Nov 17, 2025

Sunlight streamed into the art studios, illuminating paintings, ceramics, sculptures, photographs, and many works-in-progress, as students, professionals, and the public recently converged for a bustling day of art, inspiration, and activities at Pratt’s facilities at Dock 72. The occasion? Pratt’s annual Fine Arts MFA Open Studios, Photography MFA Open Studios, as well as a first-of-its-kind artist resource fair, Open Fields. Organized by the Fine Arts Department, Open Fields was developed to nurture the city’s arts ecosystem by building community between artists, art lovers, advocacy groups, and the nonprofit organizations that help support and sustain creative practices. Together, these events made for a uniquely lively day, as visitors navigated art-filled studios and exhibition spaces and gathered for panel talks with acclaimed artists and industry experts. 

For the second year in a row, Open Studios was held at Pratt’s Dock 72 facilities, following last year’s debut of the MFA program’s expansive gallery and studio spaces.

Open Fields: An Artist Resource Fair

An indoor art event scene featuring Dieu Donné gallery. Several groups of people are gathered, some engaged in discussions while others browse artworks displayed on walls and tables. A person in a brown coat and boots talks to individuals in front of a table with various art materials and publications. The space is well-lit with modern decor, showcasing art pieces framed on the wall.
Advocacy groups and nonprofit organizations tabled at Open Fields, sharing their information, resources, and expertise with visitors and students.

Between chatting with artists and attending panel discussions, students and visitors also had the chance to chat with nonprofit organizations and advocacy groups participating in Open Fields: An Artist Resource Fair, which was created to facilitate conversation between artists, organizations, and the public. The event brought together a dynamic cross-section of organizations—ranging from artist residencies and grant-giving foundations to maker spaces, advocacy groups, and alternative exhibition venues—creating a platform for connection, visibility, and support for artists.

Participating organizations included Artadia, Center for Urban Pedagogy, Dieu Donné, Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, The Fortune Society, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, The Laundromat Project, NARS Foundation, Project for Empty Space, Recess, Residency Unlimited, Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop, Silver Art Projects, Socrates Sculpture Park, and Wassaic Project.

“The idea to align Open Studios with our first ever Open Fields artist resource fair came about when I was at a convening organized by MoMA’s Department of Public Engagement,” said Fine Arts Chair Jane South. “In times like these, it makes sense for organizations that support artists to do so collectively whenever possible. Bringing everyone together created an environment where new connections and potential collaborations could emerge.” South added, “We are incredibly grateful to Leonardo Bravo, director of MoMA public engagement, and to all the participating organizations for their collaboration and support of this inaugural Open Fields event.”

Public Programming

Four people stand together smiling in an art gallery, with colorful abstract paintings in the background. They appear to be enjoying their time at the event, dressed in casual attire, with name tags visible. The atmosphere feels friendly and celebratory.
L-R: Alexandra Unthank, Jane South, Jasmine Wahi, and Shaun Leonardo

Attendees were invited to sit in on intimate panel discussions, where they could engage directly with experts in the field on how artists build and sustain their practices through studio work, community engagement, resource networks, and alternative models of support.

Kicking off the programming, Fine Arts Chair Jane South moderated Residencies & Resources: Building Your Practice Through Supportive Structures with Shaun Leonardo, co-director of Socrates Sculpture Park; Alexandra Unthank, director of EFA Studios; and Jasmine Wahi, founder and co-director of Project for Empty Space.

In Funding Your Practice: Grants, Alternatives, and Insider Advice, Fine Arts Department Coordinator Jennie Tang facilitated a conversation between Arantxa Araujo, program manager of the Foundation for Contemporary Arts; Bora Kim, program director for Artadia; and Ayesha Williams, executive director for The Laundromat Project.

The programming concluded with a conversation organized by MoMA’s Public Engagement Department and moderated by Leonardo Bravo, director of public engagement at MoMA. The panel, titled Big Idea: How do artists sustain community-engaged practices?, brought together celebrated artists DonChristian Jones and Pratt alumna Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya, MFA Communications Design ’15, for a thoughtful conversation on their art practices and working in community. (Open Studios / Open Fields was organized in collaboration and with support from MoMA’s Public Engagement Department.)

