May 7–16, 2026
Portland Maine 4101
United States
The Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art (MFA) at Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D), in collaboration with the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at Maine College of Art & Design, is pleased to present the MFA Thesis Exhibition celebrating the Class of 2026. This exhibition showcases the culmination of the graduate candidates’work in the Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art program at Maine College of Art & Design.
The MFA Thesis Exhibition for the Class of 2026 features nine artists working across a range of making practices spanning themes including the natural and built environments, the uncanny, the everyday, health, grief, and personal and cultural histories. With an emphasis on both the local and the global, the exhibition highlights a range of studio practices including ceramics, drawings, photography, prints, sculptures, and sound and video installations. The nature of their work and research demonstrates the caliber and cultural relevance of MECA&D’s MFA Studio Art program, a close-knit yet far-reaching community that connects emerging artists to the wider art world.
Exhibiting artists include Abigail G. Cloutier, Harley Ngai Grieco, Molly Knobloch, Stephen Medeiros, Darby Miller, Dylan Ouellette, Caitlin Perrigo, Jonathan Spath, and Isaac L. Stern.
Contact: T +1 207 699 5026, admissions@meca.edu.
Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art at Maine College of Art & Design
Supported by renowned faculty, visiting artists and carefully selected graduate advisors, the MFA in Studio Art curriculum emphasizes the intersection of production, individual research, and critical analysis. Students choose either a Low or Full Residency option. MECA&D’s Full Residency MFA provides 24/7 access to private studios and staffed fabrication facilities where students work alongside peers and with local faculty. Among the first programs of its kind in the country, MECA&D’s Low Residency MFA combines intense periods of on-campus instruction with the freedom and independence of working from any home location, anywhere in the world.
Graduate Programs at Maine College of Art & Design
Maine College of Art & Design offers a Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art (MFA), Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), online Master of Arts in Education (MAEd), online Graduate Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy, online Graduate Certificate in Arts Leadership and Administration, and a Salt Graduate Certificate in Documentary Studies. MECA&D’s community is diverse, and each new student adds immeasurably to the vibrancy of our community. Applications are evaluated individually, with consideration given to the strength of the portfolio and academic achievement.
The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at Maine College of Art & Design
The Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art & Design cultivates engagement and dialogue around contemporary visual art practices, fostering critical discourse of our time and enhancing understanding of visual culture. Located in stunning galleries in Maine College of Art & Design’s landmark Porteous Building, the ICA presents an exhibition calendar of ambitious work by living artists, operates as a learning laboratory for students, and as a center for public programming regarding contemporary art that engages with the local, national and global art community. Hosting multiple exhibitions each year, accompanied by a dynamic series of public events and artist talks, the ICA also supports Maine College of Art & Design graduate student exhibitions and events. The ICA is dedicated to working collaboratively across platforms and thinking with others to inspire creative action, reimagine our future, and create compassionate communities together through visual art. Exhibitions at the ICA at Maine College of Art & Design are free and open to the public.
