The Program
The Art Practice program offers a fully interdisciplinary approach to an MFA degree. We approach artmaking holistically: artists in the program are not defined or separated by medium or discipline. We view process as a kind of critical thinking.
Artists in the program engage in research-based practices, and are encouraged to converse and collaborate across subject matters using a combination of traditional and non-traditional media, technologies and techniques. We aim to create a global community of artists and cultural producers who look beyond a consensus driven approach to how we define what’s important in contemporary art.
To that end, a carefully selected, small group of MFA candidates come together at SVA’s NYC campus for three successive, intensive summer residency periods where they have the opportunity to work closely with artists, designers, writers, critics and curators. Guests in 2017 included Roberta Smith, Martha Rosler, Shaun Leonardo, William Powhida, Andrea Fraser, John Cohen, Brainard Carey, Emma Sulkowicz, Kalia Brooks, Oliver Herring, Mark Dion, J. Morgan Puett, Kalup Linzy, Mike Perry, Jay Sanders, Fred Tomaselli, Alexis Clements and Antoine Catala.
Current and recent mentors for the program include Baseera Khan, FAILE, Tony Oursler, Anton Ginzburg, Kimsooja, Dawn Dedeaux, Ben Davis, Melissa McGill, Suzanne Joelson, Mel Chin, Alice Aycock, Wang Qingsong and Sara Jimenez.
Facilities include a digital sculpture center, a bio-art lab and video and sound editing facilities in addition to a wood shop, metals shop, ceramics studio and fibers lab. In the intervening fall and spring semesters, participants engage in required, rich-media online coursework from all over the world.
Apply
We are still accepting applications for Summer 2019 on a rolling basis. The application can be found here.
Program Dates
The Summer 2019 session of the MFA Art Practice program runs from June 12 to July 30.
Current Practice
