Maine College of Art & Design presents the 2026 MFA Thesis Exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art

Maine College of Art & Design presents 

the 2026 MECA&D MFA Thesis Exhibition at 

the Institute of Contemporary Art 

On view from May 7 – 16, 2026

Jonathan Spath Digital Brush, Placitas, New Mexico, 2025. Inkjet Print. 

PORTLAND, ME — April 27, 2026 — Maine College of Art & Design, in collaboration with the Institute for Contemporary Art, is proud to present the thesis exhibition celebrating the MFA Class of 2026. This exhibition showcases the culmination of the graduate candidates’ work in the Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art program at the Maine College of Art & Design. The exhibition opens with a public reception on Thursday, May 7, from 5-7 pm, and will run through Saturday, May 16, 2026.

Julie Poitras Santos, Associate Professor and Chair of the MFA in Studio Art program, shared, “We are proud to present the artwork of this rising class of emerging artists, reflecting the depth and diversity of our MFA in Studio Art program.”

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, drawing, photography, print, sculpture, 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.

2026 MFA Thesis Exhibition

On View: May 7–16, 2026

Opening Reception: Thursday, May 7, 5–7 pm

Exhibiting Artists: Abigail G. Cloutier, Harley Ngai Grieco, Molly Knobloch, Stephen Medeiros, Darby Miller, Dylan Ouellette, Caitlin Perrigo, Jonathan Spath, Isaac L. Stern

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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) cultivates engagement and dialogue around contemporary visual art practices, aiming to foster critical discourse of our time and enhance 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 across platforms collaboratively and thinking with others to inspire creative action, reimagine our future, and create compassionate communities together through visual art.

The ICA is open Wednesday–Sunday, 11:00am–5:00pm, and Thursdays until 7:00pm. Exhibitions at the ICA at Maine College of Art & Design are free and open to the public.

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For images, further background, or interviews, please contact:

Leah Brooks

Director of Marketing & Communications

Maine College of Art & Design

T:  +1-207-699-5009

lbrooks@meca.edu

Katrina Stewart

Account Manager, Visual Arts

Blue Medium

T: +1-212-675-1800

katrina@bluemedium.com