We Are Close In Distance

We Are Close In Distance is an exhibition considering how physical, temporal, and archival space has the power to unite as well as divide through the excavation of interpersonal, intergenerational, and spatial intimacies. The participating artists comprise a diverse and multigenerational group. Working across media, the artists participating in We Are Close in Distance explore how intimacies are constructed, deteriorate, and are consequently reclaimed as part of the culmination of the continuously unfolding present and the lingering past. 

Artists include: Sadie Barnette, Edwin Bodney, Tonya Ingram, Amanda Gentry, Carl George, Felix Gonzalez-Torres and Ross Laycock, Ozzie Juarez, Vishal Jugdeo, Jose Guadalupe Sanchez III, Anna Sergeeva, Ron Tarver, Joey Terrill, Xirin, and Diana Zeng

Additional event
November 14, 5pm (PST): Hybrid Film Screening. Shane Aslan Selzer’s film I Love You No Matter What and Activating The Carl George / Felix Gonzalez-Torres / Ross Laycock Archive. All events are open to the public and free.

We Are Close In Distance is organized by the 2023 MA Curatorial Practices cohort: Storm Bria-Rose Bookhard, taylor brock, Nadia R. Estrada, Tracy Fenix, Jiayi Hu, Valencia Monroe, Adrianne Ramsey, Diego Dela Rosa, Jonas Short, Haiyang (Kevy) Yang and Bryce Zeffert.

Apply now to the USC Roski MA Curatorial Practices program. Study with Renowned Faculty and Peer Collaboration Within a World Class Research University, Located in a Thriving Arts District.

Application deadline: January 15, 2023.
Graduate in-person information session: Friday December 2, 2022 at 5:30pm 
Graduate virtual information session: Monday, December 12, 2022 at 6pm

For more details, contact: roski [​at​] usc.edu.

One of the key features of USC Roski School graduate programs is the unparalleled access students have across diverse fields of study at USC—a leading research university, and home to 19 professional schools—allowing for interdisciplinary experimentation through complementary fields of study. 

The Masters in Curatorial Practices and the Public Sphere is an intensive master’s-level program in the practice and history of curating studied through the lenses of critical theory, art history and visual culture. During two years of full-time academic seminars and professional training, students explore a range of curatorial practices applicable to diverse institutions and curatorial formats.

USC Roski students work with renowned faculty from two programs, MA and MFA Art; forming well-rounded practices. In addition to the USC Roski faculty, students have one-on-one access to additional artists, performers, curators and critical thinkers through the Visiting Artists and Scholar Seminars that includes talks, classes, and studio visits. Participants have included Andrea Bowers, Tanya Bruguera, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Cecilia Fajardo-Hill, Theaster Gates, Julie Mehretu, Julio César Morales, Pepón Osorio, Coco Fusco, Legacy Russell, Candice Lin, and Crenshaw Dairymart Artists.

Roski MA Curatorial graduate candidates benefit by working side by side with MFA Art candidates in a new facility designed to encourage an open exchange of ideas, knowledge and experience. The graduate programs facility includes a MA seminar conference room, a makerspace, classrooms and project spaces; along with the Roski Graduate Gallery.

Courses are led by USC Roski’s acclaimed artists, scholars, critics and curators. Current faculty includes: Andrew Campbell, Amelia Jones, Suzanne Lacy, Jenny Lin (MA program director), Karen Moss and Anu Vikram. 

Students conceptualize and curate an exhibition or other curatorial project during the first two semesters, then produce an exhibition, publication or another kind of public interface in the final semester. Additionally, students complete scholarly research and write on a topic of their choice for the MA Thesis. 

Recent Roski MA Curatorial Practices alums work in galleries and museums including the California Afro-American Museum; Getty Research Institute; Hauser & Wirth, LA; LACMA; Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE); Ben Maltz Gallery, Prospect, New Orleans; Rhizome, NY; The Underground Museum, and the Whitney Museum. 

The building is located in the vibrant Los Angeles Arts District—home to dozens of museums, galleries, design firms, artists and designers. Within walking are the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Hauser Wirth; and The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. 

Funding is available on a competitive basis.

More about USC Roski.