Exhibition Strategies: MassArt Graduate Gallery Thinks Beyond Campus  

Located in Boston’s vibrant South of Washington arts district, MassArt x SoWa is a unique off-campus gallery that exclusively highlights the work of Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) graduate students and alumni.

In 2021, the MassArt grad program was initially looking for a new space to host the spring and summer MFA thesis exhibitions. “It felt bold to take a step outside of the campus, in the midst of a pandemic,” says Felicia Scott Flint, MassArt x SoWa Director and alum of the MassArt MFA Studio Arts program, on opening the gallery. “What started as a logistical solution has blossomed into a key addition to the graduate programs’ culture. Not only has it become a hot spot for students to gather and meet other creatives in the area, but it has also allowed for MassArt to make important changes to the core graduate curriculum.” The gallery provides a space for curriculum in action, particularly for classes like Curatorial Practices, where over the course of the semester, students develop and install a professional exhibition, selecting the work of artists within and beyond MassArt to be in the show. 

MassArt x SoWa has evolved to support pathways for students and alumni interested in curation, arts programming, art handling, and the ways in which an exhibition space can foster a creative community. “I worked as a gallery assistant while I was a student, it was where my interest in pursuing a career in the field first began. A year after graduating, I curated my first exhibition there, and that curatorial opportunity opened the door to further opportunities elsewhere, eventually leading me to my current role as Director of Exhibitions at the Photographic Resource Center,” explains MassArt MFA Photo alum Catherine LeComte Lecce. 

The decision to pursue a location off-campus has been a significant benefit for the MassArt grad population. The gallery draws a broad audience, including buyers, with many of the exhibitions resulting in sales of work. It’s a great learning experience for graduating students, though MassArt x SoWa is intentional about balancing professionalism and experimentation. Scott adds, “Knowing that we can be malleable beyond a traditional white-box gallery space allows us to highlight the visions of our students and alumni.”

Fall 2026 applications are now open for all the MFA programs at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) in Boston. 

To learn more, visit sowa.massart.edu.