Help the UPenn Graduating class of 2015 have a Philadelphia group show with Tyler School of Art

Just click here to help!

At the end of each academic year, MFA programs around the Nation have thesis shows presenting the achievements of their respective programs. Philadelphia boasts a strong history of Fine Arts education that has, for better or for worse, long been relatively insular between institutions. We, at PennDesign are excited to be given the opportunity to mount the first ever joint curated exhibition of graduating MFA candidates from UPenn and Tyler School of Art, organized and curated by a team of MFA candidates and Art history PhD candidates from both schools. 

Our intention is to contribute to the Philadelphia community through collaboration among programs. We hope, through our success of our first show, to be able pass the torch to our successors and have it become a tradition for years to come.

Because of the parallel pursuits of artmaking that both PennDesign and Tyler share in common, we have been asking ourselves the these questions: How do educational environments shape students into the artists they will become? How are artists able to translate the work they do into a life and career outside of the school where they receive so much support? Most importantly, we agree that visibility is vital for art forms of all kinds.

The exhibition is to be installed at the ICEBOX gallery in the beautiful and historic Crane Arts building. We, the graduating MFA students of 2015 are attempting to independently raise the money for our group show. This is where you, our friends and family, come in! We have pulled what money we have to fund the show but we still need $2500. This amount covers the rent for one month, building and paint supplies to construct walls in the gallery and for transportation costs. 


This is not a PennDesign funded event. It is funded by us, the graduating class of 2015 so any amount will be help, even if it is just $5. We need to raise the money by April 30th. You can donate money to our GoFundMe account. Just click on the link!

We thank you for taking the time to read our plea for help!