Emerging artists showcase work at three Boston-area exhibitions

BOSTON and MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, Mass. (April 18, 2019)—The School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University is celebrating graduating art students with three spring exhibitions across two Tufts campuses in greater Boston.

Graduating master's degree candidates will present their work at the Master's Thesis Exhibition from May 1-19. This year's show, titled "no time for laundry," will be held in the Tufts University Art Gallery space at Aidekman Arts Center, in the Tisch and Koppelman Galleries. The work presented at this show is the result of two years of students' close work with SMFA at Tufts faculty to develop their vision and shape the future of their careers as working artists. The variety of works include painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and installations, performances and video.

A reception celebrating the master's thesis candidates and their work will be held at the Aidekman Arts Center on Friday, May 17, from 7 – 9 p.m., during the heart of Tufts' commencement weekend festivities.

Members of the news media are invited to a VIP reception preceding the May 17 public reception, from 5:30 – 7 p.m. Any media interested in attending should contact Robin Smyton at 617-627-5392, or robin.smyton@tufts.edu.

The Year End Show, running May 6-21, is an exhibition centered on the Boston SMFA campus in the Fenway. This show highlights the works of graduating students in the class of 2019, across any degree program. The Weems Atrium and Building A Gallery (BAG) first-floor space will display student artwork in a variety of media, including sculpture, painting, drawing and video installation.

The SMFA at Tufts' Senior Thesis Exhibition, titled "Liminal Space," features art created by senior Bachelor of Fine Arts students participating in the SMFA at Tufts thesis program.  Also running May 6-21, the seniors' thesis work will take over the SMFA's Anderson Auditorium and Grossman Gallery. The paintings, printmaking, video, sculptures and installations of 13 graduating thesis students are critiqued by a panel of SMFA at Tufts faculty, including their thesis advisors.

The Senior Thesis Exhibition and Year End Show will hold an opening reception on Saturday, May 18, from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

All SMFA at Tufts spring shows are free and open to the public.

SMFA at Tufts will hold its commencement ceremony for the Class of 2019 at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston on Sunday, May 19, at 6 p.m. The celebration will include speeches from students and administrators.

Graduates of SMFA at Tufts will also participate in the university-wide commencement festivities on Tufts University's Medford/Somerville campus on Sunday, May 19, at 9 a.m., including an address by Alfre Woodard, acclaimed actor and activist.

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About the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University

Founded in 1876, the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University is a unique art school affiliated with both a major art museum—the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston—and a Tier-1 research university. Originally established within the museum, the school began its relationship with Tufts when the university began providing accredited degrees to SMFA students in 1945. SMFA officially became part of the Tufts' School of Arts and Sciences in July 2016. SMFA at Tufts provides an exceptional fine arts education that allows students to craft individualized programs of study while being mentored closely by world-renowned faculty and staff. Graduates are creative thinkers and problem-solvers who succeed in a wide variety of careers. SMFA at Tufts is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and is a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD). For more information, visit smfa.tufts.edu.