give virtual artist talks on Zoom.

Visitor Information

MassArt MFA Thesis 2021 
On view May 5 – June 6, 2021 
Location: MassArt x SoWa, 460 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA
Hours: Wed-Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 11am-4pm
Admission: FREE
COVID protocol: All visitors over the age of 2 are required to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status. Physical distancing of 6 feet between visitors from different households will be required, and the gallery will maintain 50% maximum occupancy. 

First Fridays: MassArt x SoWa will participate in SoWa First Friday events starting May 7. 

For more information about MassArt x SoWa, visit sowa.massart.edu.

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About the Graduate Programs

MassArt offers nine professional degrees in fine arts, architecture, art education, and design. Intimate class sizes allow for mentorship with world-class faculty, and collaboration across disciplines is encouraged. Graduate students work in a wide range of media, employing an array of strategies and approaches, and all programs share the common values of innovation, empathy, and social engagement. Technical advancement and practical exploration are grounded in an awareness of historical and global contexts; deepening craft and the exploration of theoretical frameworks develop side by side. Graduates include Ambreen Butt (MFA 2D ‘97), Nathalie Miebach (MFA 3D ‘06), Rashid Rana (MFA 2D ‘94), and Irina Rozovsky (MFA Photo ’07).

About Massachusetts College of Art and Design 

Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) is a public, independent institution that prepares artists, designers, and educators to shape communities, economies, and cultures for the common good. Since 1873, MassArt has built a legacy of leadership as the first freestanding public college of art and design in the country, and the nation’s first art school to grant a degree. MassArt offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in art, design, and art education, taught by world-class faculty.