Stamps MFA in Art by University of Michigan Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design

MFA MASTER OF FINE ARTS

AN IMMERSIVE JOURNEY INTO YOUR

CREATI

IVE PRACTICE

The MFA Program at the Stamps School is unparalleled. With a rich history that has produced some of the world’s most renowned artists, the Stamps MFA program will enhance its students’ scholarly and creative pursuits through its innovative approach. Each year, the Stamps School accepts just a few of the most qualified, curious artists who are ready for the rigors of research and a comprehensive curriculum that will prepare them to push boundaries and discover new knowledge.

RANKED # 8 IN THE NATION u The Penny W. Stamps

School of Art & Design is ranked among the top eight graduate schools in the nation for fine arts according to the U.S. News and World Report Education Rankings (2020).

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

Greetings from the Stamps School of Art & Design! The Stamps Master of Fine Arts program at the University of Michigan offers the advantages of a close-knit creative community with access to an extensive range of resources only available at a large, top-tier research university. The Stamps MFA is an interdisciplinary, two-year program designed for artists committed to a strong studio practice. At times, the creative projects in our program encompass studiobased investigations and inquiry in fields of knowledge outside the traditional scope of art practice. Past graduates have engaged with fields as diverse as neuroscience, immigration law, ecology, economics, and gender studies to inform and expand their creative work. In addition, students have access to fifty certificate programs, including Museum Studies, Digital Studies, Environmental Justice, World Performance Studies, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offered by the University of Michigan’s Rackham Graduate School. Faculty mentorship is a key component of the Stamps MFA journey, providing students with a robust support system of scholars and practicing artists. The program contains a rich array of studio, technical, and digital resources that students can access when needed in their studies and practice. Students engage in summer fieldwork, traveling domestically or internationally to conduct research to fuel their thesis work. As they near graduation and begin transitioning into professional practice, students are further helped through post-graduate funding for residencies, exhibitions, and project development. Graduates of the program go on to a wide array of career paths, including artist residencies, prestigious fellowships, faculty appointments, and museum and gallery exhibitions. We encourage you to explore the Stamps MFA program through this book and online at stamps. umich.edu/mfa. You can also contact our team by emailing stamps-mfa@umich.edu. Please reach out, we can’t wait to hear about your educational aspirations and work as an artist. Sincerely, David Chung Director of the MFA Program, Stamps School of Art & Design

THE STAMPS MFA

EXPERIENCE As creatives, students become an integral part of the Stamps community. With opportunities for research, travel, teaching, and collaborating with artists and scholars at the university and around the globe, Stamps MFA students have outstanding resources and mentors available to them.

MFA PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS Two-year program ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mentorship from a creatively diverse community of Stamps artists and scholars ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Exhibition space in the 8,000 square-foot Stamps Gallery in downtown Ann Arbor ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------33,000 square-foot graduate studio facility ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Post-graduate professional opportunities based on funding availability ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Financial support ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Career preparation, networking, and post-graduation career planning process ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Self-directed international project ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Opportunity to be teaching assistants for undergrads, and to teach classes independently based on availability ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Curricular support for creative work driven by research and inquiry

OUR SPACE IS

YOUR SPACE

THE STAMPS MFA STUDIOS & FACILITIES All MFA students receive their own dedicated workspace throughout the duration of the program. The graduate studios are located in the Stamps studio facility, which houses faculty studios, project spaces, wood shop, metals shop, digital media studio, and large shared working and meeting areas. In addition to the studio facility, graduate students have 24/7 access to the Art & Architecture Building, where the Stamps School is located. There, students will find a wealth of resources, including state-of-the-art metals, fibers, ceramics, sculpture, wood, printmaking, digital media, photography, and digital fabrication studios. At the University of Michigan, there are even more resources, such as audio engineering booths, robotic labs, virtual reality studios, specialized libraries, institutes, collections, museums, and more. Collectively, the environment of the campus and community is conducive to informing and inspiring creatives in their practice.

EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES From the Stamps Gallery to other pop-up opportunities across the campus, MFA students get the chance to share and celebrate their artistic works. Installations of works of art are crucial experiences for Stamps MFA students. Conceptualizing, planning, and putting into practice an entire art exhibit for the public is a key part of the first and second-year experiences. The Green Road Studios, where the graduate workspaces are located, are ideal for pop-up exhibitions and gatherings for students and their work. The Stamps Gallery, located in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor, hosts the annual MFA Thesis Exhibition each spring, giving students their final opportunity to showcase the culmination of their research in the program. Across the University of Michigan and the community, abundant exhibition space is available, along with invitations to collaborate and partner on artistic initiatives.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE & CREATIVE PRACTICE The program features a scheduled international experience for all Stamps MFA students. Each student determines their destination for conducting research that will have relevance and impact on their thesis work. Stamps recognizes that creative practice is global in its scope and impact. With funding support from the school, each student conducts a self-directed research and creative practice trip. Past trips included research on the residual effects of colonialism in South Africa; recording sound in Egypt’s museums, tombs, and temples; developing film in Iceland’s volcanic baths; uncovering alternate narratives of early exploration history with the Igloolik community in the Canadian Arctic Circle; working with porcelain sculpture artisans in Jingdezhen, China; and participation in a two-month residency at the MeetFactory International Center of Contemporary Art in Prague.

u I magine where you

will go to pursue your creative work, to be inspired, and to push beyond familiar boundaries. The choice will be yours.

Krista Sheneman, MFA ‘24 For her thesis project, Krista traveled to Italy where in Rome she photographed Catholic first-class relics with a pinhole camera formatted to fit into her mouth. She also completed an artist residency in Tusa during her travels to that country.

Oksana Briukhovetska, MFA ‘23 The goal of Oksana’s research during her travel to Santiago, Chile was to learn about Arpilleras, textiles that express political and personal stories and testimonies by speaking with women in that country. Oksana drew on this experience to create a series of textile works that highlighted the tragedy of the war in her homeland of Ukraine.

Professor Endi Poskovic

THE STAMPS MFA FACULTY Dedication and commitment. That defines the outstanding faculty and practicing artists who teach and inspire the student cohorts of the MFA Program. Each faculty member brings depth of method and experience in the arts, in scholarship, and in the classroom. They provide mentorship and support to MFA students throughout their time at the Stamps School. Each student selects their own personal faculty advisor who will engage with them during their two-year scholarly and creative endeavor that will lead to their graduate degree.

MFA students and faculty work collaboratively to shape an intellectually rigorous program of study suited to each candidate’s areas of interest and expertise. Among the prestigious Stamps faculty are Fulbright Scholars, Guggenheim Fellows, United States Artists (USA) Fellows, and awardwinning artists who practice across a broad spectrum of mediums. More than a dozen faculty members are part of the MFA program, and each is deeply invested in students as individuals, helping them to achieve thier artistic and educational goals. Below are just a few of the stellar MFA faculty members who engage with students during their time at Stamps.

Professor Heidi Kumao

Associate Professor Roland Graf

Professor James Cogswell

Professor Nicole Marroquin

Associate Professor Stephanie Rowden

Assistant Professor Pedram Baldari

DESTINATION: ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN One of the Best College Towns in the Nation A thriving artistic and educational community, Ann Arbor is home to the University of Michigan, where the Stamps School of Art & Design is located on the picturesque North Campus. Ann Arbor is consistently ranked one of America’s best college towns and is located close to Metro Detroit and other welcoming communities. Art galleries, museums, a vibrant nightlife, numerous parks, and recreational facilities are just some of the area’s features, making it one of the top places to live in Michigan.

EXPLORE MORE

u artdetroitnow.com

u hyperallergic.com (search Detroit)

u culturesource.org

u visitannarbor.org

u pulp.aadl.org

INTERACT WITH EXPERTS IN ANN ARBOR Students have direct access to the wide array of creative innovators who are part of the Penny Stamps Speaker Series and the Witt Visiting Artist Program. Visiting artists and lecturers meet with graduate students for individual studio visits. Past visiting artists include Caroline Sinders, Kiki Smith, Tracey Snelling, Pussy Riot, Nick Cave, and Sally Mann among others.

Dean Carlos Francisco Jackson interviews Chicano art advocate and actor Cheech Marin at the 2023 Stamps Speaker Series.

