GROUP SHOWS/NEWS

Blake Aaseby (MFA 2017), Robert Burnier (MFA 2016), and Dee Clements (BFA 2000) were awarded Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grants.

Bryanna Bibbs (BFA 2014), Claire Ashley (MFA 1995), Spencer Gale (BFA 2023), Anne Yafi (MFA 2015), Breanna Robinson (BFA 2017), and Melissa Leandro (MFA 2017) were featured in a roving group exhibition titled Color in Transit with the Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City, Indiana.

Wendy Clinard (BFA 2003) was named a 2025 3Arts Awardee. Additionally, Leasho Johnson (MFA 2020), Jess Atieno Ounga (MFA 2021), Fern Logan (MFA 1993), and Odette Stout (MFA 2020) were recipients of the 2025 3Arts Next Level Awards.

Jean Alexander-Frater (MFA 2006), Julietta Cheung (MFA 2012), Anna Kunz (BFA 1991), Mayumi Lake (BFA 1997), Melissa Leandro (MFA 2017), Edra Soto (MFA 2000), and Gwendolyn Zabicki (BFA 2005) had work featured in Her Space, a group exhibition at Heaven Gallery in Chicago.

Santina Amato (MFA 20217), Katya Grokhovsky (MFA 2011), and Woomin Kim (MFA 2015) were a featured in a group exhibition titled Thresholds: Reimagining Domesticity, Labor, and Identity at PS122 Gallery in New York City.

Josiah Ellner (MFA 2023), Ben Foch (BFA 2000), Mary Griffin (MFA 2020), and Jacob Vollum (BFA 2011) were featured in Selenas Mountain's off-site exhibition, The Highest Level of Listening, curated by Olivia Swider (BFA 2010) at GURE Gallery in Chicago. Foch and Swider also presented their performance, Bozo Buckets, in conjunction with the exhibition.

Sofía Fernández Díaz (BFA 2019), Josh Dihle (MFA 2012), Edra Soto (MFA 2000), Adrian Wong (BFA 2013), Dove Hornbuckle (BFA 2013), Tony Lewis (MFA 2012), and Deb Sokolow (MFA 2004) were featured in a group exhibition titled Dibs at Andrew Rafacz Gallery in Chicago.

Aubrey Ingmar (MFA 2015), A. Martinez (BFA 2009), Jenny Halpern (MFA 2023), Jihae Park (MFA 2015), Kathryn Kirk (MFA 2016), Keeley Haftner (MFA 2016), and Orr Menirom (MFA 2014) had work included in a group exhibition at the Chicago Cultural Center titled Not a Soft Thing.

Bani Abidi (MFA 1998) and Biraaj Dodiya (BFA 2015) were participating artists in the sixth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale in Kochi, India.

Alake Shilling (BFA 2015), Amanda Ross-Ho (BFA 1998), David Alekhuogie (BFA 2013), Kristy Luck (MFA 2014), and Na Mira (BFA 2006) had work featured in the 2025 Made in L.A. exhibition at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles.

Olya Salimova (BFA 2022), Azadeh Khastoo (BFA 2008), and Lillian Heredia (BFA 2024) celebrated the first anniversary of 15th element, an experimental collective for creatives based in Chicago.

Rebecca Morris (MFA 1994), Molly Zuckerman-Hartung (MFA 2007), and Dread Scott (BFA 1989) were featured in BOMB Magazine's winter 2026 issue.

Aidan Anne Frierson (BFA 2021, MFA 2025) and Dave King (MFA 2025) were featured in the Chicago Reader and Block Club Chicago in articles highlighting their handmade papermaking mill and studio, Chicago Pulp.

John Morabito (MFA 2013) and Jovencio De La Paz (BFA 2008) were featured in W Magazine’s December 2025 Art Issue article, “The Textile Artists Bringing Fiber Art Into the Future.”

Linye Jiang (MFA 2023) and Yiwei Leo Wang (MFA 2023) were featured in a dual exhibition at Heaven Gallery in Chicago titled Fruity Night.

Adela Goldbard (MFA 2017), Edra Soto (MFA 2000), Juan Chavez (SAIC 1994), Professor Aram Han Sifuentes (MFA 2013), X (MFA 2018), and Regina Agu (MFA 2021) were named 2025 USA Creative Impact Awardees.

Peter Blair (BFA 2007) and Roell Schmidt (MFA 2015) were featured in Newcity's 2026 Players 50 list.

