Each painting is like an island awash with yearning, sending out a lighthouse signal into a fractured world. At Uffner & Liu gallery, RISD MFA students grapple with themes of loss and hope.
The exhibition brings together works by 17 artists from the 2026 Master of Fine Arts in Painting program cohort. Despite their varied styles — from ethereal abstractions to unsettling realism — curator Ajay Kurian finds common threads, creating a cohesive narrative.
Through layers and echoes, these pieces converse with one another, exploring themes of domestic intimacy and environmental struggle. One standout piece, “Into the Hinterland,” delves into the history of Maroons, escaped enslaved Africans who found refuge in remote areas.
In this gallery space, each artist responds to the chaos and heartbreak that permeate our world, offering a beacon of resilience through their art. The exhibition invites viewers to find solace and inspiration amidst the turmoil.
