Lakshmi Reddi Interim Provost and Chief Academic Officer | nmsu.edu
Lakshmi Reddi Interim Provost and Chief Academic Officer | nmsu.edu
New Mexico State University's Department of Art, in collaboration with the University Art Museum, is set to host significant exhibitions that highlight the creative achievements of its students. The displays open on April 25 and feature works from both Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) students, reflecting a range of personal, cultural, and scientific themes.
The MFA exhibition, titled "Stone, Glass, Light, Silk," will run from April 25 through May 10 at the University Art Museum. It showcases the thesis work of four students: Alfred Gyasi, Elham Sabri, Johanna Typaldos, and William Morée. The exhibition presents diverse themes including psychology, identity, and cultural heritage, explored through various media such as ceramics, photography, textiles, and metalwork.
Gyasi, an artist from Accra, Ghana, integrates Kente cloth patterns into his ceramic pieces, combining traditional braiding and coiling techniques. Sabri's works use symbolism to critique Iran's hijab laws and societal oppression. Typaldos employs metals and jewelry to explore memory and relationships, while Morée, based in New Mexico but originally from New York City, delves into human visual perception.
Parallel to the MFA exhibition, "ROOTED," the BFA thesis exhibition, will be open until May 9 in Devasthali Hall and the Mullennix Bridge Gallery. The work of 10 graduating BFA students, including Kayla Blundell, Matthew Cota, and Citlali Delgado, forms the basis of this exhibition. Their pieces encompass themes ranging from industrial and desert flora, biological organisms, and life along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Other students such as Jennell Juarez and Sabrina Martinez explore domestic and personal identity themes, while Lei Maslian critiques Western consumerism. Jessica Mercado, Savannah Perez, Jade Rubio, and Yalet Yanar bring additional themes related to cultural narratives, dreamscapes, girlhood, and feminist perspectives.
An opening reception will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on April 25, preceded by a public walkthrough of "ROOTED" at 4:30 p.m. Additional events include a metal casting workshop on May 3, and the exhibitions coincide with the university's Research and Creativity Week. The exhibitions are accessible to the public with further details, including a livestreamed opening, available on the Department of Art's Instagram page.
The exhibitions aim to celebrate the diversity and creativity of NMSU’s emerging artists, providing them with a platform to share their artistic journey and insights.
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