The annual fundraiser on the Fenway campus runs Dec. 5-7
The sale is the largest contemporary art sale in the Boston area. Photo: Caitlin Cunningham
The SMFA at Tufts Art Sale returns for its 47th year this December, offering more than 2000 works from 600 artists in the largest contemporary art sale in the Boston area. The sale runs Friday, December 5, through Sunday, December 7, at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts in Boston.
Throughout its first-floor galleries, visitors will find paintings, photography, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, fiber arts, and more in a wide variety of price points. A preview of the artworks can be seen online.
As always, the artists—primarily SMFA alumni, students, and faculty—give a percentage of their sales to the school.
“Those artists see the sale not only as an opportunity to connect as a community, but really give back to the school, since proceeds from the sale go to financial aid,” said Kara Howgate-Mello, alumni engagement and art sale manager.
Many unframed works will be available, adding to the wide range of price points. Photo: Caitlin Cunningham
One of this year’s highlights is Jumbo Day Preview on Thursday, December 4, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a new event designed for Tufts faculty, staff, students, and their families, including those who may have never had a chance to visit the Fenway campus before. “It is a wonderful opportunity for the broader Tufts community to come into SMFA as a space and see examples of six generations worth of alumni artists and their work,” Howgate-Mello said.
Later that Thursday, the sale will host SMFA Community Night for participating artists and alumni to connect. On Friday, December 5, the public can browse well into the evening, with extended hours until 8 p.m.
New this year: Pop-up installations will include a showcase of handmade cups made by the Clay Club and fiber arts made by students and faculty using pigments taken from plants raised this year in the SMFA’s new dye garden, all of which will be for sale, too.
Student participation in the sale is on the rise, with about 100 student artists contributing works this year. For them, a dedicated workshop with alumni artists this week will give them a chance to practice talking about their art with the public.
The artworks are by alumni, students, faculty, and friends of the school. Photo: Matthew Healey
The sale is a prelude to the school’s 150th anniversary next year, a milestone that has Howgate-Mello reflecting on the role SMFA at Tufts has in the Boston arts community. “SMFA has a long and storied history here in the city, impacting a lot of different institutions and artistic movements over the years,” she said. “The art sale is a great contemporary representation of that.”
With every purchase at the sale, “you’re supporting SMFA as an institution, but you’re also supporting local artists, keeping them here in the city, which is so important,” she said.
The SMFA Art Sale runs December 5–7 at 230 Fenway, Boston. For public sale times and details, visit the SMFA Art Sale website.
