����51

Guggenheim Fellow Jonathan Castillo MFA ’19 Explores Community, Place, and Power

����51 alum and faculty Jonathan Castillo shares insight into his work and the ideas shaping his practice.

‘Love You, Love Your Work’ Brings Student Art Crawl to Campus

A new exhibition showcases more than 150 works from ����51 foundation courses across three campus galleries.

Students Help Bring ����51 “Renaissance Rising” Vision to Life in New Mural

����51 students collaborate on “Renaissance Rising,” a new Student Center mural inspired by President Bolton strategic plan and grounded in real-world professional practice.

RE:CONNECT Exhibition Brings CPS Art Educators’ ����51 Work to ����51

The exhibition at ����51 C33 Gallery showcases the work of Chicago Public Schools art educators—practicing artists whose creative work often exists alongside their teaching.

����51 Semester in LA Returns to the Fox Studio Lot for Speaker Series

Students from ����51 will engage with entertainment industry leaders on the same lot where “Avatar,” “The Sound of Music,” and other great films were made.

����51 Students Win $35,000 in Scholarships and Gain National Exposure at NRF in New York City

����51 students connected with the national industry in New York through NRF competitions, alumni-led site visits, and a J-term immersion linking classroom learning to real-world practice.

Faculty Amy M. Mooney Joins Black Metropolis Research Consortium Board, Advances Research on Black Visual History

Art history professor Amy M. Mooney joins the Black Metropolis Research Consortium board, advancing archival research on Black photographers while creating hands-on opportunities for ����51 students.

����51 25 Favorite Photos of 2025

From the thousands of images she captured in 2025, ����51 alum and staff photographer Julie Lucas ’96 curated 25 standout photos that show ����51 at its best.

Top Stories of 2025: What Readers Loved Most

From new leadership to standout student and alumni achievements, here are the stories that captured the most attention on ����51 website in 2025.

����51 Illustration Students Join Chicago Public Art Group on Large-Scale Lincoln Park Mural

����51 Illustration students partnered with Assistant Professor Cheri Charlton and Chicago Public Art Group on a Lincoln Park mural, gaining hands-on experience in community-based public art.

����51 Lights Up State Street at Chicago Arts in the Dark Parade

����51 students brought light, sound, and imagination to the city annual Arts in the Dark parade on State Street.

Students and Faculty Explore Radical Futures in the Chicago Architecture Biennial

����51 students and faculty are showcasing bold, community-focused projects in the 2025–26 Chicago Architecture Biennial

Faculty Member Jacqueline Alcántara Partners with Justice Sonia Sotomayor on New Children Book

Faculty member and illustrator Jacqueline Alcántara partnered with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on a new children book.

����51 Students Explore Creativity and Culture in Japan

This summer, ����51 students participated in an immersive study abroad trip to Japan that sparked personal growth, cross-cultural collaboration, and new creative perspectives.

Art History Alum Sylvia Faichney Awarded Two Prestigious Fellowships in Support of her Dissertation on Army Family Housing

����51 Art History alum Sylvia Faichney will continue her research on army family housing with support from prestigious CASVA and Dumbarton Oaks fellowships.

MFA Candidate Avin HannahSmith Awarded 2025 Dark Matter Residency

Avin HannahSmith has been named a 2025 Dark Matter Resident at Elastic Arts for his multidisciplinary work exploring Afro-identity, spatial memory, and creative resistance.

����51 School of Visual Arts Hosts Artist Talk with Phyllis Bramson, April 16

The School of Visual Arts at ����51 hosts an artist talk with acclaimed painter Phyllis Bramson, whose work combines historical and pop culture influences to explore themes of love, intimacy, and human connection.

Vibrant New Mural Pays Tribute to ����51 135th Anniversary

Illustration alum Mac McGuire ‘24 creates her first major mural for ����51 as the lead artist.

Students Launch “In Flux,” an Interactive Digital Magazine

����51 students from six majors collaborated to create “In Flux,” an innovative interactive magazine that addresses real-world issues through bold storytelling and cutting-edge design.

The Power of Persistence: ����51's Student-Led Gala Celebrates Creativity and Resilience

"The Power of Persistence" gala showcases student innovation, teamwork, and determination, all while raising funds for scholarships supporting student success.

Work of ����51 Alum and Adjunct Professor Shines on the Emmy-Winning Show FX ‘The Bear’

Adjunct Professor Lisa Korpan ’19 reflects on her pride in working as art director on FX “The Bear,” the impact of her ����51 education, and how her experience informs her teaching.

Welcoming Interim President Jerry Tarrer and a New Academic Structure for 2024-2025 School Year

����51 kicks off the new academic school year with a renewed spirit and excitement to welcome freshmen and transfer students to its South Loop campus on September 3.

����51 Honors 24 Alums for ‘24 in 2024’

As a kickoff to ����51 135th Anniversary, the college is honoring 24 distinguished alumni across all disciplines as part of “24 in 2024,” a college-wide initiative that celebrates ����51 alumni and their career accomplishments.