Sayre Gomez (BFA 2005) and Sterling Ruby (BFA 2002) were featured in Xavier Hufkens' booth at Frieze London.

Brian Calvin (MFA 1994) and Diane Simpson (MFA 1978) were featured in a three person exhibition at Corbett vs Dempsey in Chicago.

Jason Karolak (MFA 2006) and Adrienne Tarver's (MFA 2011) wedding was featured in an article published by the New York Times titled "A Promise She Was Happy to Break."

Young Joon Kwak (BFA 2007), Zach Blas (PBS 2006), and Isabelle Frances McGuire (BFA 2016) were selected to be included in the 2026 Whitney Biennial.

Joshua Gaines (MFA 2013) and Ben Clark's (MFA 2012) collaborative poetry book, After The Floating Barn, won the 2025 North Dakota State University Poetry of the Plains Prize.

Alayna Pernell (MFA 2021) and Billie Carter-Rankin (MFA 2020) were featured in a two-person exhibition titled to live and be loved // to have and to hold at Experimental Sculpture Room in Milwaukee.

Jessica Zi Chen (MA 2024), Maya Nguyen (MFA 2023), and Che Pai (MFA 2025) collaborated on concurrent solo exhibitions titled Jigging and Luring Bad at Watershed Art Ecology in Chicago. Zi Chen served as a research collaborator for the exhibitions while Nguyen and Pai presented performances at the opening reception.

Cecilia Beaven (MFA 2019), Amanda Ross-Ho (BFA 1998), Elizabeth Hetland (BFA 2009), Chris Ware (HON 2019), Heather Mekkelson (BFA 1999), Jessica Campbell (MFA 2014), Jason Dunda (SAIC 2001), Kyle O’Connell (BFA 2009), Margaret Duguid (BFA 1999), Oliver Watt (MFA 1998), Peter Power (MFA 1993), and Shannon Stratton (MA 2008) were included the First International Milwaukee Riso Invitational, a collaborative exhibition and publishing project in Milwaukee.

Carmela Murphy (BFA 2024) released their thesis film, A Bird Hit My Window and Now I’m a Lesbian, co-created with AJ Dubler (BFA 2004). The film was screened at over 60 film festivals around the world and won Frameline's Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Award.

Heather Lyon (MFA 2004), Jessica Mueller (MFA 2018), Simone Whiteley Allen (BFA 2021), Jeffrey McMahon (MFA 2000), and misael soto (MFA 2018) had work featured in and presented performances in conjunction with exhibition titled Murmurations at DeVos Art Museum in Marquette, Michigan. 

2020s

Billie Carter (MFA 2020) had a solo show titled In Remembrance of You at MIAD's Perspectives Gallery in Milwaukee.

Harini Nilakantan (BFA 2020) received a 2026 Lotus Fellowship from Arts India US.

Kalan Strauss (BFA 2020) had a solo exhibition titled Watered Down at Bridge Mogura Gallery in Tokyo, Japan.

Jeffrey Kaya (BFA 2021) designed the full interior for the Chicago Renaissance Showcase in partnership with EXPO Chicago.

Trevor Paglen (HON 2021) had two solo exhibitions at Jessica Silverman Gallery in San Francisco: The Horizon Wave and Nothing Was Certain: 2006–2026.

Elena Smentkowski (BFA 2021) was featured in a group exhibition titled Art Speaks: Abstract Expressions at Bridgeport Art Center in Chicago.

Maxwell Volkman (MFA 2021) was featured in a two-person exhibition titled Between Bedlam at LVL3 in Chicago.

Barrett Burke (MA 2022) accepted the role of exhibitions manager at The Bishop Museum in Bradenton, Florida.

Janhavi Khemka (MFA 2022) was a 2025 3Arts Next Level Awardee. She was also an artist in residence at the James Castle House in Boise, Idaho.

Journie Kirdain's (MFA 2022) solo exhibition, Gloaming, was exhibited by Western Exhibitions at Gallery One in Chicago.

Paige Alice Naylor (MFA 2022) was a featured artist during the 2025 Sonic Pavillion Festival at Millennium Park in Chicago.

Sara Niroobakhsh (MFA 2022) was appointed faculty manager of the Gaming Initiative and Research Scholar at New York University Abu Dhabi and was featured in an article published by Canvas magazine.

