SAIC Shows 2024: exhibitions and events

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) celebrates the talented SAIC students completing their undergraduate and graduate degrees with SAIC Shows, boundary-breaking creative exhibitions and events featuring student work. This spring, SAIC shows will be held in SAIC Galleries and across campus. More events may be announced. Please visit here for event locations and the latest updates.

Graduate Exhibition One: February 26–March 6
The culminating presentation of new and ambitious work by 54 MFA candidates in SAIC’s class of 2024. Graduate Exhibition One is the first of two graduate exhibitions this spring.

Post-baccalaureate annual exhibition: February 26–March 6
This presentation features the work of elevent students completing the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Studio.

Artbash: March 22–April 6
First year students from the Department of Contemporary Practices (CP) exhibit new interdisciplinary art and design works. Students have the opportunity to participate through site specific proposals, an open call for work, and by faculty selection.

Spring undergraduate exhibition: April 5–April 13
The culminating work of more than 250 graduating seniors. This exhibition features the ambitious and innovative interdisciplinary work of our students, the next generation of artists, scholars, and citizens. 

MA Visual & Critical Studies symposium & exhibition: April 6
Graduating Master of Arts in Visual & Critical Studies students present their scholarship and work.

IMPACT Performance Festival: April 6–7
Features live performance work by students completing their Performance degrees. 

Pedagogical Palooza: April 13–April 14
The Master of Arts in Arts Education 2024 Pedagogical Palooza presents the thesis projects of artists, educators, designers, curators, teachers, organizers, and activists.  

Fashion 2024 senior capstone fashion show: May 3
A showcase of collections on the runway by SAIC Senior Fashion Design students.

FVNMA Festival: May 8–11
The Film, Video, New Media, Animation, and Sound Festival will highlight the work of graduating students presenting moving image and sound work and will be held at the Gene Siskel Film Center.

Graduate Exhibition Two: May 10–22
The culminating presentation of new and ambitious work by more than 80 MFA, MDes, MArch, and MArch-IA candidates in SAIC’s class of 2024. Graduate Exhibition Two is the second of two graduate exhibitions this spring.

MFA in Writing graduate reading: May 17
Graduating students from the Master of Fine Arts in Writing program read selections from their work, including, but not limited to, fiction, nonfiction, and text off the page. Discover what writing becomes when students adapt the practices of their studio-artist peers.

BA Art History symposium & senior thesis: May 18
Graduating Bachelor of Arts in Art History, Theory, and Criticism seniors present theses with panels and discussions.

BFA in Writing thesis reading: May 18
Graduating students from SAIC’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Writing program read, perform, and otherwise represent their work in traditional as well as hybrid and experimental forms, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, scripts, electronic media, and performance

More events may be announced. Please visit here for the latest updates.

About the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers​, and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top programs in the nation by US News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago museum, on-campus galleries​, and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate​, and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alums and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, Jeff Koons, and LeRoy Neiman. Learn more at saic.edu.