The MFA Program invites distinguished guests, artists, curators, and scholars to engage with students and faculty. Through these dialogues, students interact with thought leaders on the most pressing critical issues of our time and how art and artists play a role. Critiques are also part of this experience, with students receiving feedback on their works in progress and completed pieces and installations. These sessions build relationships, confidence, and connections that last well-beyond graduation from the program. Every semester, these interactive sessions are held. Here are just a few of the most recently invited experts to join us at the Stamps School. u Clare Gatto - Co-director at BULK Space u L aura Mott - Chief Curator, Cranbrook Museum u Steve Panton - Writer, curator and founding editor of Essay’d u Sarah Rose Sharp - Artist & Writer for Hyperallergic u Millee Tibbs - Photographer and faculty at Wayne State University u Alison Wong - Director of the Wasserman Projects Gallery u Alivia Zivich - Artist and co-founder of What Pipeline Artist Run Space

STAMPS MFA: HISTORY OF ALUMNI EXCELLENCE Stamps School MFA Program graduates join a dynamic group of artistic professionals nationally and internationally recognized for their compelling and award-winning work.

Michele Oka Doner, MFA ‘68

Here are just a few of the alums

One of the most revered artists of the last half-

who have achieved professional and

century, Michele Oka Doner works in a variety of

personal success in the world of art.

media, including sculpture, prints, drawings, functional objects, and video. Michele credits her education at the University of Michigan for influencing her work. She is known for her large-scale installations at a variety of locations across the globe, including the Miami International Airport, Princeton University, Shanghai Astronomy Museum, and Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.

Cecilia Mendez-Ortiz MFA ‘02

Beili Liu, MFA ‘03

Cecilia Méndez-Ortiz is the Executive Director of the

Beili Liu is a professor and visual artist who creates

Center for Art and Community Partnerships at Massa-

site-responsive installations and performances that

chusetts College of Art and Design and the Co-Director

address themes of migration, cultural memory, labor,

of the Radical Imagination for Racial Justice regranting

and social and environmental concerns. Her work has

program. While Cecilia is known as a leader in arts ed-

been exhibited across the country and around the

ucation, she is also a renowned artist. Her installations,

world. A widely recognized artist and scholar, Beili is

prints, drawings, and bilingual animations in Spanish

a recipient of the 2022 Andrew Carnegie Fellowship,

and English have been exhibited and screened in Mexi-

a prestigious honor supporting research in the social

co, Japan, and the U.S.

sciences and humanities that addresses important and enduring issues confronting our society.

Janet Taylor Pickett, MFA ‘72

Razi Jafri, MFA ‘22

Janet Taylor Pickett is a painter and collagist whose

Razi Jafri is an award-winning documentary filmmaker.

work has been exhibited across the country at such

His most recent documentary, Three Chaplains,

places as the Harvard University Museums, the Phillips

premiered on PBS in November 2023. His previous film,

Collection in Washington D.C., and the Schomburg

Hamtramck, USA (SXSW 2020) chronicles democracy in

Center for Research in Black Culture in New York

America’s first Muslim-majority city. He is also a Gilda

City. She was instrumental in establishing the Art

Award recipient from the Kresge Foundation.

Department at Essex County College in New Jersey and taught art and art history there for over thirty years.

Cosmo Whyte, MFA ‘15

Ellie Schmidt, MFA ‘22

Cosmo Whyte is an interdisciplinary artist whose

Ellie Schmidt is a recent recipient of a Fulbright grant,

practice employs drawing, painting, installation, and

one of the U.S. government’s most prestigious awards.

sculpture. He is also an assistant professor in the UCLA

Her grant was used for a filmmaking project about the

Department of Art. Cosmo has exhibited his work

traditional ecological knowledge of female fishermen in

nationally and internationally. He is the recipient of

Fiji. During her project, she learned about the country,

many honors, including the Harpo Foundation New

became conversational in Fijian, and filmed stories of

Works Project Grant, the Art Matters Award, The Louis

women in the fishing villages.

Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award, and the Working Artist Project Award.

