MICA student’s work shines bright to win 2023 AXA Art Prize US
A senior at MICA, Toskago ’24 (Painting BFA) was recently named winner of the 2023 AXA Art Prize US, which includes a $10,000 award.
Toskago’s compelling artwork, "Knight V Wizard (the Hero)," captivated the jury with its masterful technique and profound storytelling. In announcing the award, the AXA Art Price noted the artist’s deep understanding of artistic expression and creative innovation. The work of all finalists, who hailed from colleges and universities across the country, was on view at the New York Academy of Art this past November.
The AXA Art Prize US is a premier platform supporting emerging talents in the figurative art space. The 2023 edition received an overwhelming response from artists across the nation, making the selection process both challenging and inspiring. The winners were chosen based on their exceptional creativity, technical skill, and ability to convey meaningful messages through figurative art.
MICA student sheds light on Marine Corps health issues for the New York Times
The photography of Matthew Callahan ’24 (Film & Video BFA) can be in a recent New York Times story, "A Secret War, Strange New Wounds and Silence From the Pentagon." Taken during his time in the Marine Corps, from 2009 to 2018, the photos were part of an investigative piece that explored health issues effecting gun-crew members who had fired massive numbers of artillery rounds.
Callahan was an accomplished visual creator before setting foot on MICA’s campus. He was the first ever same year recipient of the U.S. military’s photographer and videographer of the year awards, and was also nominated for a Hugo award for the photo essay Galactic Warfighters.
Student’s Work Takes the Spotlight in MICA’S annual holiday video
Skye Ehlert ’24 (Illustration BFA), a senior at MICA, was recently called upon to illustrate the College’s annual holiday video. Given a brief that outlined this year’s theme — the idea that creative makers possess unique, world-changing "superpowers," or gifts, that become fully formed through courage, perseverance, and support — she went to work. The end result is a beautifully formed time lapse illustration that begins with a blank page and progresses to a woodland scene, where a mouse embraces its powers and takes a leap of faith in order to reach a group of friends.