Exhibition

School of Visual Arts (SVA) presents “All Around Me,” a juried exhibition of multidisciplinary work by SVA students. Organized by SVA Galleries, the exhibition will be on view from Saturday, March 19 through Saturday, April 2, 2022, at the SVA Gramercy Gallery, 209 East 23rd Street, New York City. 

“All Around Me” uses experience and imagination to construct environments. Drawing upon city life, memories with loved ones and mundane moments, the artists in this exhibition create a landscape uniquely their own. At times this landscape interprets the artist’s surroundings, and other times it is a mental state, an imaginary utopia, or fragments of the human experience. Through painting, photography, digital, animation, illustration and fiber art, the exhibited work creates a space to retreat to when the world itself feels intangible. 

Eliza Boyer (MPS Art Therapy) translates invisible illnesses and psychological spaces into tangible objects and immersive environments, offering a setting for the viewer to cope with their anxieties.

Lisa Lee Freeman's (MFA Art Practice) piece, "You Are (Not) Here," uses cartographic symbols to represent the artist's experience of being lost, isolated and disoriented during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hyosun Hwang's (BFA Illustration) piece, "Utopia," illustrates the artist's personal oasis, one that is free from distractions.

Christopher Nowak (BFA Fine Arts) creates digital collages mapping the psychogeography of the artist's past using found imagery and photographs from their hometown of Southern California.

Pei Ou's (MFA Fine Arts) paintings highlight the tranquility of nature and remind the viewer of humanity's impending destruction of the landscape.

Renata "Renny" Pereira (MFA Computer Arts) uses rotoscope animation to mimic fading memories and sensations, leaving only remnants of life.

Wenying Zhang's (MFA Photography, Video and Related Media) project, "Wonderland," combines images from the artist's favorite places, experiences, memories and emotions to create a new universe that is free of external conflict.

Tianyi Zhou (BFA Illustration) reflects on life in New York City as it begins to re-open amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jesse Zuo's (BFA Illustration) paintings represent virtual environments: the normalcy of functioning online during the COVID-19 pandemic and the portrayal of a confident, powerful Asian female warrior inspired by Asian culture-based fighting games.  

Juried exhibitions are a way for SVA students to recognize the achievements of their most distinguished classmates. Artists are selected from a large pool of applicants to the annual SVA Galleries call for entries, whose submissions undergo a rigorous examination of presented materials, including documentation of work and artist statements.

The SVA Gramercy Gallery is open Monday through Saturday, 10:00am–6:00pm. In accordance with SVA COVID-19 protocols, in-person viewing is open to SVA students, faculty and staff. The public may visit by showing proof of full vaccination (including booster, if eligible) and photo ID. All visitors to the Gramercy Gallery must pre-register through an RSVP link no less than 48 hours prior to the selected event date and time. Proper masking is required.