Fine Arts MFA Open Studios

Four people are engaged in conversation in an art studio surrounded by large canvases. Two people are laughing, while another gestures animatedly. The artwork behind them features colorful and expressive scenes, depicting figures in various settings. The environment is bright and creative, with art supplies visible in the background.
Caroline O’Grady, MFA Fine Arts (Painting and Drawing) ’26, in her studio during Open Studios
A spacious indoor hallway with white walls displays various artworks. Several people are gathered, including a person in a knitted sweater looking at an artwork. Other individuals stand nearby, engaging in conversation. Art pieces and printed materials are pinned or hung along the walls, contributing to an engaging atmosphere. An exit sign is visible above, indicating the direction to the nearest exit.
Open Studios invites the public to catch a rare glimpse into the working processes of Pratt’s MFA artists.
A person is smiling and reaching out towards a row of colorful objects mounted on a wall. They have shoulder-length hair, wear glasses, and are dressed in a dark blue blazer with decorative patterns and a black top, complemented by high-waisted jeans. The background features artistic designs on paper and hanging decorative elements.
Tanvi Shaha, MFA Fine Arts (Sculpture) ’26 in the studio
A textured wall filled with abstract artwork in various colors, including shades of red, blue, and green. The wall features sketches, lines, and circles, creating a dynamic visual effect. A shadow from an overhead structure passes across the wall, enhancing the artwork's depth. In the foreground, there's a glimpse of a wooden structure and a small table, hinting at a creative workspace. Natural light from a nearby window illuminates the scene.
Art by Tanvi Shaha, MFA Fine Arts (Sculpture) ’26

Artists welcomed visitors into their studios with smiles, snacks, and interactive art. Pratt’s annual Open Studios event welcomes the public into the graduate studios, offering an opportunity for the artists to share their processes, meet new potential collectors or collaborators, and celebrate their creative accomplishments. MFA artists work across painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, installation, social practice, and interdisciplinary forms, guided by a diverse faculty of practicing artists, scholars, and curators.

On this particular Saturday, one studio was covered in dirt as part of a conceptual installation project; another overflowed with half-made sculptures of wire and foam, reference materials, and ceramic experiments; still others offered pristine white walls dotted with paintings.  

Three people are indoors, observing a large art piece made from natural materials resembling a figure. The background features a wall adorned with various artistic displays, including paintings and sketches. The well-lit space includes plants, a work table, and tools on a nearby surface. The atmosphere appears creative and collaborative.
Visitors in the studio with Jack Catlett, MFA Fine Arts (Sculpture) ’26

“Open Studios is a really great opportunity to have people into your studio that are unfamiliar with your work, and you get to have conversations that refresh your perspective with the work… Getting to talk about it forces you to reckon with the things you’re thinking about but maybe haven’t communicated out loud yet,” said Jessi Olarsch, MFA Fine Arts (Painting and Drawing) ’26. “And now that we have Open Fields also, having all these artist resources here is really amazing, and I’ve gotten to learn more about opportunities postgrad and meet really interesting people.” 

Photography MFA Open Studios

Three people are engaged in conversation in a modern space. One person is holding a blue mug, while two others are smiling; one wears a beige trench coat and striped shirt, and the other dons a blue cap and a dark jacket. Various photographs are displayed on the wall behind them, featuring different subjects and scenes.
Artists and visitors chat at the Photography MFA Open Studios.

Visitors flowed easily between the Fine Arts Open Studios and the Photography Open Studios, happening concurrently in the space, featuring a diverse array of photographic works displayed in unique configurations. In each studio, visitors had lively conversations with the artist or quietly contemplated the work. “It felt very community driven,” said Nyree Sylvia, MFA Photography ’27. “The crowd was curious, and conversation flowed organically.” Jaylen Scott Brannon, MFA Photography ’26, agreed, adding, “Visitors seem to feel comfortable starting conversations. The turnout was great!”

By midday, the Photo Gallery was packed with people for The Photography Commons, a panel featuring presentations by nonprofit photography and photography-adjacent organizations, including Baxter St. Camera Club, Penumbra Foundation, Soft Network, and Wendy’s Subway.

A crowded room with an audience seated on chairs, facing a panel of speakers at the front. The background features a wall adorned with various black-and-white and color photographs. A television is set up on a table near the panel, and people are engaged, some taking notes or listening attentively. The atmosphere appears to be a discussion or presentation event.
The room was full for The Photography Commons panel, which featured nonprofit photography and photography-adjacent organizations.

