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The Daily Hub

A roundup of ideas and projects from around the Institute

  • Gerald Levy, adjunct assistant professor of social science and cultural studies, discussed the growing strength of the labor movement in the United States with CFO Dive. “The ‘mood’ of the workers has changed,” Levy said. “They see the current time as a historic ‘moment’ to strike while the iron is hot and make transformational changes.”

  • Salman Toor, MFA Fine Arts (Painting) ’09, shares his work, preoccupations, and influences in the PBS arts and culture series, CANVAS. “About three or four years ago, I decided to make semi-autobiographical paintings that were about being more out as a gay man,” he said.

  • Steve Locke, professor of fine arts, has joined the Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture’s Board of Governors to advance the school’s mission of uplifting emerging visual artists. “Skowhegan has been such a major part of my life as an artist and educator,” he said. “I’m really happy to have this opportunity to serve and give back to a place that has given so much to me.”

  • Rudy Gutierrez, professor of undergraduate communications design and BFA ’79, was commissioned by the MTA Arts & Design program to create an illustrated design for its popular Poster program. His vibrant Transporting Art to Life! design can be viewed on various lines throughout the NYC subway system and is available for purchase as a poster.

  • The Washington Post profiles Hamid Rahmanian ’96, who majored in computer animation at Pratt, and his epic Song of the North multimedia production that uses 483 shadow puppets to adapt part of the Shahnameh (Book of Kings). “The ‘Shahnameh’ is like ‘The Iliad’ and ‘The Odyssey’ for Iranians,” Rahmanian said.

  • Bryan Rogers, MFA ’10, discusses his studio space and approach to work with Artnet ahead of his second solo exhibition Wallflowers at Monya Rowe Gallery in New York. “I spend most of my days in front of my painting working or thinking about working,” he said. “Much of that time is spent painting small details.”

  • Philip Parker, adjunct associate professor – CCE of Graduate Architecture and Urban Design (GAUD), and John Shapiro, professor in the Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment, discuss the complexity of installing seawalls for climate resilience in an article for the Commercial Observer, as well as emerging designs that better accommodate environmental and social conditions. “What we’re designing is not a wall but a system: a way in which we can actually use advanced computation to make variations in the edge and implement those in different places,” Parker said.

  • Matte, a photography magazine founded by Matthew Leifheit, adjunct associate professor of photography, has published its most ambitious issue yet, featuring a 480-page survey of 80 American photographers. AnOther samples the issue and speaks with Leifheit. “The magazine is about where American photography is today, and how these artists are building on the history of American photography,” he said.

  • Karina Sharif, BFA Fashion Design ’08, discusses her latest projects, approach to art, and her residency with the Brooklyn-based WORTHLESSSTUDIOS for a profile in Vice’s i-D magazine. “I think there’s a lot of joy in my work,” she said. “And there’s also this sadness as well, if you look deeper into some of the meanings.”

More Pratt Institute News

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Celebrating Creative Legends

Legends 2025 raised vital funds for student scholarships and honored distinguished creative icons Jeremy Scott and Mavis Wiggins, with awards presented by Heidi Klum and Cindy Allen.
A group of five individuals stands together outdoors, smiling and posing for a photo. One person holds a certificate framed with the text "NOMA Barbara G. Laurie 2025 Student Design Competition Honorable Mention, Pratt Institute." They are dressed in a mix of casual and formal attire, with trees and a fence visible in the background, indicating it's late afternoon or early evening.

Architecture Students Make Strong Debut at Design Competition

From Pratt Institute News

The Pratt team earned national recognition and the honorable mention award for a project centered on food, culture, and connection in Kansas City.
Two individuals are engaging in conversation while looking at a book in an art gallery. One person has short hair and glasses, wearing a black sleeveless top with a white panel and a long black skirt. The other has long, dark hair in a ponytail, dressed in a bright blue blouse with a bow tie and light gray pants. A large pink artwork is visible in the background.

Nurturing Exquisite Relations

From Pratt Institute News

Cocreated with alumni, faculty, and students across the Institute, a recent exhibition presented by Pratt’s School of Art embodied mentorship, collaboration, and support for the LGBTQIA+ community.