Olya Salimova (BFA 2022) had a solo exhibition titled Olya Salimova: arrival at Trinity Christian College's Seerveld Gallery in Palos Heights, Illinois, and celebrated the first anniversary of their Chicago-based artist collective, 15th ēlement.

Jiaming You (MFA 2022) had a solo exhibition titled Wandering Malleability at HOOK Space in Chicago.

Selena Kearney (MFA 2025) received a Snider Prize Honorable Mention from the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago.

Luke Agada (MFA 2023) had a solo exhibition titled To Translate is to Move Across at Monique Meloche gallery in Chicago.

Sebastian Thomas (MFA 2023) had a solo exhibition titled Painter's Pantheon at ZOLLA/LIEBERMAN gallery in Chicago.

Kamille Kirschling (BFA 2024) was an artist in residence at Das Institut für Alles Mögliche in Berlin, Germany.

Kathryn Bawden (MFA 2023) was featured in a duo exhibition titled Kin at Roots & Culture Contemporary Art Center in Chicago.

Charlie Dean (BFA 2023) started the Charlie Dean Postal Service to deliver and read mail to people free of charge with no geographical boundaries. He and his postal service were featured in an article published by Block Club Chicago.

Serena JV Elston (MFA 2023) had a solo exhibition titled Lingering Bodies at Andrew Rafacz in Chicago.

Ben Glass (BFA 2023), along with a group of SAIC's MFA students, participated in the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz, Austria with their exhibition Adapting on the Edge.

Hai-Wen Lin (MDF 2023) gave an artist talk at the Contemporary Art Museum of St. Louis.

Linye Jiang (MFA 2023) was an artist in residence and had a solo exhibition at Wassaic Project in Wassaic, New York. Her other solo exhibition, Scavenger Hunt, was exhibited at 4th Ward Project Space in Milwaukee. She was also featured in an article published by the Chicago Reader titled "The artist is present."

Kangrui Liu (BFA 2023) exhibited work at Jimei Art Centre in Xiamen, China.

Carissa Pickney (BFA 2023) was selected as a member of the 2025 Artist in Residence Cohort at High Concept Labs in Chicago.

Rivers Qinnan Zhu (MFA 2023) had a solo exhibition titled Thread’s Return Along the Equinox at ARC Gallery in Chicago.

Elizabeth Burden (MFA 2023) was selected as SaludArte's 2025 Selected Artist, an opportunity that allowed her to focus on creatively addressing urgent public health issues through community-driven art in Tuscon. In conjunction with this project, Burden organized and exhibited Recovery Living Room, a public art installation located on the windows outside the Fox Tucson Theatre as well as an exhibition titled We Recover Together: The Most Important Element at the Tucson Museum of Art.

Lisa DeAbreu (MFA 2024) was featured in a group exhibition titled Mark Me, Too: Five Artists at Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago.

Meg Johnson (BFA 2024) was featured in the School News Network’s “Why I Teach” series.

Xingyi Zhao (MFA 2024) had a solo exhibition titled Frameworks at ZOLLA/LIEBERMAN Gallery in Chicago.

Mauricio Lopez Fernandez (MFA 2025) was selected as a 2026–27 Arts Club Fellow at the Arts Club of Chicago.

Isabelle Rizo (BAVS 2023) began her role as medical art psychotherapist at Robert and Anne Lurie Children’s Hospital.

Pedro Montilla (MFA 2025) had a solo exhibition titled Mirar Abajo at Monique Meloche gallery in Chicago.

Jeong Yeon-ji (BFA 2021) had four paintings displayed in the lobby of the Hilton in New York Times Square.

Isabella Mellado (MFA 2023) had a solo show titled 7 Pecados at Galeria La Cometa in Miami and was featured in Colossal’s article "Isabella Mellado Summons Sins and Desire in her Tarot-Inspired Paintings."

2010s

Seungean Cha (MFA 2010) had a solo exhibition titled Domestic Resurrection at Pipe Gallery in Seoul, South Korea.

B. Ingrid Olson (BFA 2010) was awarded a 2025 Guggenheim Fellowship and had three solo exhibitions: A Feminine Thought at Kunstverein Braunschweig in Braunschweig, Germany; Machines Complex at Croy Nielsen in Vienna, Austria; and A Masculine Thought at Midway Contemporary Art in Minneapolis.

Magalie Guerin (MFA 2011) had a solo exhibition titled Shape Acts at Corbett vs. Dempsey in Chicago.