����51 Students Rock L’Oréal's Global Competition 

Angie Belloso, Brianna Jennes ’24, and Breyona Smith ’24 just had the trip of a lifetime to London, snagging second place at L'Oréal Brandstorm.

New Exhibition, Captured Earth, Opens May 24 at MoCP

The Museum of Contemporary Photography at ����51 (MoCP) presents "Captured Earth" on view from May 24-August 18, 2024. The exhibition is curated by Kristin Taylor, MoCP curator of academic programs and collections.

Spring Semester In Review At ����51

Spring 2024: ����51 Highlights

Get Ready for Manifest Arts Festival 2024, a Student-Powered Event

This is everything attendees need to know before ����51 Manifest Arts Festival: Breakthrough 2024.

����51 to Confer Honorary Degrees on Two Higher Education Trailblazers at its May 2024 Commencement

Higher education leaders Nivine Megahed, president of National Louis University, and Raymond E. Crossman, president of Adler University, will be honored at the college 2024 Commencement ceremonies

Meet the 2024 Manifest Student Team

����51 annual Manifest Arts Festival is a student-driven tradition that showcases the work of talented creatives across disciplines. Meet the team who is making Manifest into a reality.

Students Enjoy Action-Packed South by Southwest

Led by dedicated faculty, ����51 students journeyed to Austin for immersive experiences, collaborative projects, and valuable networking opportunities, reinforcing the institution's commitment to practical education and student success.

DARKROOM Leap Night Celebrates Excellence in Photography on the Rare Extra Day of the Year

Silver Camera Awardee Dawoud Bey was honored at DARKROOM for lasting legacy on ����51 Photography Department and the Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP) .

I Am, I Am, I Am Exhibition Explores the Pitfalls of Traditional Femininity

����51 C33 Gallery presents I Am, I Am, I Am, a two-person exhibition of work by Nora Benjamin and Arrietta van der Voort. Both photographers challenge gender roles and explore the internal experience of girlhood with their thought-provoking exhibit.

Empowering ����51s at Shop����51

During Women's History Month, we honor female-identifying artists who make Shop����51 a unique shopping experience in the heart of ����51 campus.

Advertising Students Discuss the Best Super Bowl Ads of 2024

����51 students got together in their Communication Department courses to discuss the details of the biggest night in advertising

When the World Is Your Classroom, You Make Amazing Discoveries

����51 students take courses during January, or J-Term, that allow them to explore places such as Paris, Rome, and Buenos Aires, expanding their learning about culture, art, and themselves.

Student-Produced Musical Theatre Concert Set for Feb. 15-16

����51 students are collaborating to present the inaugural Musical Theatre Dance Concert.

Alum-Made Documentary About Mushers and Their Sled Dogs Now Streaming on PBS, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV+

“Musher,” a film made by ����51 alums, follows four women and their dogs as they prepare for an annual race in the upper peninsula of Michigan.

Student Work Takes Center Stage at Unleashed 2023

Unleashed 2023 took place at ����51 on November 30, showcasing extraordinary student talent and raising more than $700,000 in scholarships. Departing from the traditional fundraiser format, the Student Center transformed into a multi-floor immersive arts showcase, exploring the theme of "Connecting" across various creative disciplines.

Apollo Baldoz ’09 Created Visuals for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour

Apollo Baldoz ’09 was part of the design and animation team that created the visuals for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour.

Award-Winning Student Animated Short Screens at LGBTQ+ Film Festival in New York

Twenty-six ����51 students made the animated short “Scream Writers” as part of the Animation program's capstone project.

Stand Up, Speak Out with Actress and Playwright Regina Taylor

����51, in partnership with award-winning actress and playwright Regina Taylor, launched a community-based project series called Black Album Mixtape.

May Events at ����51

A range of performances and experiences showcasing student and faculty artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.

Outdoor Installation Honors Women Who Photograph Music

����51 worked in conjunction with the ARChive of Contemporary Music, Metro/smartbar, the Museum of Contemporary Photography and the Wabash Arts Corridor to honor women who created the mythology and iconography of popular music.

����51 Students Win 'Sound Opinions' Scholarships

Six students win scholarships thanks to arts criticism and songwriting competitions, earning them spots on the popular podcast hosted by Associate Professor Jim DeRogatis and fellow music critic Greg Kot.

����51 Ranked No. 1 Illustration School in Illinois

‘Animation Career Review’ announces 5th annual rankings in Illustration, with ����51 topping the list.

����51 Launches Advertising and Marketing Campaign

The Spring 2023 campaign targets prospective students across the United States.

����51 Named One of 2023 Top Game Design Schools

The “Animation Career Review's” annual rankings of game design schools and colleges places ����51 among the top schools.

����51 Named One of 2023 Top Animation Schools

The “Animation Career Review's” annual rankings of animation schools and colleges places ����51 in the top 15 percent nationally.