Highlights from the 2024 MFA Visual Narrative Artist Presentations

Every summer, each MFA Visual Narrative graduate takes the stage to give an individual presentation that celebrates their creativity, storytelling, and journey.

This past summer, fourteen graduating students shared their thesis projects, each one a reflection of their unique artistic voice and their interpretation of the human experience. These stories and their characters explored themes like love and self-acceptance, the power of taboos, and the possibility of redemption and peace. Through mediums such as comedy, satire, documentary, and fantasy, the students pushed the boundaries of storytelling to reveal deeply personal and universal truths.

While each presentation offered something extraordinary, here’s a sneak peek at the work of five of our graduates, showcasing the diverse talent of the MFA Visual Narrative program.

A slide displayed during a thesis presentation shows a bright yellow tiger-like creature stretched in a playful pose, against a blue background with cityscape silhouettes at the top and bottom. The text includes the artist's contact information and a speech bubble saying, “Thank you.”

Srobana Bhattacharya

Srobana Bhattacharya’s thesis project, Flight, is a sci-fi graphic novel that explores themes of connection, belonging, and resilience across time and space. As both a political science educator and an artist, Srobana bridges two worlds, using graphic novels to uncover new storytelling possibilities and inspire transformation.

A colorful scene of three individuals in yellow spacesuits riding futuristic motorcycles through a Mars-like desert.

Shenuka Corea

Shenuka Corea’s art is inspired by retro anime and the works of Hayao Miyazaki. Her thesis project, A Field Guide to Paradise, examines the beauty and complexity of encounters between the familiar and the unknown, encouraging audiences to see humanity’s relationship with their environment in new and meaningful ways.

A close-up sequence of a character with teal hair and a space helmet, flanked by abstract alien forms and vegetation.

Mariana Tapia

Mariana Tapia combines her background in political science with her passion for art in her thesis project, Recreational, a graphic novel exploring the human impact of cannabis legalization across the U.S.-Mexico border. Her work highlights the power of comics to connect personal narratives with pressing societal issues.

A surreal depiction of a person observing through binoculars, where the lenses reflect smoke clouds.

Atheeth Madhavan

Inspired by mythology, 90s cartoons, and comics, Atheeth Madhavan’s thesis project, Monkeywrench, is an action-packed coming-of-age story. It explores regret, youthful optimism, and self-trust, showcasing Atheeth’s unique ability to craft modern mythologies that ignite curiosity and wonder.

A lineup of illustrated comic characters, each with distinctive outfits and exaggerated poses. The title “Monkey Wrench” is displayed in bold, blocky letters with red lightning bolts.

A slide showcasing a grid of illustrations from the presenter’s undergraduate portfolio. The pieces include scenes of nature, urban life, and cultural celebrations.

Althea Flores

In her thesis project, Raspberry Red, Althea Flores tells the story of an over-responsible teenager discovering autonomy and self-expression. Drawing from her own experiences, Althea reflects on the transformative power of personal space, nature, and observational drawing to navigate life’s challenges.