Gordon Hall (MFA 2011) presented a lecture-performance at Wrightwood 659 in Chicago. Hall was also featured in a duo exhibition titled Artifact Unidentified at DOCUMENT in Chicago.

Yo Ahn Han (BFA 2011) had a solo exhibition titled Spellbound at Chase Young Gallery in Boston.

Bana Kattan (MA 2011) was selected as a curator of the United Arab Emirates Pavilion for the 2026 Venice Biennale.

Adrienne Tarver (MFA 2011) joined the faculty of Columbia University's School of the Arts.

John Rich (MFA 2011) was appointed deputy director at the Ragdale Residency in Lake Forest, Illinois.

Jackie Furtado (BFA 2012) released a photobook titled TORNADO with Jennifer Haare, published by Luhz Press. Work from this project was shown at Musée d'Histoire de la Médecine as part of PhotoSaintGermain 2025 in Paris. Furtado was also selected as a 2025 NYSCA/NYFA Photography Fellow.

Hannah Givler (MFA 2012) was featured in a group exhibition titled Goldilocks Moment at SONA Contemporary in Chicago.

Sam Rolfes (BFA 2012) began their Collider Fellowship at Lincoln Center in New York City following a successful world tour debut of Team Rolfes' original virtual club theatre performance, 3-2-1 Rule.

Allison Wade (MFA 2012) had a solo exhibition titled am is are was were at Devening Projects in Chicago.

David Alekhuogie (BFA 2013) had a solo show titled Highlifetime at Yancey Richardson in New York City and also published David Alekhuogie: A Reprise with Aperture.

Meghan Beitiks (MFA 2013) was a contributing writer for The Routledge Companion to Performance and Science, with her chapter focusing on performing public health.

Joshua Gaines' (MFA 2013) short story "Spontaneous Generation" was published in The  Iowa Review as a runner-up in the Jeff Sharlet Prize. Gaines's story, "Verdict," was published on Across the Margin. "Scars," Gaines' newest essay, was published on Electric Literature, and he had poems appear in both Pinch Journal and the 2025 Driftwood Anthology.

Ionit Behar (MA 2013) was appointed as the Marilyn and Larry Fields Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.

Bryana Bibbs (BFA 2014) was featured in a four-person exhibition curated by Colossal Magazine at the Haggerty Museum of Art in Milwaukee, titled No One Knows All It Takes. Bibbs' interview by Christopher Jobson was later published by Colossal in conjunction with the exhibition.

Ector Garcia (BFA 2014) was featured in an article in the New York Times titled "Five Rising Contemporary Artists You Should Know."

Robert Burnier (MFA 2016) was awarded a 2025 Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant and had a solo exhibition titled Thumb Piano at Andrew Rafacz Gallery in Chicago.

Sanaz Sohrabi (MFA 2014) had work featured in a group exhibition titled In Praise of the Missing Image at the Musée d'Art Contemporain de Montréal as part of the 19th edition of MOMENTA Biennale d'art contemporain.

Selva Aparicio (BFA 2015) had a solo show titled What Remains at Gallery Wendi Norris in San Francisco.

Biraaj Dodiya's (BFA 2015) installation DOOM ORGAN was featured in the main exhibition at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale in Kochi, India.

Noel King (MA 2015) curated Beyond the Waves: Deaf Art, an exhibition at Linda K. Jordan Gallery at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.

Jessica Gaynelle Moss (MA 2015) launched The Garfield PGH, an initiative offering affordable temporary housing to Black artists located in the Hill District community of Pittsburgh.

Lauren Quin (BFA 2015) is represented by PACE Gallery and had work prominently featured in PACE's booth at Frieze Seoul.

Yuge Zhou's (MFA 2015) installation, 当日之东遇见夜之西 / when the East of the day meets the West of the night, was exhibited by SECRIST | BEACH in Chicago in conjunction with their group exhibition, Luminous Matter.

Matty Davis (MFA 2016) received a MacDowell Fellowship and performed his piece, The Essence & The Choice, at SECRIST | BEACH in Chicago.

Yang Mai (MDes 2016) was featured in a group exhibition titled What's Left of the Remaking at CUE Art Foundation in New York City.

Kanthy Peng (BFA 2016) published a photobook with te editions titled Ground Sea.

