Features

For the 2025 SVA Alumni Scholarship Awards, the SVA Alumni Society granted 92 scholarships to students, totaling $63,000 for projects as varied as animation, product designs, films, photography, and painting. Funding for the Alumni Scholarship Awards is provided through the SVA Alumni Society’s annual Support the Talent campaign; 100% of all donations go directly to students. As the end of the spring semester approaches, we are spotlighting some of this year’s recipients and their excellent, award-winning work.

Today’s featured scholarship recipient is MFA Photography, Video, and Related Media student Shaohan Fang. Born and raised in Fujian, China, and now finishing her final year at the College, Fang previously earned a master’s degree in engineering and a double degree in photography from the Communication University of China. Her work has already been featured in Vogue Italia, Harper’s Bazaar, GQ, and Cosmopolitan China, and her commercial photography collaborations include brand partnerships with Gucci, Dior, Zegna, Burberry, Bvlgari, Tom Ford, and more.

Fang’s award-winning thesis project is En Route, a series of staged photographs of her personal exploration of the gap between an ideal life and the grad student’s reality.

This collection is Fang’s attempt to capture the state of being adrift in the face of the unknown, reflecting what we might all experience in adulthood as we face the restless struggle to find direction and meaning in life.

Tell us about your project. What inspired the idea?

The inspiration came from my own life experiences. In my childhood, I had to relocate multiple times due to the unstable nature of my father’s business. Since adulthood, I have kept moving around for better education and work opportunities. Such a state of instability made me feel deeply unrooted. That’s why I decided to turn these mixed emotions into a series of staged photographs—not only to express my own feelings, but also a shared experience [with] most of my friends.

What most surprised you once you started working on the project?

At first, I thought I would shoot the project in New York. However, after discussing this with my creative director and producer, I decided to make the project in China. I wanted to revisit the feeling of my small apartment while working in Beijing. I was lucky to find four amazing non-actors. The non-actor who played the “father” generously let us use his actual home for our shoot. But his home was perfect—clean and structured —precisely the contrast I sought.

What is something you learned at SVA that you’ll always take with you?

I’ve had many conversations with our department chair, Charles Traub, about how to receive feedback as an artist. He once told me: “I have to stand by what I hear. I absorb it. I think about it. Sometimes I change it, sometimes I don’t change it.” This really stayed with me. I learned to remain open to feedback, stay true to myself, and keep creating, no matter what.

Was there a teacher or course that was essential for you?

My two critique classes with Shimon Attie and Penelope Umbrico were essential. Without their support, I couldn’t have completed my En Route project. Natasha Chuk, who taught Thesis Form, also gave me a lot of encouragement, emotional support, and personal advice during difficult times. And of course, my thesis advisor, Joshua Chuang—the art director at Gagosian—was incredibly generous with his time. He helped me not only with my artistic direction but also with how I see my life. He shared personal experiences that made a significant impact on how I now approach both art and life.

What was a highlight of living and studying in New York City?

New York is magical and full of energy. What I love most is its openness. You can be whoever you want here, and people will support that. My experience at SVA shared the same essence as that of the city. Whatever you want to create, you’ll always find people around you who share your passion. They’ll encourage and inspire you. I never felt alone on my creative journey.

What advice do you have for next year’s students going through your program?

Keep making work, no matter what. Stay honest with yourself and your vision. Most importantly, be brave enough to face your own questions, engage with the world around you, and share your story with others.

For this year’s SVA Alumni Scholarship Awards, 92 thesis or portfolio projects out of hundreds of applications were granted scholarships worth $63,000 for dozens of art and multimedia projects. To see a list of the 2025 recipients, click here.

To contribute to the Support the Talent campaign, you can make a donation online at sva.edu/give.