Rhode Island School of Design’s 2019 Grad Show to Open at the Rhode Island Convention Center on May 22

Graduate student work across 16 disciplines to be featured in showcase of hundreds of RISD artists and designers

PROVIDENCE, RI – Thesis work by 214 students completing master’s degrees at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) will be on display at Grad Show, RISD’s annual graduate thesis exhibition. Celebrating the creativity RISD’s newest graduate alumni will bring to the world, the exhibition includes work by students in: Architecture, Ceramics, Digital + Media, Furniture Design, Glass, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Architecture, Jewelry + Metalsmithing, Landscape Architecture, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Textiles and Teaching + Learning in Art + Design.

The exhibition will be on view in Hall A at the Rhode Island Convention Center in downtown Providence from May 23 – June 1, 2019. The exhibition is free and open to the public daily from 12–5 pm (10 am–6 pm on June 1, the day of RISD’s Commencement), with a public opening reception on May 22 from 6–8 pm.

Grad Show invites viewers to experience an expansive range of exploration by emerging artists and designers. The work selected represents the culmination of each student’s experience in RISD’s dynamic and diverse graduate programs. As in years past, the 28,000-sf space will be custom-constructed, with more than 1,100 linear feet of walls forming a network of smaller galleries. The unique configuration of the large, flexible space provides remarkable opportunities for graduate students to show multiple pieces or large installations from final thesis projects representing two or three years of research, experimentation, critical thinking and production.

Additionally, an exhibition of selected works by graduate students from different disciplines will be held at Sol Koffler Graduate Student Gallery at 169 Weybosset Street. The installation will be on view May 31–June 2 from 12–6 pm.

About Graduate Study at RISD
Based in deep disciplinary immersion and creative exploration, graduate study at RISD brings together students who conduct cutting-edge research, constantly ask questions and develop rewarding, hands-on relationships with materials. Extending beyond the studio and classroom, every facet of the experience helps cultivate a community of artists and designers fully committed to learning how to articulate strong concepts through close attention to process and the infinite details of creative practice.

About Rhode Island School of Design
The mission of RISD (pronounced “RIZ-dee”), through its college and museum, is to educate students and the public in the creation and appreciation of works of art and design, to discover and transmit knowledge and to make lasting contributions to a global society through critical thinking, scholarship and innovation. Our immersive model of art and design education emphasizes robust liberal arts studies and conceptually driven studio-based learning in full-time bachelor's and master's degree programs across 19 majors. RISD's exceptional faculty foster student growth and development in extensive specialized facilities, enabling students to become confident, cross-disciplinary thinkers and nimble problem-solvers ready to confront the complexities of global practice in the 21st century. Nearly 30,000 alumni worldwide testify to the impact of a RISD education, exemplifying the vital role artists and designers play in defining global innovation. Founded in 1877, RISD and the RISD Museum help make Providence, RI among the most culturally active and creative cities in the region. For more information, visit risd.edu and our.risd.edu.