Herman Aguirre (MFA 2017) had work featured in a group show at La Lunita Mexican Restaurant & Cocktail Bar in Chicago as part of their first Art & Wine-featured artist exhibition.

S.Y. Lim (BFA 2017), who manages the art of the late Thomas Kang, was featured in an article in Chicago Reader titled "How to be happy: The late Thomas Kong turned artmaking into living."

Yvette Mayorga's (MFA 2016) installation titled Magic Grasshopper was displayed in New York's Times Square. This installation was later the cover and feature article in Newcity's December 2025 issue. Her work, BYE BYE BYE from the Surveillance Locket Series, was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution's Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Andrea Perales Covarrubias (BFA 2017) was featured in a group exhibition titled What the Water Gave Us at Artstübli gallery in Basel, Switzerland, in collaboration with Atelier Mondial.

Jacqueline Surdell (MFA 2017) had a solo exhibition titled The Conversion: Rings, Rupture, and the Forest Archive at SECRIST | BEACH in Chicago.

Maryam Taghavi (MFA 2017) appeared on PBS's series American Masters. The episode included Estranged Letters, a short documentary that explores the Iranian American artist’s path toward her first major solo exhibition.

Isabelle Frances McGuire (BFA 2017) published an exhibition catalog titled Isabelle Frances McGuire: Year Zero in collaboration with the Renaissance Society based on their 2024 exhibition. They also had a solo presentation of their work by Bel Ami gallery at Post-Fair in Santa Monica.

Ohm Phanphiroj (MFA 2018) released his eighth photo book, Desire: Straight Men in My Bedroom, published worldwide by Salzgeber.

Sofía Fernández Díaz (BFA 2019) had a solo exhibition titled Material Practice at Woman Made Gallery in Chicago.

Cecilia Beaven (MFA 2019) co-designed and painted wall murals for Aquí en Chicago, an exhibition at the Chicago History Museum celebrating the Latino/a/e community in Chicago. She was also featured in a New York Times article celebrating Chicago’s Latino communities titled "Two Exhibitions Celebrate Chicago’s Latino Communities."

Helen Lee (MFA 2019) performed her piece Momentum Sensorium at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.

Shiwen Wang (BFA 2019) was featured in an article published on Artnet titled "5 Asian Painters Making the Personal Political."

Guanyu Xu (MFA 2019) had a solo exhibition titled Resident Aliens at Yancey Richardson Gallery in New York City, was highlighted by the New Yorker in their article "Guanyu Xu’s Powerful Photographs of Immigration Limbo," and was featured in Visual Kinship, a group exhibition at Dartmouth's Hood Museum of Art in Hanover, New Hampshire.

Rachael Zur (MFA 2019) was interviewed by Create Magazine.

Hyun Jung Jun (BFA 2014, Post-Bacc 2016) was featured in Vogue’s article titled “Meet the New Wave of Forward-Thinking Food-Artists.”

Tony Lewis (MFA 2012) had a solo exhibition titled Proost! at Anthony Gallery's new location in Amsterdam.

Crystal Gregory (MFA 2013) had a solo show titled The Ocean Never Gives Up at Soapbox Arts in Burlington, Vermont.

Yaloo (BFA 2011, MFA 2015) is a member of NEW INC's 12th incubator cohort at the New Museum in New York City. Her piece,〈ROO〉, was acquired by the Busan Museum of Art in Busan, South Korea.

2000s

Edra Soto (MFA 2000) was a 2025 Creative Impact awardee, was selected as a 2026 United States Artist Fellow, and had a solo exhibition titled Edra Soto: the place of dwelling at the Kemper Museum in St. Louis.

Pat Badani's (MFA 2001) award-winning installation, BichEden: ParaDoxa, was exhibited at Harvestworks in New York City.

Aaron Curry's (BFA 2002) sculpture, Human Non-Human, was exhibited in conjunction with work by Richard Hawkins at Corbett vs. Dempsey in Chicago.

Sheree Hovsepian (MFA 2002) was recognized as an artist honoree for ARTWALK NY 2025.

Heidi Norton (MFA 2002) was featured in a group exhibition titled Still Point at Ortega y Gasset Art Projects in Brooklyn.

Clare Rojas (MFA 2002) had a solo exhibition titled Pilgrimage at Andrew Kreps Gallery in New York City.

Sterling Ruby's (BFA 2002) work was exhibited at Art Basel Paris and Frieze London by Xavier Hufkens.

