School Notes: School of Art
May/June 2022

Accolades for alumni and faculty

Recent honors for Yale School of Art alumni and faculty include a national fellowship award and acceptance into two major exhibitions.

The 59th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, titled The Milk of Dreams, features pieces by Felipe Baeza ’18MFA, Ficre Ghebreyesus ’02MFA, critic in photography Elle Pérez ’15MFA, Christina Quarles ’16MFA, and assistant professor and acting director of graduate studies in sculpture, Aki Sasamoto. In addition, the visual identity for the 2022 Biennale is based on works by Baeza. It is on view through November 25.

At New York’s 80th Whitney Biennial, Quiet as it’s Kept, Matt Connors ’04MFA, Alex Da Corte ’10MFA, Pao Houa Her ’12MFA, and Michael E. Smith ’08MFA have works represented. The Whitney Biennial is open through September 5, 2022.

Robert Andy Coombs ’20MFA (photography) was awarded a 2022 United States Artists Fellowship for his photographic work exploring the intersections of disability and sexuality.

Alums gather to celebrate emeritus professor

An exhibition of work by Professor Adjunct Emeritus of Art Sam Messer ’82MFA, Go to it laughing, drew more than 60 Yale School of Art alumni and friends to M+B gallery in Los Angeles for a reception on February 19. Stavros Niarchos Foundation Dean Kymberly Pinder joined the group virtually. The event also celebrated a new scholarship at the school, created in Messer’s name by Bernard Lumpkin ’91 and Carmine Boccuzzi ’90, ’94JD, which continues to grow with additional gifts from alumni and friends. Messer taught at the school for 25 years.