Graduating PAFA students prep for the big show

The Samuel M. V. Hamilton Building at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts was the scene of intense activity in early May as students filled the galleries with their work.

The Annual Student Exhibition has showcased the work of graduating students since 1901. Collectors, gallery owners, and art lovers from throughout the Delaware Valley will attend the exhibition, which is unique in that it takes place in a large museum setting.

For the students, the installation process was an intense one. First, students arranged the presentation of their work by laying it out on the gallery floor. In many cases, several revisions took place.

Nearly 1000 pieces of artwork were installed with precision; a quarter of an inch makes a difference. Sculptures were carefully transported, sometimes in sections, from the students’ studios to the exhibit space. Faculty were on hand for both technical and moral support.

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The 116th Annual Student Exhibition will open Friday, May 12, with a reception from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at PAFA’s Hamilton Building and will be free to the public. The work will be on display through June 4.

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