Catherine Sollman (BFA 2002) had a solo exhibition titled Gut Symmetry at OS Projects in Racine, Wisconsin.

Wafaa Bilal (MFA 2003) accepted the 2025 ARTnews Award for Established Artist of the Year for his 2025 retrospective Wafaa Bilal: Indulge Me at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago.

Vesna Jovanovic (BFA 2003) had a solo exhibition titled Carnival at the Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago.

Marc LeBlanc (MFA 2004) curated a group exhibition titled You're All Dead to Me at Circle Contemporary in Chicago.

Cheryl Pope (BFA 2003) was featured in an online exhibition titled Fall of Freedom exhibited by Monique Meloche.

Ruth Reyna-Siegel (BFA 2003) had her first solo exhibition titled The Memories We Do Not Frame at the Edwardsville Arts Center satellite gallery at the Bank of Madison County.

Dianna Frid (MFA 2003) had a solo show titled Dianna Frid: Matter Is the Nectar of Writing / La materia es el néctar de la escritura at University Galleries of Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois.

Matt Bangser (BFA 2004) joined Art Intelligence Global as senior director.

Genesis Belanger (BFA 2004) was featured in a group show titled Monument to the Unimportant at Pace Gallery in London.

Talia Chetrit (BFA 2004) photographed Lorde for the cover of her single, “What Was That,” and has recently shot campaigns for Phoebe Philo, Proenza Schouler, Loewe, Acne, and Celine.⁠ Talia was also profiled for an article in Art in America.

Terence Hannum (MFA 2004) had a solo exhibition titled Simulations at SPCE Gallery in Baltimore. He also received a professional development grant from the Maryland State Arts Council and published his short story collection New Faith with Anathemata Editions.

Natalie Wood (BFA 2004) was selected as a 2025 NYSCA/NYFA Design Fellow.

Jaume Plensa (HON 2005) had multiple solo exhibitions including Secret Gardens at Residenzplatz in Salzburg, Austria, and Jaume Plensa: A New Humanism at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Lilli Carré (BFA 2006) curated Paper Trails, Chain Reactions during Rockaway Film Festival in New York and had a solo exhibition titled Fallen Anvils // Evacuations at Western Exhibitions. Her film, Evacuations (2025), was screened at the 2026 International Film Festival in Rotterdam.

Joshua Faught (MFA 2006) had a solo exhibition, You Stretched Diagonally Across It, at Dallas Art Contemporary.

Jason Karolak (MFA 2006) had a solo exhibition titled PEREGRINE at Robischon Gallery in Denver.

Janine Rosado's (BFA 2004) lecture, "Where Neuroscience Meets Storytelling: How Curiosity And Everyday Life Shape Design," was featured during Medium Day 2025, an annual virtual conference of writers and storytellers.

Mie Kongo (BFA 2006) had a solo exhibition titled Straight Lines and Fragments of Elliptical Lines at 65GRAND.

Anthony Carfello (BFA 2006) served as visiting assistant professor of Museum Studies at the University of Iowa.

Lucia Fabio (BFA 2007) was selected as Art in the Park's artist in residence in Hermon Park, Los Angeles. During this year-long residency she will be cultivating a garden from her late mother's seeds, performing plant rituals, and hosting workshops, seed distributions, and artist talks through November 2026.

Young Joon Kwak (BFA 2007) had work featured in The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture, an exhibition at the Smithsonian Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C. They also debuted with Esther Schipper Gallery in Seoul, South Korea in a duo exhibition with Eusung Lee.

Jodie Mack (MFA 2007) received a 2025 MacDowell Fellowship and had her animated film, UNSUBSCRIBE #1: SPECIAL OFFER INSIDE, screened at Rockaway Film Festival in New York City.

Huong Ngô (MFA 2004) was featured in a group show titled Womb of Fire that was exhibited at Mo Art Space in Hanoi, Vietnam; Gallery Medium in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam; and Vin Gallery in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.

Amanda Valdez (BFA 2007) had a solo exhibition titled Amanda Valdez: Aftertouch at Allentown Art Museum in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Jenny Kendler's (MFA 2006) multi-sensory installation, Whale Bells, was acquired by Futurium art space in Berlin.

Jovencio De La Paz (BFA 2008) was featured in a two-person exhibition at Chris Sharp gallery in Los Angeles.

