SMFA Graduate students, Olivia Maday, Chris Diani and DBCO are the curators of one of our most recent collaborative shows It Followed Me Home which featured 27 SMFA Graduate student artists.
Can you talk a little about the show title and how you decided to go with it?
The show title It Followed Me Home reflects the lasting impact that the artworks aim to have on viewers. It speaks to the way these pieces linger in the mind long after leaving the gallery, inviting a deeper reflection on the themes and topics they explore. Both the artists and us, hope to create an experience that resonates with the audience, sparking personal connections and conversations that continue beyond the exhibition. -Olivia
What was the curatorial vision for this exhibition, and how did you go about selecting the artists and works?
The curatorial vision for this exhibition was to highlight the depth and diversity of the artists’ practices through intimate, smaller-scale works. In selecting the pieces, we conducted studio visits with MFA students, engaging in conversations with the artists about their practice and the works they envisioned for the show. Our goal was to choose pieces that would reflect their broader body of work while also capturing the unique qualities and emotional resonance that small-scale works can provide. -Olivia
Can you tell us a little about of having to balance curating a professional exhibition while also trying to meet the needs and wants of your peers from the SMFA at Tufts Grad Program?
This was a challenge! Thirty artists were initially interested in exhibiting in the show; unfortunately, we lost three along the way to the demands of graduate coursework, the difficulty of managing deadlines, and the size limitations of a small works show. Some difficult conversations were had, but ultimately the ability to make difficult decisions is an important part of curating and managing a group show in a professional gallery setting. I only hope the artists cut from the show were able to learn something from the experience as well. -Chris
Were there any particular themes or narratives that emerged organically during the curation process?
The themes and narratives that emerged organically during the curation process ties together with our chosen title for the show, “It Followed Me Home”. The recurring concept in all the pieces was that the art reflected the thoughts, emotions, and experiences each artist carries home with them – the things that bother them, the things that make them feel and reflect. Whether it be the desire for freedom, the feeling of being confined, the confusion of living in a new place, the study of colour and form, the abstraction of emotions into space – there was a wide variety of themes tackled, but overall, it comes from a personal space of introspection. – DBCO
How did the collaboration between SMFA and Gallery 263 influence the direction of the show?
The wonderful thing about our collaboration was that Gallery 263 provided us with the freedom to explore every aspect of creating a show. Because of this, the direction of the show – from the theme to the installation, was truly driven by the artworks themselves. – DBCO
The gallery’s Operations Director, Sophia “Phi” Day, made herself available throughout the run of the show to answer questions, provide support, and act as a sounding board. As a graduate of SMFA’s MFA program herself and as someone who took on a similar curating challenge while enrolled at SMFA, she was a calming influence and an invaluable resource. I can’t say enough about how much I appreciate Phi! She was empathetic and unflappable throughout. -Chris
Curating a show can present a series of challenges, was there a challenge that you did not feel prepared for until you walked into the room?
Though this wasn’t the first time I’ve managed a group show, I was still caught a bit off guard by the amount of time and effort required to keep the show running once it opened. Between recruiting moderators and participants for our artist panels, managing the gallery-sitting schedule and reminding artists about their shifts, and sustaining public interest in the exhibition throughout its run, it sometimes felt like a full-time job! With the added pressure of regular coursework and development of my thesis project, I was relieved to be able to lean on my co-curators when the load got too heavy. I don’t think any of us could have done this alone! -Chris
Did the space at Gallery 263 present any unique opportunities or challenges in shaping the exhibition?
The space at Gallery 263 is relatively small, presenting the challenge of fitting all the MFA students’ works into the gallery. However, this limitation turned into a positive opportunity to highlight the artists’ smaller works. By showcasing these pieces, the works became more conversational with one another, creating a unified and intimate viewing experience. -Olivia
untitled, 2025,
pen and ink on paper, 9 x 9 in.
Was there a specific work or artist that shifted your approach while curating?
Rather than a specific work, the wide variety of topics tackled by each artist shifted our approach to curating, because instead of focusing only on the visual connection of the works, which is usually the case when the exhibition has a very specific theme, we also reflected on the medium and stories two different pieces could say when next to each other, in deciding the layout of the exhibition space. – DBCO
Do you have a favorite moment from the process of bringing It Followed Me Home to life?
It was a truly rewarding experience to collaborate with Chris and Dany (DBCO) on this show while having the opportunity to engage with the work of the current MFA students. Having graduated from the MFA program last year, it’s been wonderful to continue working within the Boston arts community and stay connected to the artists at the SMFA. -Olivia
I agree with Olivia. As someone used to creating art individually, I enjoyed the collaborative aspects of curating a show and the team effort that came into building a shared experience. – DBCO
The entire process was filled with memorable experiences, but my absolute favorite was the opening reception. It’s always a thrill to watch artists meet their public, talk about their work, and celebrate their accomplishments, but this reception felt particularly special, as it was organized and run entirely by the exhibiting artists. We had delicious food and drinks, great music, and a big crowd of enthusiastic art lovers – who wouldn’t love that? -Chris