The San Francisco Art Institute is proud to announce the 2011 MFA Graduate Exhibition, opening May 13 at The Winery SF on Treasure Island. As SFAI celebrates its 140th Anniversary, the exhibition continues the school’s tradition of innovation, showcasing 72 graduating MFA students working in painting, photography, printmaking, film, sculpture, installation, digital media, performance, and more.

The 2011 MFA Graduate Exhibition will introduce the Bay Area community to these thought-provoking new talents and provide visitors with an overview of exciting directions in art today. The work on display is the result of an intense period of collaboration, investigation, and artistic development, and represents a range of interests and approaches. SFAI students are engaged with both art history and contemporary global society, yet possess strong individual points of view, and have created work at turns personal, political, playful, subversive, challenging, and beautiful.

The public is also invited to purchase tickets to an exclusive Preview Party and cocktail buffet on May 12, at which guests will be the first to view works by SFAI’s emerging artists, many of whom will be present to discuss their work. Ticket-holders at the sponsor or patron level will receive early entrance and a guided tour of the exhibition by a curatorial guest. Curatorial guests include Rudolf Frieling, Curator of Media Arts, SFMOMA; Gary Garrels, Elise S. Haas Senior Curator of Painting and Sculpture, SFMOMA; Betti-Sue Hertz, Director of Visual Arts, YBCA; Lucinda Barnes, Chief Curator and Director of Programs and Collections, BAM/PFA; Hou Hanru, Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs, SFAI; Jeannene Przyblyski, Dean of Academic Affairs, SFAI; and Whitney Chadwick, Professor of Art History. Tickets start at $150, and all proceeds from the Preview Party support SFAI students in the form of scholarships. Please call 415.749.4512 or email events@sfai.edu for additional ticket information or to purchase tickets. You can also purchase tickets online.

A catalogue of the 2011 MFA Graduate Exhibition will be available for purchase at the opening reception on May 13, 2011 and afterwards in the Walter and McBean Galleries on SFAI’s 800 Chestnut Street campus.


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Location:
The Winery SF
200 California Ave., Building 180 North, Treasure Island
San Francisco, CA 94130

Preview Party (ticketed):
Thursday, May 12, 7–10 pm
Ticket information at 415.749.4512 / events@sfai.edu
Or purchase online

Vernissage Reception:
Friday, May 13, 2011, 6–8 pm
Free and open to the public

Exhibition Dates:
Saturday, May 14 to Saturday, May 21, 2011
Open daily 11 am–6 pm
Free and open to the public