Exhibition Opportunities
Exhibiting your work is essential to your development as an artist.
SMFA at Tufts has a wide list of internal and external exhibition opportunities available to our students. Check out our calendar for upcoming exhibitions and events.
Students looking for additional opportunities and calls for work should stop by the Artist Resource Center in room B205.
On-campus
Students interested in exhibiting work on-campus can pursue self-directed exhibition opportunities facilitated by Tufts University Art Galleries (TUAG) or submit work to the annual group exhibitions throughout the year. Learn more in our Student Exhibitions Handbook.
Annual exhibitions include the following:
Area Shows
These exhibitions are organized by area faculty and facilitated by TUAG, showcasing student work within specific areas.
Media Arts Annual
Print and Paper Annual
Drawing and Painting Biennial
Photography Annual
Film, Video, and Animation Annual
Ceramics Annual
Metals Annual
Graduate Students Curate Students
In 1-2 annual exhibitions, graduate students collaborate with TUAG to curate an exhibition in the Atrium or Mission Hill of SMFA student work (location depends on availability). All SMFA graduate students are eligible to apply for this opportunity. Curators are selected by the Tufts University Art Galleries.
Art Sale
Every fall, students can submit work to the Art Sale, a fundraiser organized by the Office of Development and Alumni Engagement. Proceeds from the Art Sale are on a sliding scale between the artists and the school’s funds supporting student financial aid.
Graduate Program First Year Shows
During the month of March, first-year students in the MFA program mount week-long exhibitions at the Mission Hill Gallery.
Graduate Thesis Exhibitions
The MFA program concludes with a public exhibition at Aidekman Arts Center on the Medford/Somerville Campus.
Senior Thesis Exhibition
The Senior Thesis program culminates with a public exhibition in in Anderson Auditorium, Grossman Gallery, and various other locations around the 230 Fenway building.
Year End Awards Show
The Year End Awards Show is an opportunity for students who receive a year end award to display their work in the Well Gallery.
Year End Post-Bacc Show
Post-Baccalaureate students display their work at the end of the year in the Building A Gallery (BAG).
At the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Bi-Annual Traveling Fellows SMFA Alumni Exhibition
Every other year, the MFA Boston dedicates the Ed Linde Gallery to an exhibition featuring the work of an SMFA alumnus and prior recipient of the Traveling Fellowship that reflects the impact of the artist's travels on their work. The artist selected for the exhibition is chosen from the 20 Traveling Fellowship recipients from the previous two years.
Bi-Annual SMFA Student Exhibition
Every other year, the MFA Boston dedicates the Ed Linde Gallery to highlight current SMFA student work through a juried exhibition. The jury comprises MFA Boston curators and Tufts student curatorial fellows. You can view the 2022 iteration of this exhibition here and the 2024 iteration here.
The opportunity to apply is open to all SMFA graduate students, and 3rd and 4th year BFA or combined degree undergraduate students. The exhibition consists of work from 3–5 students.
Off-Campus
Boston Printmakers Student Print Exhibition
This is a competitive annual show of approximately 100 student prints from 18 colleges and universities in New England. Selections are juried by a panel of non-teaching members of The Boston Printmakers Board. Exhibition venues have included Lesley University, Framingham State College, and Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
Multiple Fairs Art book Fair
SMFA graphic arts faculty, current students, and alums participate in this fair that includes one of a kind artist books, limited editions, zines, academic publications, and antiquarian collections.