First-Year MFA Exhibition

The Stories We Tell

Wide view of an exhibition gallery with mixed-media artworks installed throughout the space. In the foreground, a sculptural assemblage made from found materials sits on a wooden pallet atop a wheeled cart. White partition walls display small grid-based photographs and a gray relief-like wall work. In the background, a large black line drawing installation spells the word “CHOOSE” across a transparent surface, with additional artworks visible beyond.

First-Year MFA Exhibition: The Stories We Tell, 2026, installation view, UB CFA Gallery. Photo: Emily Reynolds.

Dates

February 10 – 21, 2026

Location

UB CFA Gallery

Artists

Caitlin Andrejova
Reese Betts
Rich Tomasello
Roscoe Duquette
Deirdre Harder
Darmelle Finelia Esterlin
John Mack
Bella Rosenthal

Related Programs

Description

This annual exhibition offers a glimpse into the studio practices of first-year students in the Department of Art’s MFA program. As these artists navigate the early stages of a rigorous two-year inquiry, the works on view reflect experiments in form, material, and conceptual approach. The First-Year MFA Exhibition invites audiences into a moment of becoming—where ideas are still in flux, and possibility is central to the process.