By: Jamie Rager , Anna Prentiss

“Organ Exchange” (2011), by the De La Torre Brothers, on loan from the Rollins Museum of Art. (Museum of Fine Arts)

Florida State University’s Museum of Fine Arts will open two new exhibitions this month, focusing on Latin American Indigenous art and showcasing the work of FSU’s graduating Master of Fine Arts (MFA) studio art students.

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“Conversaciones: Latin American Indigenous Art”

April 3 – Dec. 5, 2025

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“Conversaciones: Latin American Indigenous Art” will open Thursday, April 3, highlighting contemporary Latin American art alongside rarely exhibited treasures from FSU’s collections and include Mayan textiles, ancient Andean ceramics, metalwork and other artifacts.

This exhibition is presented in partnership with FSU’s Native American and Indigenous Studies Center (NAIS) and co-curated by the museum’s director, Kaylee Spencer, as well as Michael Carrasco, professor of art history and associate dean for research in the College of Fine Arts.

“The NAIS Center and I are thrilled that MoFA has put this marvelous exhibit together,” said Andrew Frank, director of NAIS. “Indigenous artists are often excluded from discussions of modern art and discussed only in the past tense. This exhibit lets us see the living creativity of Latin American Indigenous artists past and, perhaps most notably, present.”

“Conversaciones” draws on FSU faculty expertise in ancient Latin American art history and archaeology and aims to spark dialogue about the meaning of the featured works across time.

“We’re excited to bring rarely exhibited works from FSU’s collections into dialogue with powerful pieces by contemporary artists,” Spencer and Carrasco said in a joint statement. “‘Conversaciones’ offers a space for reflection on how Indigenous traditions endure, adapt and innovate — challenging us to rethink the boundaries between past and present, resilience and reinvention.”

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“‘Conversaciones’ offers a space for reflection on how Indigenous traditions endure, adapt and innovate challenging us to rethink the boundaries between past and present, resilience and reinvention.”

— Kaylee Spencer and Michael Carrasco, co-curators of the exhibition.

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“Origins & Afterlives”

April 11 – May 3, 2025

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“Origins & Afterlives” showcases works from the 2025 graduating class of FSU’s Studio Art MFA Program. Featuring painting, sculpture, installation and digital media, this exhibition explores themes of memory, bodies, environments and identity.

“This exhibition marks the culmination of three years of hard work for our graduating MFA students,” said Jeff Beekman, chair of the Department of Art. “We are so excited for them to share their work with the community and hope the public will join us in enjoying the show and in celebrating their incredible growth and achievements.”

The museum will host an opening reception for both exhibitions at 6 p.m. Friday, April 11.

Attendance for the reception and admission to these exhibitions is free and open to the public. For more information, visit mofa.fsu.edu

The Department of Art Education is thrilled to share that Dr. Wen Guo and Dr. Rachel Fendler have been awarded the prestigious 2024–2025 Research Fellowship from the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP). Their innovative proposal, “Are We Training Arts Students to Be Arts Entrepreneurs? A SNAAP Study on the Institutional Experience of Arts Students and Their Entrepreneurial Careers,” explores how arts education equips students for entrepreneurial success, focusing on skills, and institutional preparedness.

Exploring the Future of Arts Education

Dr. Guo and Dr. Fendler’s research examines critical questions about arts education:

• What skills and experiences from postsecondary education best prepare students for entrepreneurial careers?
• How does institutional readiness impact entrepreneurial career paths?
• Are there differences between white and non-white graduates in pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities?

Using SNAAP’s comprehensive dataset, this study will provide valuable insights for educators and institutions seeking to empower arts students.

Dr. Guo and Dr. Fendler bring together a powerful combination of expertise to advance understanding of how arts education prepares students for entrepreneurial success and civic transformation. Their collaboration highlights the intersection of arts entrepreneurship and creative engagement, ensuring impactful outcomes for this SNAAP-funded project.

Dr. Wen Guo, Assistant Professor and Director of the MA Program in Arts Administration at Florida State University, focuses her research on arts entrepreneurship, cultural policy, and community engagement. With a Ph.D. in Cultural Policy and Arts Administration from The Ohio State University, Dr. Guo is a recognized leader in her field. Supported by the 2021–22 SNAAP Fellowship, her research has been published in Entrepreneurship Education and Pedagogy and Innovating Institutions and Inequities in the Arts and presented at conferences such as the Society of Arts Entrepreneurship Educators Annual Conference and the a2ru Fall Webinar.

Dr. Rachel Fendler, Department Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Art Education at Florida State University, adds expertise in civic engagement and youth agency through creative practices. With a Ph.D. in Arts and Education from the University of Barcelona, Dr. Fendler’s work explores how artmaking connects young people to their communities and fosters transformative social imaginaries. Her recent contributions include Developing a Model for Civically Engaged Art Education (2023) and leadership roles with the Art Education Research Institute.

Together, Dr. Guo and Dr. Fendler bridge arts entrepreneurship and civically engaged education, offering a dynamic approach that empowers arts students as leaders and changemakers. Their shared commitment to innovation ensures this research will inspire educators and institutions alike.

Dr. Guo’s prior contributions as a 2020-2021 SNAAP Fellow include:

• Guo, W., & McGraw, D. J. (2023). The Arts Alumni Have Spoken: The Impact of Training in Higher Education on Entrepreneurial Careers. Entrepreneurship Education and Pedagogy, 6(3), 410-435. https://doi.org/10.1177/25151274221120071
• Guo, W., & McGraw, D. (2024). Stepping Outside the Classroom: Connecting Contextual Factors of American Universities and Arts Alumni’s Entrepreneurial Intentions. In: Woronkowicz, J., & Noonan, D. (Eds.), Innovating Institutions and Inequities in the Arts. Sociology of the Arts. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-59231-7_4

About SNAAP: Mission and History

The mission of the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project is to maximize the success and impact of creatives in society by driving evidence-informed changes in arts training and showcasing the value of arts and design education.

SNAAP began in 2002, evolving through collaborative efforts among arts institutions, researchers, and funders. Officially launched in 2008 at Indiana University, SNAAP has become a trusted resource for understanding the experiences of arts graduates and shaping the future of arts education.

Looking Forward

As Dr. Guo and Dr. Fendler embark on this exciting fellowship; their collaborative research promises to inspire educators and institutions while empowering students to thrive as creative and entrepreneurial leaders.

For updates on their work and more information about SNAAP, visit www.snaaparts.org.