Ranked eighth in the country by U.S. News & World Report, the incomparable Master of Fine Arts program at the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design at the world-renowned University of Michigan provides an exceptional educational opportunity for the cutting-edge creators of the future.

From the start, students are welcomed into a rigorous academic environment by leading scholars, artists, and makers who encourage and challenge students every step of the way. Throughout the two years of the program, students will engage with Stamps faculty and others from across the University of Michigan, receiving insightful mentoring as they move through the experience.

MFA student Natalia Rocafuerte worked in her studio on her multimedia thesis analyzing immigrants’ dreams.

Stamps MFA students receive financial support, studio space, the curricular foundation for creative work, and career preparation. In addition, they can further explore and study through an international experience that will impact their thesis. At the end of this journey, graduates will be ready for diverse opportunities in the public and private sectors, and gain a deeper understanding of their creative practice.

Kristina Sheufelt (MFA ’22) is a recent Stamps graduate. Her thesis, A Wind From Noplace, is an interdisciplinary body of visual artworks, creative research, and writings surrounding her attempts to understand human ecology through a personal lens. “In the making of these works, I attempted to uncover and transcribe the psychophysiological roots of my intimacy with land, flora, and fauna,” says Sheufelt.

MFA student Kristina Sheufelt in her studio at the Stamps School, working on her thesis in March 2022.

Like many Stamps MFA graduates, Sheufelt is experiencing success as a new alum of the program. Most recently, A Wind From Noplace was recognized in 2022 by the International Sculpture Center for Oustanding Achievement in Contemporary Student Sculpture.

The ISC award is an incredible honor and very important to me at this moment in my life. I feel it makes my art and practice more credible to peers, potential employers, and myself. As a first-generation college graduate, this award is a reminder of what it took to get here. I look forward to seeing what doors this honor may open for me, and I am excited to showcase this body of work beyond Stamps.

Kristina Sheufelt

Students interested in pursuing their graduate degree at the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design have until Thursday, January 5, 2023, to apply.

Learn more about the program at stamps.umich.edu and during interactive event opportunities with Stamps faculty and staff.

MFA student Ellie Schmidt develops the installation of her MFA thesis “endurance film” project that included hammocks for viewing the piece.
MFA student and documentary filmmaker Razi Jafri edited his thesis about a group of Yemeni refugees living in South Korea.