American University's 2025 Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition, titled “TRANSIT,” is on view at the AU Art Museum from April 19 to May 18. The show features the culminating works of six graduating Studio Art MFA students: Phaedra Askarinam, Pooja Campbell, Patricia Edwine Poku, Connor Gagne, Andrés Izquierdo, and Julia Cheng Zhang. Their diverse practices span painting, ceramics, installation, and performance, unified by the theme of transit—interpreted as acts of passage, transformation, and self-discovery. Curated around this shared concept, the exhibition explores life transitions such as grief and parenthood, as described by Professorial Lecturer Molly Springfield.
This exhibition matters because it highlights the emerging voices of a new generation of artists who are engaging with personal and cultural narratives through a variety of media. The artists address themes of immigration, heritage, memory, and domesticity, reflecting broader societal conversations about identity and belonging. By presenting these thesis works in a museum setting, the show provides a platform for these artists to launch their professional careers and contributes to the ongoing dialogue in contemporary art education and practice.