Emerson Granillo Hurtarte, MFA ‘23 Dear Shame: Exploration of Shame, Identity, and Healing Dear Shame: Exploration of Shame, Identity, and Healing is an immersive journey into the depths of the human psyche. Emerson Granillo Hurtarte invites viewers into his world of vulnerability, honesty, and catharsis. The interactive installations within the exhibition are more than just art pieces; they are portals into the artist’s soul. As visitors engage with these installations, they become active participants in the artist’s quest for selfexploration and healing.

Krista Sheneman, MFA ‘24 Glucose Levels Landscape MFA student Krista Sheneman lives with type 2 diabetes. The data graphs of her body’s activity from her glucose monitor inspired her to turn her personal health information into a study in landscapes. Krista created a wooden sculpture using the CNC router at Stamps, housed in the DigiFab lab. It took seven hours to cut two 8×4 foot pieces of oak plywood. Referring to her “glucose landscapes” as a “ time-based sculpture,” Krista said, “I realized that many of my processes and interests involve labor and collection – both take up much of my time! Through this work, I explore my identity using health, collection, memory, and labor.”

Oksana Briukhovetska, MFA ‘23 Songs and Flowers for Ukraine Oksana Bruikhovetska’s thesis project is a profoundly moving exploration of her homeland of Ukraine. Oksana was in her first year of the MFA program when the war broke out, and Oksana turned much of her attention and art to the violent conflict. Through a series of tapestries, Oksana seeks to raise awareness of the war’s human toll, and to encourage viewers to learn from the tragedy, while hoping for peace and reconciliation. Her work highlights the resilience and strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The flowers used throughout the work symbolize myriad messages and emotions. In her work, flowers are used to express love, appreciation, respect, and to honor those who have died. Through her art, she seeks to humanize the conflict and inspire empathy and understanding while highlighting the need for accountability and justice.

Peter Stack, MFA ‘23 Cacospectamania: An obsession of staring at something which is repulsive or vulgar. In the summer of 2022, Peter Stack traveled across the United States to state and national parks, nudist colonies, and a gay campground in Michigan. In each space, he photographed himself finding peace and pleasure in the sublime beauty of each natural location. His journey aimed to explore and document how the body can exist in diverse natural spaces, each with their own set of rules on how bodies are allowed to function within their borders. The series of self-portraits show a queer body that is gorgeous and grotesque, that dares to be non-traditional in a world ruled by heteronormativity and capitalism. The work is meant to ignite urgent conversations about bodily autonomy, desexualized nudity, queer sexuality, and human relationships with nature.

Sebastian Llovera, MFA ‘23 Cuando hay santos nuevos los viejos no hacen milagros Using artificial intelligence to explore the complex and dynamic relationship between nature and technology, Sebastian Llovera created an exhibit that is both visually stunning and throught-provoking. Sebastian’s thesis project examines the unique strengths of AI and fungi, and how these two seemingly disparate items develop a type of relationship by talking to each other. Sculptures, cyanotypes, and videos represent the communication between the two, demonstrating how these two seemingly opposing systems can work together to create more holistic approaches to understanding and engaging with the natural world.

Stéphanie Morissette, MFA ‘24 Dialogue MFA student Stéphanie Morissette creates a vibrant visual installation using paper, needles, cardboard and textile in her studio space at the Stamps Green Road Studio. Through the complex paper installation, Stéphanie is offering viewers a perspective where nature is represented by a feathers and leaves motif colonizing a human space.

MFA DEGREE

REQUIREMEN Stamps MFA students must complete 15 credits of coursework each semester for a total of 60 credits at the end of the two year program. The curriculum accommodates a range of art practices and combines studio-based inquiry with more scholarly, research-focused student work.

FIRST YEAR

SECOND YEAR

Directed Studio - 12 credits Each semester of the first year, students engage in intense exploration, research, production, and critique of their creative work.

Thesis Studio - 12 Credits MFA candidates conduct an independent project during their second year, which is guided by a thesis committee and culminates in an exhibition at the Stamps Gallery, a public talk, and a written thesis describing the work and its significance.