Kacie Lees (BFA 2008) spoke at The Persistent Glow: The Conservation and Continuity of Neon Artworks, a workshop and symposium held at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Benjamin Madeska (MA 2008) was a contributing writer for the anthology On an Inland Sea: Writing the Great Lakes published by Belt Publishing.

Shannon Stratton (MA 2008) curated an exhibition, Folk Method with Spatial Problems, at Western Exhibitions in Chicago.

Aspen Mays (MFA 2009) had work featured on the cover of Aperture’s winter 2025 issue.

Megan Euker (MFA 2007, BFA 2005) revitalized San Rocco Therapeutics' European headquarters in Altamura, Italy through the artistic restoration of three sculptures.

Gabrielle Garland (BFA 2009) was featured in an article published by Artsy titled “Artists Having a Breakout Moment This Fall.”

1990s

Andrea Stanislav (BFA 1990) had a solo show titled Andréa Stanislav - Silent Running to a Falling Star at Melissa Morgan Fine Art in Palm Desert, California.

Lora Fosberg (MFA 1991) had a solo exhibition titled I love it here; Let’s leave; In Search of the Hill at Zolla Lieberman Gallery in Chicago.

David Schell (BFA 1992) was featured in Around and Also, a two-person exhibition with Leslie Jane Roberts at Left Field Gallery in Los Osos, California.

Kenneth Fandell's (BFA 1993) monumental photograph The Sky Above My Home was exhibited at Northwestern’s Block Museum of Art in Evanston, Illinois.

Jennifer JL Jones (BFA 1994) was featured in a group exhibition at Hillary Whitaker Gallery in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Kari Percival's (BFA 1994) book, Safe Crossing, won a spot on the Texas Bluebonnet Award List for 2026-27 and was named one of the Best Books of 2025 by the New York Public Library, one of 10 Best Picture Books of 2025 by BookPage, and a Best Informational Picture Book for Young Readers by the Chicago Public Library.

Amy Pleasant (BFA 1994) had two solo exhibitions, This Fragile Thing at Whitespace Gallery in Atlanta and Counter space with Amy Pleasant // Sense of Belonging at Sheet Cake Gallery in Memphis.

Shoshanna Weinberger (BFA 1995) had a solo exhibition titled The Space Between Light at PES Futures in New York City. 

william cordova (BFA 1996) was awarded a 2025 Abbey Mural Prize by the National Academy of Design for his project Constellation (Rumi Maki) at ArtWorks in Cincinnati, Ohio. He also received a Trellis Art Fund 2025 Milestone Grant.

Britt Michaelian (BFA 1996) hosted her annual art and wellness event, Healing House, at the Peace Dome in the Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano, California.

Suzanne Sebold (BFA 1996) developed her multi-sensory project If Trees Could Talk, which focuses on empathy and social-emotional learning.

Mayumi Lake (BFA 1997) was featured in a two-person exhibition, Between Bedlam, at LVL3 in Chicago and was also included in Shakkei: Work by Mayumi Lake and Bob Faust at the Elmhurst Art Museum in Elmhurst, Illinois.

Dave Martinez (MFA 1997) published his first novel, Life is Your Masterpiece.

Leah Oates (MFA 1997) was featured in Photography Exhibit 2025 at the Monmouth Museum in New Jersey and had a solo exhibition titled Gravity Field at Lichtundfire Gallery in New York. She also participated in group exhibitions including ABSTRACTS 2025 at John B. Aird Gallery and SALON 19 at Propeller Art Gallery in Toronto. 

Scott Perkins (BFA 1997) coedited Fallingwater: Living With and In Art, published by Rizzoli.

Amanda Ross-Ho (BFA 1998) was awarded a Trellis Art Fund 2025 Milestone Grant, gave a Roski Talk presentation at the University of Southern California, and was featured in a solo exhibition titled Untitled Seizure (EVERY DAY IS THE SAME) at Timeshare gallery space in Los Angeles.

Gregory Jacobsen's (SAIC 1998) solo show, titled Smiles and Piles, was exhibited at Zg Gallery in Chicago.

Sanford Biggers's (MFA 1999) piece, Lady Interbellum, was featured in the New York Times’ article "Best Art of 2025.”

Mirae kh RHEE (BFA 1999) presented two video works at the Seoul International ALT Cinema & Media Art Festival. Her major museum solo exhibition, Constellations, was exhibited by the San Diego Museum of Art.

