For many MICA alumni, ArtWalk is more than a graduation tradition — it’s a defining moment. A celebration of growth and a launchpad for what comes next, ArtWalk marks the first time many students publicly share their work with the world. For Aidan McCord-Amasis ’23 (Graphic Design BFA), it was exactly that and more.

“ArtWalk was a meaningful milestone for me. It was the first time I got to share my work with such a wide audience,” he recalls. “The sense of accomplishment was unforgettable. There’s something special about seeing your work presented in full, out in the world, and getting to experience others interacting with it.”

That sense of discovery and connection resonates with many alumni. Isabel Olivia ’22 (Fiber BFA) remembers the electricity in the air. “Everyone was on the brink of discovering something about themselves and their work. It didn’t feel like something was ending, but more so that something was about to sprout!” Her installation, Monarch, became a portal into her dreamlike worlds — a space where reality and fantasy collided. “ArtWalk encouraged me to keep exploring those boundaries. It inspired me to keep pushing forward.”

For Rheagan King ’19 (Graphic Design BFA), ArtWalk was both a culmination and a revelation. “It was a gateway that showed me what was possible for my creative work,” she says. “It also taught me that not everything has to be commercial to be meaningful.” Her senior thesis, which later became a finalist in MICA’s UP/Start competition, helped her recognize a deeper desire: to tell honest, vulnerable stories and to use design as a tool for connection and change.

Even for those whose careers take them outside of the traditional art world, the impact of ArtWalk endures. “ArtWalk affirmed my dedication to the arts and to the creative lens I use to view the world,” says Olivia Schrecengost ’23 (Painting BFA). “It showed me that my work could resonate with people outside of the art world, and that confidence has stayed with me.”

Returning to ArtWalk after graduation can be just as powerful. McCord-Amasis came back in 2024 to support friends and take in the latest wave of talent. “What stood out to me was the wave of fresh creativity — new voices, new styles, new stories,” he says. “It’s inspiring to see how the next generation is pushing things forward in so many different directions.”

Alumni agree that ArtWalk is vital not just for graduates but for Baltimore. “It’s more special when it brings together the broader Baltimore creative community,” says King, who notes that her very first local press feature came from attending ArtWalk. “These connections often become the foundation for creative practices long after graduation.”

Schrecengost adds, “Artists not only create culture, but we also record history. Supporting events like ArtWalk is a way for the community to affirm that artists belong here and have something vital to say.”

For alumni like McCord-Amasis, Olivia, King, and Schrecengost, ArtWalk isn’t just a celebration; it’s a lasting reminder of where MICA graduates have been, and what’s possible when creativity and community come together.