MFA Visual Narrative Program

❄️🎁 Something special is coming to your mailboxes! This year's holiday gift includes custom origami paper printed in the SVA RisoLab. The papers feature art by faculty members Nathan Fox, Gianna Meola, Susanne Reece ('20), and Jonathon Rosen. Instructions and packaging designed by Olivia Li ('21), and additional design by Rick Landers.

Each packet was hand assembled and includes instructions on how to make a crane, an envelope, and a snowflake.

Get cozy and tag to show off what you create! ❄️🎁

1 MONTH LEFT! Have you completed your application checklist? Submit by the January 15th deadline to be in consideration for the first round of admissions, merit and educator’s scholarships, and available housing grants. Link in bio for MFAVN application requirements and to begin your application online.

Still have questions about the program, portfolio requirements, or the application process? We’ve got answers, drop us a line any time at [email protected].

Reminder! SVA and MFAVN offices will be closed from December 19 to January 1 for the Winter Holiday. Be sure to reach out before then if you have any questions!

Get a glimpse into our 2024 Artist Presentations, featuring Class of 2024 recent graduate, illustrator, and educator Srobana Bhattacharya (.b). Srobana is also a recipient of our Educator’s Scholarship, which awards up to 50% off tuition for educators! Check out our recent post for more info.

Every summer, each MFA Visual Narrative graduate takes the stage to give an individual presentation that celebrates their creativity, storytelling, and personal journeys. This past summer, fourteen graduating students shared their thesis projects, each one a reflection of their unique artistic voice and their interpretation of the human experience.

In her artist presentation, Srobana shares how discovering graphic novels became “like finding a new language,” opening a world of possibilities that transformed her storytelling journey. Her sci-fi graphic novel, Flight, explores themes of connection, belonging, and resilience across time and space.

As both a political science educator and an artist, Srobana uses her voice to bridge two worlds, embracing what she calls her role as a “double agent.”

Want to explore how storytelling can transform your creative path? APPLY NOW! Applications for a Summer 2025 start are due January 15, 2025.

Photos and video by Borderless Colors ().

Illustrations by Srobana Bhattacharya (.b).

Hey Educators! Did you know that we offer scholarships of up to 50% off your tuition? Eligible candidates must currently teach full-time with the equivalent of six credits or more per semester (online acceptable) in an accredited college or university with at least two years of teaching experience (international experience is acceptable). Candidates teaching at the K-12 level will be considered on a case-by-case basis and should contact the department outlining their relevant background.

Check out our application requirements for all the info you need to apply for this scholarship when submitting your application. Have questions? Shoot us an email at [email protected].

Dive into our 2024 Artist Presentations, featuring Class of 2024 recent graduate, illustrator and animator Shenuka Corea (.moona).

Every summer, each MFA Visual Narrative graduate takes the stage to give an individual presentation that celebrates their creativity, storytelling, and personal journeys. This past summer, fourteen graduating students shared their thesis projects, each one a reflection of their unique artistic voice and their interpretation of the human experience.

In her artist presentation, Shenuka explores the beauty and wonder of encounters—between people, nature, and the unknown. Inspired by retro anime and the works of Hayao Miyazaki, Shenuka’s art examines humanity’s connection with their environment and the delicate balance between the familiar and the unknown.

Through the MFAVN program, Shenuka found a creative community that helped her refine her voice and push the boundaries of her storytelling. Her work invites audiences to see the world in new and unexpected ways.

Ready to reimagine storytelling and take your creative journey to the next level? APPLY NOW! Applications for a Summer 2025 start are due January 15, 2025.

Photos and video by Borderless Colors

Illustrations by Shenuka Corea .moona

Hey Storytellers! We want to get to know you, your work, and your story before you even submit your application.

We highly recommend that all applicants meet with our Chair Nathan Fox at least once before submitting their application. Knowing who you are is important to us and to our community.

Submit the "Let's Get to Know Each Other Form," linked in our bio, to schedule a meeting with us to talk about your creative process and what you have in mind for your portfolio.

Already submitted the form previously and want to chat? Shoot us a dm or email at [email protected].

Applications are due SOON on January 15! We are here to answer any questions you may have and help guide you through the process. Check out the photos for our in person, virtual, and 1-1 dates before the deadline.

Coming up: Come see us and other SVA Graduate Departments THIS SATURDAY at the newly opened SVA Graduate Center!

❗Last chance to meet us in person before our priority deadline on January 15, 2025! ❗

Join us Saturday, December 7th at the 136 W 21 Street building to learn all about the SVA Graduate Programs! This information session and open house will provide prospective students with valuable insights into the diverse array of graduate programs that the School of Visual Arts offers. During this event, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the various programs, meet the department chairs, and receive program brochures and materials. Several programs will also provide tours of their state-of-the-art studios.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? To commemorate 10 Years of SVA MFA Visual Narrative, we’ve reached out to alumni across classes and disciplines with two simple questions: "Where are you now?" and "Why MFAVN?”. We gave our alumni free rein to interpret these questions using any medium of their choice.

