Exhibition Opening: MICA Grad Show, 2023

Constellations is the final thesis exhibition of the fourteen 2023 graduates of the Leroy E. Hoffberger School of Painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Each year, MICA’s second-year MFA students present an exhibition showcasing their thesis work. This spring, the 2023 MFA graduating class presents their thesis exhibition at the Peale Museum, the first purpose-built museum in the United States. It was commissioned in 1813 by Rembrandt Peale, a member of the famous family of American artists and museum pioneers, and originally housed his studio and gallery. 

The LeRoy E. Hoffberger School of Painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art is unique among top MFA programs in the country in its intense focus on painting, as distinct from the cross-disciplinary programs that dominate the field. The Hoffberger School is known for its high level of intellectual discourse, diverse visiting artist roster, and communal yet rigorous critical environment.

The fourteen artists in the graduating class will exhibit paintings produced between spring 2022 and spring 2023. While each artist represents a distinct approach to painting, the title of the exhibition, Constellations, suggests not only the diversity of their practices, but also the collaborative nature of their artistic relationships. Working together in a shared space has resulted in often surprising visual connections and influences.