School of Visual Arts presents “Crime & Punishment,” a theme-based exhibition of selected works by third-year BFA Cartooning and BFA Illustration students. Curated by Thomas Woodruff, chair of both departments, the exhibition is on view April 11 through April 25 at the SVA Chelsea Gallery, 601 West 26th Street, 15th floor, New York City.

Students in this exhibition are asked to consider the dark side of humanity, and the drives behind human behavior that have defined the impulse of evil. Not only do students focus on historical figures that have become synonymous with sinister deeds, but also those who have suffered the cruel punishments of others.

“What do David Berkowitz, Michael Jackson and Joan of Arc have in common?” Woodruff asks. They are all part of “Crime & Punishment.”

With a commitment to excellence dating back to SVA’s founding in 1947, BFA Cartooning helps students develop a point of view and an individual voice as they master the rudiments of line, color and form in a wide range of media. Studies of art history and world cultures are paired with painting, drawing, storytelling and pictorial problem solving, culminating in the production of a portfolio of original work that presents each student's distinct sensibility. Comic books, graphic novels, children's books, editorial cartoons, theatrical posters, figurative art exhibitions, film and television credits and production designs—all are powerful vehicles for artists' inner worlds and meaningful contributions to a public forum. At SVA, cartooning students are prepared to lead the way.

BFA Illustration cultivates expert individual voices that are sustained by a high degree of craft, with a curriculum designed to spark the imagination as well as teach the art of interpretation: the ability to carefully read and cross-reference texts, research visual styles and conceptualize and produce significant bodies of work. As they progress through the program, assignments become increasingly professional in nature and reflect the diversity of the illustration marketplace, from media, entertainment and publishing to fashion and toy design, among other fields. Students develop sophisticated, multifaceted portfolios and participate in industry-sponsored competitions, which provide valuable exposure and networking opportunities.

Exhibition

Crime & Punishment

SVA Chelsea Gallery

Reception