MFA Artist Uses Art as Activism to Challenge Stereotypes and Celebrate African Culture

For Vadu Rodrigues, there is no separating art from activism. Growing up in Cape Verde, an island nation off the coast of West Africa, he uses his art — and the Positive Africa creative movement he founded — to challenge negative stereotypes about the continent and its people by highlighting its history, culture, and communities.

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MFA Artist Expands Painting Beyond the Canvas and Understanding of Persian Art

Niloufar Fallahfar’s paintings are not confined to the canvas. As her artistic practice has evolved, her work quite literally has expanded into space through the inclusion of three-dimensional objects that become part of the narrative itself. “I started by putting canvas on top of each other to offer a different perspective and make the audience curious about the different angles of the painting,” she explained.

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From Forestry to Fine Art: MSU Student Blends Science, Technology, and Creativity

Walnut shells clatter against one another as robotic arms spring to life, casting shifting shadows across the gallery floor. People walk through the piece and record the unexpected spectacle. The artist behind the work is Hailey Becker, who has a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Alabama and a Master of Science in Materials Science…

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Why This Emerging Artist Isn’t Worried About AI Replacing Human Creativity

As an emerging artist, Alex Vlasov isn’t afraid of artificial intelligence. While some futurists predict AI could replace human-created art and writing, Vlasov disagrees. “Photography didn’t replace paintings. Ever since the first photographs in 1826, paintings are still created,” Vlasov said. He further explained that human-created art will continue to provide opportunities for people to see connections, find themes, and experience the emotions conveyed through an artist’s work.

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Department of Art, Art History, and Design Honors 2026 Award and Scholarship Winners

The Department of Art, Art History, and Design (AAHD) at Michigan State University honored its 2026 undergraduate awards and scholarship recipients during the reception for the 2026 AAHD Undergraduate Exhibition on April 10 at (SCENE) Metrospace. The awards and scholarships recognize Art, Art History, and Design students for their outstanding coursework and creative skills this past academic year.  Each spring the faculty comes together to nominate exceptional undergraduate…

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MSU Premieres New Musical, Exploring Caregiving, Resilience, and Mental Health

Michigan State University’s Department of Theatre invites audiences to experience Dandelion, a 23-song original musical based on a true story that will resonate with families everywhere. Brought to life in just months with limited resources and running April 23-26, 2026, at Studio 60 in the MSU Auditorium, this new musical tells the story of a daughter who longs to leave…

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MSU’s 2026 Undergraduate Art Exhibit on Display at (SCENE) Metrospace March 26-April 24

The 2026 Department of Art, Art History, and Design Undergraduate Exhibition at Michigan State University features the work on 64 students created in Department of Art, Art History, and Design courses during the past year. This juried exhibition runs March 26 through April 24 at (SCENE) Metrospace, 110 Charles Street, East Lansing, Michigan. Gallery hours are noon-5 p.m. Thursday-Sunday.

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MSU Production Blends Theatre, Digital Storytelling, and TV for Live Studio Audience Experience

MSU’s Department of Theatre invites you to step into the excitement of a live sitcom recording where lights blaze, cameras roll, and the laughter is real. This spring, audiences have an opportunity to experience that electric atmosphere firsthand as a WKAR studio becomes the stage for a one-of-a-kind theatrical event. Recorded in Front of a Live Studio Audience: THIS RA…

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2026 MFA Exhibition Showcases the Work on Five Artist-Scholars

The annual Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Exhibition returns to the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University March 14-May 17, 2026, and will feature the work of five MFA candidates — Yeroham Ashagre, Hailey Becker, Niloufar Fallahfar, Vadu Rodrigues, and Alex Vlasov — all of whom are graduating this spring. This thesis exhibition is the culmination…

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MSU Alum Sandra Seaton Reclaims History and Voice in World Premiere of ‘Sally: A Solo Play’

When award-winning playwright and Michigan State University alum Sandra Seaton returned to Wharton Center for Performing Arts for the world premiere of "Sally: A Solo Play," it was both a creative milestone and a homecoming. The production brought Seaton’s 15-year engagement with Sally Hemings to a stage that has long shaped her artistic life — one she calls “a home away from home.”

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