Stories Archive

Filmmaker, photographer, and community artist and educator Mel Tiang on resourcefulness, doing it all, and embracing the winding road.

Mel Taing (BFA ’16) returns to her MassArt roots by making a film about a new library in Boston’s Chinatown, which hasn’t had a permanent branch since 1956.

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Artist, MassArt trustee, and innovation consultant Kelly Sherman wields her creativity and curiosity to find the next big idea in organizational strategy.

Kelly Sherman (’02 BFA), says MassArt schooled her not just in creativity but also in problem solving, discipline, and strategy.

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A person with wavy blonde hair is smiling at the camera, embodying creativity. They are wearing a white collared shirt, standing against a backdrop of colorful abstract art pieces on the wall.

Nonprofit executive Julie Wake envisions a world where artists have a seat – and a role to play – at every table.

Julie Wake (’07 BFA) never expected to go to college after having been in the workforce for several years. Her MassArt education gave her an opportunity to advocate for artists in a big way.

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Julie Wake, a nonprofit executive with wavy blonde hair, stands confidently with her arms crossed. Dressed in a beige sweater, black scarf, and smartwatch, she smiles softly against a blurred indoor background, radiating an approachable yet professional aura.

2023-2024 Student Government Association President Heily Rivas shares how creativity, exploration, (and fabric scraps!) can empower students to change the world

How recent alumna and past president of the SGA Heily Rivas (’24 BFA), makes creating environmentally-friendly clothing a community effort.

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Associate Professor James Everett Stanley Featured On I Like Your Work Podcast

Creations by Associate Professor of Painting James Everett Stanley are included in the permanent collection of The Studio Museum in Harlem. On the podcast I Like Your Work: Conversations with Artists, Curators and Collectors, hosted by Erica B. Hess, Stanley discusses how his own practice informs his teaching.

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A painting of a man holding a canvas with a fire mushroom cloud.

Painting the Town Red — and Blue and Green and Orange and …

2023 Alumni Award Honoree Silvia López Chavez spreads joy and community connectivity — and color — with her murals throughout Boston’s suburbs and beyond.

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A person with curly hair, wearing a brown leather jacket and polka dot scarf, gestures expressively while standing in front of a vibrant mural. The mural, part of the Painting the Town series, bursts with blue and red abstract shapes.

MassArt Fashion Design Creative Collaboration in Laos

Yes, they met new people, tasted the food, and took in the landscape. But students who traveled to Laos with Fashion Chair Jennifer Varekamp also worked hand-in-hand with local artisans to support their creative entrepreneurial efforts.

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Creative Crossroads: MassArt’s Design Journey from London to Leeds

Through interdisciplinary collaboration and cultural exchange, MassArt students traveled from London to Leeds to visit studios of leading designers, illustrators, animators, and art museums.

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