A SIMULTANEITY MARK: MFA Design Thesis Part 1

Reception: Jan 21, 6–9 pm

On view: Jan 20 – Feb 05

The first part of the MFA Design Thesis exhibition “A Simultaneity Mark” opened in the Mason Gross Galleries with strong energy and a full room. Faculty, students, and visitors moved fluidly through the galleries, creating the kind of atmosphere shows hope for but rarely achieve. The event felt genuinely communal rather than ceremonial.

Each room carried a distinct spatial and visual character. Peyton Chiang’s installation title emphasized scale and material presence, drawing viewers into a work that unfolded through movement and proximity. Anukriti Kaushik’s title created a striking contrast, combining sculptural forms and printed elements that encouraged slower, more attentive looking. Asem Kiyalova’s work title introduced a different rhythm, where objects, surfaces, and projection intersected to produce a layered visual experience.

What made the night memorable was not just the individual projects, but the shared presence of the Mason Gross community as both graduate programs shared the galleries. Design and visual art audiences overlapped, conversations extended across disciplines, and the exhibition operated as a social as well as visual space. The show remained open to the public through February 5, sustaining that initial momentum beyond the reception.