ADDITIONAL CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS

Critique - 12 Credits Critiques provide students weekly opportunities to articulate their work’s foundational ideas and context and receive feedback from faculty, visiting artists/critics, and peers. Elective Courses - 9 credits Students select elective courses to meet their individual MFA curriculum and research goals. Stamps Graduate Seminars - 6 credits Seminar topics include “Research Methods,” “Professional Practice,” and other themes related to contemporary art practice. History/Theory/Criticism - 6 credits These courses are offered by Stamps, History of Art, or other University of Michigan units related to the student’s specific field of inquiry. International Project - 3 credits During the summer between the first and second year of the MFA program, each student conducts research that will impact their thesis work.

NTS APPLICATION PROCESS The Stamps School welcomes applications from highly qualified students in the MFA program which is part of the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies at the University of Michigan. Application to both the Stamps School and the Rackham School must occur concurrently, with applications materials submitted to both schools. Up to eight new students join the extremely selective Stamps MFA Program each year. The successful applicants share these common traits: u Hold a bachelor’s degree in art u Demonstrate an interest in interdisciplinary inquiry u Have a strong portfolio of creative work u A record of exhibitions u Have a substantive life experience to draw upon in charting new directions for creative practice u Prepared for intensive focused creative inquiry and production

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR MFA STUDENTS The Stamps School offers generous financial support to MFA graduate students. In addition to teaching/research assistantships and stipends, discretionary funds are allocated to offset studio expenses and international travel. Financial awards are offered.

APPLY NOW

stamps.umich.edu/mfa

stamps-umich.edu/mfa-apply Please visit our website for information on application deadlines.

(734) 936‑0671

stamps-mfa@umich.edu

Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design 2000 Bonisteel Boulevard Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2069

Cover Art by Michelle Hinojosa, MFA ‘23 Michelle Hinojosa, MFA Thesis project lime green is for the taco stand is the featured work on on the cover of this brochure. In this compelling exhibit, Hinojosa highlights her family’s unique migration experiences through multimedia works, including quilting, bold colors, and poetry. Since earning her MFA from the Stamps School in 2023, Michelle was chosen as one of three master’s degree-level residents chosen for the prestigious Creative Careers Residency at the University of Michigan. This transitional program supports full-time, self-directed creative practice. During her residency, Michelle is installing art interventions on windows in high-traffic areas around the U‑M campus to bring joyful color into university buildings while also creating space and representation for Latinx students who can often feel “othered” in large, predominantly white universities.

STATEMENT OF DEI VALUES & LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT FOR STAMPS The Stamps School affirms the existence of diverse and intersectional identities, including age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, language, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, size, and socioeconomic status. The Stamps School celebrates our community members’ varied identities and creative practices. We are proud to be located in the beautiful state of Michigan, where we are graced by 20% of the planet’s fresh water in our great lakes. The University of Michigan exists among hardwood forests on the banks of the Huron River, located on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Wyandot (Wyandotte), Seneca, Delaware, Shawanese (Shawnee), Miami, Sauk and Fox, and others. In 1817, the Bodewadami, Odawa, and Ojibwe Nations made the largest single land transfer to the University, land granted through Article 16 of the Treaty at the Foot of the Rapids, with the understanding that their children would be provided with educational opportunities. We honor and gratefully acknowledge the Native Peoples on whose ancestral lands we gather, and the diverse and vibrant Native communities who make their home here today. Through these words of acknowledgment, their contemporary and ancestral legacies to the land, sovereignty, and their contributions to the University are recognized and reaffirmed. NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY STATEMENT The University of Michigan, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University of Michigan is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. Inquiries or complaints may be addressed to the Senior Director for Institutional Equity, and Title IX/Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Office for Institutional Equity, 2072 Administrative Services Building, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1432, 734-763-0235, TTY 734-647-1388, institutional.equity@umich.edu. For other University of Michigan information call 734-764-1817. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN REGENTS Jordan B. Acker, Huntington Woods Michael J. Behm, Grand Blanc Mark J. Bernstein, Ann Arbor

Paul W. Brown, Ann Arbor Sarah Hubbard, Okemos Denise Ilitch, Bingham Farms

Ron Weiser, Ann Arbor Katherine E. White, Ann Arbor Santa J. Ono, (ex officio)

stamps.umich.edu/mfa