Katherine Shaughnessy (Post-Bacc 1995, MFA 1997) had a solo exhibition titled Rio Grande / Border Art Exhibition at the Do Right Hall in Marfa, Texas.

1980s

Connie Noyes (MFA 1981) was featured in a group show titled Not a Soft Thing: Artist Mothers at the Chicago Cultural Center and had work in an exhibition at Chicago Sculptural International Project Space titled Sculpture & Film.

Rebecca Shore's (BFA 1981) paintings were displayed by Corbett vs. Dempsey at Place des Vosges in Paris.

Judy Ledgerwood (MFA 1984) unveiled a monumental site-specific tile installation at the Chicago Transit Authority’s Racine Station with GRAY Chicago and had a solo exhibition titled Twilight in the Wilderness at GRAY New York.

Deyana Mielke (BFA 1984) participated in multiple exhibitions this year including Art Kauai 2025 in Kauai, Hawaii; Fall ArtScene Biennial gallery walk with Kith and Kiln in Rockford, Illinois; and two international juried exhibitions in Vancouver.

Bernard Williams (SAIC 1984) was featured in a duo exhibition titled This Bitter Earth: Living in Harmony with Nature at MW Gallery in Flint, Michigan.

Audrey Niffenegger (BFA 1985) had a solo exhibition titled Wayward Bodies at Zolla Lieberman Gallery in Chicago.

Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle's (MFA 1989) solo show Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle: A Want for Nothing was exhibited by the DePaul Art Museum in Chicago.

Dread Scott (BFA 1989) was featured in the New York Times article “Artists Plan Nationwide Protests Against Authoritarian Forces” as well as on the cover of BOMB Magazine’s winter 2026 issue.

1970s

Terry Berkowitz (MFA 1973) exhibited Homage to Ethel, Julius and Morton with the Wordsworth Collective as part of the 55th Anniversary of the People’s Flag Show at Judson Memorial Church in New York City.

Bob Dilworth (MFA 1976) was named a 2025 Joan Mitchell Fellow.

Jean Sousa's (MFA 1976) film, Today is Sunday, was featured during a solo screening co-presented by the RPM Festival and the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Elaine Wilson (MFA 1976) had a solo exhibition titled Charting the Wolverine at Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City, Indiana.

Dan Kwong (BFA 1977) led restoration efforts at the historic baseball field at Manzanar National Historic Site in California and created a performance-based exhibition doubleheader in collaboration with the cultural and community-centered organization Great Leap.

Colette Adams (MFA 1979) curated an exhibition titled Intertwined at North Park Village Centre in North Park, Illinois.

Diane Simpson (BFA 1971, MFA 1978) had her Art Institute of Chicago solo debut with Diane Simpson: Good for Future, on view until April 19.

1950s/1960s

Kunié Sugiura (BFA 1967) had a solo exhibition titled Boundaries and Coexistence at Taka Ishii Gallery in Tokyo, Japan. She also received the 2025 Anonymous Was A Woman Award and was featured in the New York Times article, "64 Visuals That Defined the Year in Arts."

Mario Castillo (BFA 1969) was interviewed by the Chicago Reader in their article, "Pilsen murals and Ukrainian mosaics teach us about artistic survival."

Wadsworth Jarrell (BFA 1958, HON 2020) was featured in an exhibition at the Peoria Riverfront Museum titled Joyful Resistance in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.

We make a substantial effort to include as many SAIC alum accomplishments in “Class Notes” as possible. Due to the enormous talent and wide reach of the SAIC community, there may be alum updates that were not included. Please click here if you would like to submit your updates, news, and accomplishments for consideration to be included in “Class Notes” in the next issue of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago magazine. Please note, SAIC reserves the right to edit submissions.

In Memoriam

Sheri Wills Schettino (MFA 1996)

Ruth Thorne-Thomsen (MFA 1976)

Frank Piatek (BFA 1967, MFA 1971)

Frank Gehry (HON 2004)

Nathaniel Gillette (BFA 2018)

Nick Kategianis (SAIC 1960)

Robert Schenck (SAIC 1992)

Bonnie Danick (BFA 1970)

George Schneider (BFA 1966)

Gloria Moritz (SAIC 1966)

Dana Robertson (BFA 1980)

Keith Long (BFA 1961)

Myla Wray (AECER 1998)

James Petersen (MA 1984)

Donald Berger (MFA 1975)

James Prinz (MFA 1988) ■