Columbia School of the Arts MFA Visual Arts and Sound Art Open Studios

Columbia University hosts MFA open studios

The Class of 2027 from the Columbia University School of the Arts will showcase upcoming thesis projects during open studios on Sunday, November 15, e-flux reported.

The event, held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET at Prentis Hall, located at 632 W 125th St in New York, offers a preview of works in progress across the Visual Arts and Sound Art concentrations. The studios are free and open to the public.

Prospective students can attend an information session and facility tours earlier that morning at the Lenfest Center for the Arts. Starting at 11 a.m., these sessions allow applicants to meet faculty and discuss the programs’ curricula and admissions processes.

Students choose from several art concentrations

The MFA in Visual Arts at Columbia is designed as an interdisciplinary program where students shape their own study rather than following a single prescribed track. According to the school, applicants can choose from several concentrations, including Painting & Drawing, Sculpture, Printmaking, Photography, Sound Art, Moving Image, and Expanded Practice.

Columbia School of the Arts MFA Visual Arts and Sound Art Open Studios — Photo: lenfest.arts.columbia.edu

The Sound Art concentration operates in association with the Department of Music and the Computer Music Center. This partnership positions sound as both a creative medium and a conceptual subject within the experimental art and performance ecosystem of New York City.

The following artists are scheduled to participate in the November 15 open studios:

Sarah-Mecca Abdourahman
Fatema Al Fardan
Amirah Albalawi
Bale Creek Allen
Jasem Alsanea
Ben Blaustein
Cherina Cheng
Minji Choi
Christopher Crary
Isaac Yuquan Duan
Jenna Inzetta
Leo Gevisser
Natalie Jacobs
Elizabeth Kaiser
Ina Kim
Natalya K Laudi
Hanwei Li
Dayana Matasheva
Becky Moon
Neta Moses
Natalia Neuhaus
Mary Osunlana
A’ssia (Ashu) Rai
Gianfranco Reyes
Mino Shih
Benjamin Shirken
Shaina Tabak
Camila Villa Zertuche

Leo Gevisser and Benjamin Shirken are the designated sound artists for the session.

Va open studios tn — Photo: arts.columbia.edu

Apply for MFA programs by January 20, 2027

For those unable to attend the New York City sessions in person, an online information session for Visual Arts and Sound Art is scheduled for Monday, November 30, 2026, at 11 a.m. ET via Zoom.

Applications for the MFA programs are currently open. The deadline for submission is Tuesday, January 20, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET. The school directs inquiries regarding specific requirements to their online Visual Arts and Sound Art application pages.

The program utilizes New York City as an extended classroom, allowing students to engage with museums, galleries, and artist-run spaces. Students may also take courses across Columbia University and Barnard College in fields such as Art History, Film Studies, and Anthropology to diversify their practice.