School of Visual Arts (SVA) presents “Cultivating Oneself,” an exhibition of works by eight SVA students selected by a jury of their peers. Organized by SVA Galleries, “Cultivating Oneself” is on view Thursday, March 22 through Monday, April 10, at the SVA Flatiron Gallery, 141/133 West 21st Street, New York City.

Through painting, photography, digital drawing and sculpture, the works in this exhibition explore the construction and upkeep of identity. Utilizing their own histories to decipher the social and cultural pillars supporting their individual perspectives, the artists reflect upon how upbringing, environments and perception (by self and others) are integral to one’s sense of being. Their works depict foundational junctures in the artists’ personal development, from analysis of childhood traumas, to discovering ancestral histories, to anxieties created by social media and achievements of self-acceptance.

Participating artists include Capucine Bourcart (MFA Fine Arts), Xinyue Chen (Maiyashu) (MFA Illustration as Visual Essay), Yuting (Sheya) Chen (MFA Illustration as Visual Essay), Olympe Gautier (BFA Fine Arts), Adamaris Ordonez (BFA Photography and Video), Grace Qian (BFA Fine Arts), Avery Mei Skillin (BFA Fine Arts) and Meixi Xu (BFA Interior Design).

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 Flatiron Gallery is open Monday through Saturday, 10:00am to 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 SVA Flatiron Gallery must pre-register through an RSVP link no less than 48 hours prior to the selected event date and time. Masks are encouraged but not required.