“The MFAVN community is an extraordinary feeling of being connected to exceptional people. In the first few weeks of starting the program, my classmates became my closest friends with whom I was able to share all my creative joys and challenges and still do. The professors are most generous with their time and expertise, some of whom have become my mentors for life. It is a supportive and magical space with an unparalleled creative energy that always propels me to create fantastic stories and will always be a very special place of encounters and connections.” Class of 2024 Srobana Bhattacharya shares how she found a way to merge her passion for political science, teaching, and visual narratives about identity and belonging during her time at our program.

Interested in hearing more about Srobana’s story? Check out our Info Session recording, where Srobana shared her experience, in the link in our bio!

Join our community of storytellers! Applications for Summer 2025 are OPEN NOW.

Just a reminder: Our application deadline for priority review is JANUARY 15, 2025! Are you getting your materials ready to apply? We've compiled an easy to use, step-by-step application checklist for you to check off before you press submit. Want to print this out as a web page? The web version is linked in our bio!

START YOUR APPLICATION NOW! Links to our Grad Admissions Portal and MFAVN Department Slideroom Portal are linked in our bio as well.

Have questions? Shoot us a dm or email at [email protected]. Good Luck!

Did you miss our 2024 Info Session last month? Our recording is now live on our website for you to view! Learn more about our program summer, trips and events, and 1-1 mentorship opportunities. Hear from our amazing faculty Amanda Chung and Jenny Goldstick about their courses and own creative practice. Learn firsthand what our program is like from first year student Jordon Briggs, second year Mart Smooth, and recent grad Srobana Batthacharya! This and more now in the link in our bio.

Our priority deadline for merit scholarships, housing grants, and more is January 15, 2025. APPLY NOW!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? To commemorate 10 Years of SVA MFA Visual Narrative, we’ve reached out to alumni across classes and disciplines with two simple questions: "Where are you now?" and "Why MFAVN?”. We gave our alumni free rein to interpret these questions using any medium of their choice.

"The MFAVN community, to me, means having an anchor in an art family that keeps me grounded and focused on the work of being an artist and storyteller." Class of 2021 multidisciplinary artist Jac Kirby () shares how she found confidence and created a safe space to explore creativity after going through the MFA Visual Narrative program.

Do you resonate with Jac’s story? Applications for Summer 2025 are OPEN NOW.

Congratulations to faculty member Stacy Morrison, whose exhibit "The Girl of My Dreams, Sylvia: A 19th Century Life" is now on display at the Rhode Island Historical Society!

Almost twenty years ago in New York, Stacy came across a small, 19th-century trunk abandoned on the side of the road. After much research, she discovered that the trunk's possessions belonged to Sylvia DeWolf Ostrander (1841-1925), a member of the prominent DeWolf family. Inspired by the remnants of her life left behind, Stacy embarked on a quest to reimagine Sylvia's life through photography, painting and textiles. Her research, reinterpretations, and the original objects, are now on display, creating a microhistory that brings to life a Victorian woman’s forgotten story.

"The Girl of My Dreams," now open at the John Brown House located at 52 Power Street in Providence, will be open through August 2025. General admission costs $10 per person and is free for RIHS members, other discounts are available.

Thank you to all of our students, alumni, and faculty who came out to the "Bold Outlines" Opening Reception last Friday! The evening not only celebrated our brilliant alumni work, but also showcased how SVA graduate departments collaborate together to enrich each other with their diverse range disciplines and mediums. "Bold Outlines: Celebrating SVA's Graduate Programs" is still on view and open to the public at SVA Flatiron Gallery until November 27.

We are delighted to announce that three of our alumni have been selected to participate in the exhibition, "Bold Outlines: Celebrating SVA's Graduate Programs," on view November 8 through November 27! Congratulations to Feifei Ruan '15, G. Davis Cathcart '21, and Eva Louise Hall '20!

Feifei Ruan '15's "Gifting Designs: Tiffany & Co." (Slides 1-2) is a multimedia installation commissioned by Tiffany & Co that which celebrates the iconic brand through cross-cultural storytelling, crafted specially for Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

G. Davis Cathcart '21's "One Eight Hundred Ghosts" (Slides 3-4) is a graphic novella about time travel, astral projection, Michael Jackson, the New York City art world as it existed in the 1980’s and Telecommunication Towers. First developed as Davis' thesis at MFA Visual Narrative, the graphic novel is now published by Fantagraphics.

Eva Louise Hall '20's "Mira" (Slides 5-6) is an award-winning 11-minute surrealist horror film following the story of a struggling accordionist busker who gets more than she bargained for when her desire to get noticed attracts the attention of a mysterious and enticing competitor. Originally developed as Eva's thesis at MFA Visual Narrative, the film won top awards at the 2023 SCAD Savannah Film Festival and the 2024 Fantastic Fest in Austin, TX.

Stop by to see this amazing works at SVA Flatiron Gallery in November. Head to the link in our bio to learn more about these pieces and artists, as well as other works that were shortlisted for this exhibition.

Storytellers in New York–we are here to hear your story and chat with you about your creative practice. Stop by any of our in-person events this weekend at SVA Graduate Center and Parsons School of Design.

Not in New York or the New England Area? We have two virtual events coming up at the end of the month! Check out the full carousel for details, and register at the link in our bio.