School of Visual Arts (SVA) presents “Selections From Thesis Projects,” an exhibition of work by 16 MFA Illustration as Visual Essay students from the class of 2023. Curated by acting chair and thesis coordinator David Sandlin, the exhibition will be on view from Thursday, May 4, through Monday, May 22, at the SVA Chelsea Gallery, 601 West 26 Street, 15 floor, New York City.

Artists included in this exhibition include Junjun Chen, Maiyashu, Katy Freeman, Doce Guan, Raven Jiang, Helen Jee, Vyolet Jin,Joyce Ziyuan Jin, Tae Kim, Bayard Morse, Nicholas Nutting, Swayam Parekh, Yaoting Wang, Weston Wei, Lilith Wu and Xiaodi Zhou. A statement about the exhibition reads:

“Fear, uncertainty, dread, paranoia.

A king succumbs to madness after his face is torn off by rampaging ogre.

A dog follows its master to hell to rescue him.

A flower divides its love between its owner and the dog she loves.

A magical dream factory acts as a repository of lost childhood memories.

These are some of the stories told in arresting imagery by the Illustration as Visual Essay class of 2023.”

The MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay at SVA is designed to maximize students’ opportunities as figurative artists, from the conventional gallery wall to the full range of 21st-century media. The program fuses the development of creative thinking with technical and communication skills. Additional focus is placed on best practices in navigating the visual art marketplace while empowering students to choose making art as a way of life.

The SVA Chelsea Gallery is open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00am to 6:00pm, and closed on Sundays. Masks are encouraged but not required. It is fully accessible by wheelchair.