Albany, NY – Opalka Gallery and the Visual and Performing Arts Department at Russell Sage College announce the 20th Annual BFA Exhibition. This annual showcase features work by seniors in the Russell Sage College Visual Arts BFA programs: Art + Extended Media, Interior + Spatial Design, and Graphic + Media Design. The work included is selected by a panel of art/design faculty and Opalka Gallery staff.

“This year’s BFA Exhibition at Opalka Gallery shows off the vibrancy of Russell Sage College’s BFA programs and the talent of our 2024 graduates,” said Undergraduate Dean Andrea Rehn. “This terrific show in a professional gallery is a fantastic way to mark the culmination of the artists’ college experience and the beginning of their careers.”

“As a small but mighty four-year art school in the heart of the Capital Region, we are proud of our graduating seniors and look forward to celebrating their accomplishments during the 20th anniversary of the BFA Student Exhibition at Opalka Gallery,” said Professor Sean Hovendick, Chair of the Department of Visual & Performing Arts.

Included are capstone projects, which represent the visual culmination of semester-long research and studio time. Designs for healthcare facilities, marketing campaigns aimed at Gen Z, sculpture, illustration, packaging design, embroidery, and more fill the gallery, accompanied by project statements from the 15 students. lka

“Working with students on this opportunity to showcase their work in a professional gallery is one of the highlights of our year,” said Opalka Director Amy Griffin. The installation process is collaborative as students hang their work under the guidance of faculty and staff.

The graduating seniors included in this year’s exhibition are:

Graphic + Media Design

Lindsey Elwell

Lexie Frisbie

Joseph Karam

Sarah Masse

Olivia Wunderlich

Art + Extended Media

Andralyn LaGattuta

Sara Rybitski

Interior + Spatial Design

Lily Glatt

My Grumbling

Katlyn Hebert

Sophie Kolankowski

Kaitlyn M Czerow

Michaela Meyer

Allison O’Kane

Kierra Robinson

There will be a public reception on Friday, April 26, from 5–8 p.m. The exhibition will be on view through May 31 with special gallery hours: Tuesday through Friday noon to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, May 11, from noon to 5 p.m., before the Russell Sage College commencement.

For more information, visit Opalka.sage.edu.

ABOUT RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE’S BFA PROGRAMS

Russell Sage College offers Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Art + Extended Media, Graphic + Media Design, and Interior + Spatial Design. Sage’s BFA programs include studio courses and electives in traditional and new media, art history, and liberal arts courses that examine the arts from historical, social, and cultural perspectives. BFA students also complete capstone projects and participate in internships to build their portfolios and professional networks.

ABOUT OPALKA GALLERY

Opalka Gallery is located at 140 New Scotland Ave. on the Albany campus of Russell Sage College. The gallery is open to the public Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., through May 31, 2024, with special open hours on May 11, from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, please contact Gina Occhiogrosso, Exhibitions and Marketing Manager, [email protected], 518-292-1742.

An inviting and innovative gallery on the campus of the Russell Sage College, Opalka Gallery showcases outstanding contemporary art and design from both national and international artists. An important part of the cultural life in New York’s Capital Region, the gallery frequently hosts lectures, films, performances, and other events in conjunction with exhibitions.

Opalka Gallery’s season sponsors include the Friends & Foundation of the Albany Public Library and Russell Sage College. Ongoing, sustaining support is provided by Chet and Karen Opalka.