Visitors also celebrated the opening reception of Something Like Meaning, a second-year student exhibition curated by Adjust Professor – CCE of Photography Allen Frame, featuring works by Sara Marie Adriani, Jaylen Scott Brannon, Austin Taylor Hall, Chen Kan, Graham Gabriel Littell, Mario de la Ossa, and Catherine M Rodriguez. “The gift of a group show,” explained Frame in the curatorial statement, “is that patterns felt in individual bodies of work can intensify through the exhibition, bringing further depth and complexity to the viewer’s understanding.”

Visitors explore an art gallery featuring several photographs displayed on white walls. Four people are engaged with the exhibits, while others are positioned throughout the space. The interior is well-lit with modern ceiling lights, and the floor is a light-colored concrete.
Student works were displayed in the gallery spaces.

This year also marks Associate Professor of Photography Katherine Hubbard’s first year as the MFA program faculty director. “In collaboration with Fine Arts’ Open Fields, MFA Photography was excited to bring together a range of New York nonprofit organizations who focus on lens-based work and photography. The panel presentations were excellent, and the energy at Open Studios was festive all around,” said Hubbard. “I am thrilled to be a part of this amazing community of artists who share a passion, criticality, and engagement with photography in all its forms. We had a strong show of alumni and prospective students, which is a testament to the vitality of our growing community.”

A scattered array of various photographs lies on a wooden surface. The images feature different subjects and scenes, showcasing vibrant colors and diverse compositions. Some visible photos depict a person lying on the ground, hands, and close-up facial expressions. The photographs overlap, creating a dynamic visual texture.
Images on display at Photography Open Studios

See more images from the 2025 Fine Arts Open Studios / Open Fields and Photography MFA Open Studios below. 

  • An art gallery interior featuring various artworks. To the right, a large painting of a person with an orange shirt and a concerned expression. Nearby, a blue canvas and smaller artworks, including a portrait of a man with yellow tones and a knife. The gallery has simple white walls and visible lighting fixtures, with a stool in the foreground.
  • A person with short hair and a dark vest stands in an art gallery, facing a series of large, colorful photographs depicting abstract oceanic patterns in blue and black. The gallery features white walls, a concrete floor, and natural light coming through large windows. There is a piece of paper attached to the wall nearby.
  • Three people are engaged in conversation in a cozy, well-lit room. One, wearing a red top, is animatedly speaking. Another, holding an iced drink, is listening attentively, while the third, dressed in a brown sweater, smiles. Behind them, there are stacked books and artwork displayed on the wall, adding to the creative atmosphere.
  • Three individuals are gathered near a window, looking at sketches and designs taped to the glass. The sunlight creates a warm glow, illuminating their shoulders and the drawings, which include various illustrations and notes. The background features a blurred cityscape of buildings.
  • A small photograph is pinned to a textured light green sheet of paper on a white wall. The photo features a bush near a fence with a broom leaning against it. In the background, two black and white photographs are hung on another wall, depicting people in water. A wooden table with scattered images is visible in the foreground, with floor-to-ceiling windows and dim natural light.
  • A person with dark, curly hair is hanging two art pieces on a white wall. They are attaching textured, abstract artworks made from mixed materials. In the background, there's a colorful framed artwork with geometric shapes and another piece featuring two dark figures in a landscape. The individual is wearing a navy long-sleeve shirt and brown pants.
  • A view of a waterfront scene featuring boats moored along a dock, set against a backdrop of a city skyline with tall buildings, including skyscrapers. In the foreground, there are two pieces of artwork: a sketch and a painting depicting a figure in a cornfield. The image captures a blend of urban and artistic elements.
  • An art gallery interior features a colorful painting depicting people on a volleyball court next to a hotel. Several artworks are displayed on the walls, including a large, vibrant abstract piece, a black and white photographic work, and a unique sculpture resembling intertwined forms. The gallery has a neutral background with well-placed lighting, enhancing the visibility of the artworks.
  • A metal shelving unit holds various pieces of artwork and paper. The top shelf is covered with a tan cloth, while several flat artworks, primarily in black and white, are arranged on the shelves below. Some pieces are partially visible, showcasing unique textures and patterns. A few canvases and padded boards are seen leaning against the side of the shelf. The background is minimal and light-colored.