Heirloom Convoy, the fourth annual MassArt graduate alumni exhibition, showcases new work from thirty-six alumni-artists working with diverse media, ideas, and strategies. Here, fabrics, worn and woven, speak to memory and to the malleability of the human form. The painted female figure alternately leads a dance, tells a story of women’s intimacy, and challenges gender roles. The lens reflects not only our likeness, but our identity and sense of place, and both the photographic process and the printed image-objects serve to bridge gaps in culture and power. Systems are considered, as methods of both organization and oppression, and means to explore both histories and possibilities.

The work in Heirloom Convoy is grounded in these gestures and more. The numerous interpretations of what it means to solve problems through visual explorations opens up a wide road of potential ideas. These thoughts, steeped in their respective traditions and contexts, transport us to different states of mind. Whether through laboriously crafted objects or gracefully framed picture planes, the artists in Heirloom Convoy confront us with poignant observation, sharp inquiry, and irreverent wit.

The exhibition takes its title from a featured work by Laurel McMechan (MFA ‘10 2D), whose own work is inspired by “the warp and weft of memory and the present.” This tradition of plucking the collective show title from a single work, begun with our inaugural juried alumni exhibition in 2021, honors our alumni-artists’ use of language to expand the viewer’s understanding of their work, and acts as a jumping-off point for new ideas. For us, this convoy is assembled with members of a rich shared lineage, gathering momentum, moving toward the future, stronger and more resilient together.

The work featured in Heirloom Convoy represents seven MassArt graduate programs, including the college’s current Master of Fine Arts programs (2D and 3D Fine Arts, Photography, Film/Video, Dynamic Media, and Interdisciplinary Fine Arts), as well as Masters degree programs in Art Education. The artists in the 2024 exhibition completed their degree programs between 2008 and 2024.

This exhibition was collaboratively curated and prepared by Felicia Scott Flint, Justin Anthony Flint, Rebecca Morrison, Thatiana Oliveira, Janhvi Gokalgandhi, and Dhanshree Patil.

VIEW FULL LIST OF ARTWORKS + PRICES HERE