The Master of Fine Arts program at UNC has attracted artists from all around the world, ranging from South Korea to Arkansas to New York City.
Now, in preparation for graduation in May, nine of these second-year student artists will showcase their work in their own weeklong exhibit in the John and June Allcott Gallery in Hanes Art Center. The series of nine exhibits, titled Aesthetic Conditions, began Monday and will end in mid-April.
Second-year MFA student Minjin Kang, who specializes in photography, said she was looking forward to the opportunity to exhibit her art, which she’s spent more than a year creating.
“I’ve traveled to probably at least 20 places in Chapel Hill and all over the state to take these pictures,” the South Korea native said. “So I’m excited for people to see them in the gallery.”
Kang said that while preparing her work and creating art at UNC, she has received a lot of helpful support from faculty.
What she likes most about the program here, she said, is her relationship with faculty and how encouraging and supportive they have been of her work.
Fellow MFA student and professional artist Michael Bramwell also said he found the faculty very helpful.
“Many of them have galleries, and many of them show in the art world, so when they teach, they’re not just teaching from a theoretical perspective,” the New York native said. “They have practical experience that I can relate to, and that’s been very helpful.”
For some students, success in the program depends most upon self-discipline.