Moore College of Art & Design

A little sneak peek at the works installed in “All Into One” and “Handmade,” the 2026 Juried Alumni Biennial. Join us for the opening reception tomorrow (Friyay 6/12) from 5-7pm and get to know some of the artists! See sculptures, quilts, hand-tufted creations, and so much more. There’s something for everyone! Let’s stay weird!

Philadelphia Sculptors The Galleries at Moore

(If you see your piece featured and want a tag, just holler and we got you!)

A visit to Tavern on the Green in Central Park will introduce you to the fabulous work of Wells Vissar, a custom decorative design/fabrication firm founded by two alumni—Kathy Vissar ’80 and Amy Wells ’80—whose unique scagliola pieces were also created for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Scagliola is a cast-plaster imitation that approximates marble. Perfected by Italian artisans in the 1600s, scagliola became a global phenomenon, appearing in grand 17th- and 18th-century residences.

This Tavern on the Green project was completed in 2014 and Wells Vissar continues to operate out of Philadelphia as an atelier of bespoke installations. Each of their 3,000 projects reflect Kathleen Vissar’s commitment to blending historical inspiration with modern creativity, ensuring that the ancient craft of scagliola continues to thrive in contemporary design.

Come explore "Handmade," this year's juried alumni biennial (opening Friday 6/12 from 5-7pm) and see new and recent works by alumni artists across generations and disciplines. This special exhibition is presented as part of Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a nationwide initiative organized by Craft in America in honor of the United States Semiquincentennial.

For this exhibition, craft is defined broadly, encompassing works in clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood and other materials. The works on view range from functional to nonfunctional, and include decorative, wearable, sculptural, and conceptual approaches. Techniques range from traditional to bold & contemporary—come discover this fabulous selection of work created by alumni and curated by alumna Leila Cartier ‘04, Executive Director of Houston Center for Contemporary Craft.

Images in order: Tisha Taylor '01, Margaux McAllister '04, Jasmine Schulte '20, Judy DeSimone '78, and Nina Valdera '20. All images courtesy of the artists. More info about the show and full list of participating artists can be found at the link in bio. The exhibition is on view from June 13–August 29, 2026.

We were looking through photos from the Giving Week Student Celebration — and had to share this moment. 💙 Earlier this year, the Moore community came together for our very first Giving Week, raising more than $39,000 in support of students, scholarships, and creative opportunity.

To celebrate, Fine Arts and Interior Design students gathered for an evening of desserts, drinks, laughter, and well-earned recognition after tying for the most donors during the campaign. Because of your generosity, students weren’t just supported — they were celebrated! Thank you for helping make moments like this possible.

Alumni Gallery Alert! "Homecoming" by Laura Petrovich-Cheney ’11 was installed last week and celebrates her signature style that transforms salvaged materials into striking works inspired by quilting and craft traditions. If you can’t get here to see it in person, no worries! And/or if you want to learn more about the project, we invite you to join us for a virtual artist talk featuring Laura in conversation with Program Head and Assistant Professor of Interior Design Sheri Watson as they discuss her artistic journey, creative processes and the ideas shaping the work on Thursday, June 18 from 12–1:30 p.m. Registration info at our link in bio.

"Homecoming" is on view May 16–July 18, 2026 and we invite you to join us for the opening reception: Friday, June 12 | 5–7 p.m. (in conjunction with the Juried Alumni Biennial). More info at our link in bio.

All images courtesy of the artist.

It’s official! Moore’s 2026 BFA and MA degrees were conferred on Saturday 5/16 at Philadelphia’s one and only Academy of Music, located on Broad Street (AKA the Avenue of the Arts). Our 177th Commencement ceremony celebrated the academic & creative accomplishments of 133 students who have spent the last few years working so hard to get here.

We congratulate you all for your achievements and wish you well as you begin the next chapter in your narrative. It won’t be without its challenges, but we hope that Moore has helped you to hone your skills and that, together, we’ve set a solid foundation for your career success. We know that you are creative professionals who will continue to evolve your craft as you launch your path out in the world and we are so proud to have been a part of your journey.

And know that we will continue to support you over the years as you change and grow! Stay in touch with your faculty, your favorite staff, and with our team in the Locks Career Center–they can help to guide you along the way. Cheers to the Moore College of Art & Design Class of 2026! 🥂

📸 Photos by Emily Morton ’22

BFA degrees:
Animation & Game Arts x 34
Art Education x 5
Fashion Design x 5
Fine Arts x 8
Graphic Design x 9
Illustration x 42
Interior Design x 11
Photography x 10

MA in Art Education with an emphasis in inclusive practices x 9

Last night we attended the premiere of a new documentary called “Becoming American, Philadelphia’s Story” at and are thrilled to share that 3 of Moore’s students helped with the production!

Last summer, we partnered with BearHouse Media and sent three of our students to work alongside the film crew and producers over the course of several weeks, filming both in Philadelphia and Bristol, England. The project was designed to provide practical opportunities for students, and to help the crew understand the founding history of America – specifically Philadelphia.
 
The project took place in two phases: the first involved a fashion student who completed research on historical costuming, artifacts and references from 1770s to 1830s. This student then shadowed the film crew throughout the city, shooting footage of Philadelphia. The second phase involved two animation students who travelled to London and Essex, England, and spent time with the paper artist commissioned for the film. Students worked in her studio on scenes she created for the film, and discussed techniques she used to animate. They also spent 4 days on set with the artist, the film crew, and the photographers who prepared and  filmed the paper art scenes in a studio for the documentary. In addition, they spent time on their own visiting various locations in the city to understand how Bristol was a critical port for Britain during the transatlantic trade in enslaved people.

It’s an exciting project that airs on WHYY-12 on May 28. It airs nationwide (and becomes available for streaming via PBS) on June 15.

Congratulations to our two 2026 co-valedictorians, Lulu Chen (Illustration) and Madison Quinones (Graphic Design)! With perfect 4.0 GPAs, their talent, intelligence, and dedication have made them the first students in 25 years to share this distinction. We know you will achieve great things out there in the world, never stop thinking creatively and keep up the phenomenal work! You make us so proud.

Lulu describes herself as “an artist guiding lost souls into mythical realms where the chaos of life can be escaped through fantastical illustrations.” She has received numerous honors and awards during her time at Moore including the AMDG 1933 Foundation Scholarship, Visionary Woman Honors Scholarship, and the Si Friedman Memorial Art Award. She interned at Legacy Photographics and currently works as a graphics artist & workshop artisan at Jeffrey Levinson.

Madison is a graphic designer specializing in branding, children’s design, environmental design, and UX/UI. She has received recognition for her academic excellence and creative work through honors including the Dieline Student Showcase, and the Tiffany & Co. Fellowship. She was a former Marketing and Digital Media Intern at the Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art as well as a Conservation Intern at the Historical Society of Pennslyvania, and is currently working as a freelance web designer.

Slides 2-4: illustrations by Lulu Chen Slides 6-11: graphic design projects by Madison Quinones All images courtesy of the artists.