The 2026 MFA Thesis Exhibition for the Department of Art at The Ohio State University invites the public to encounter the richness of our interdisciplinary MFA program in Studio Art. Through coursework in the Department of Art and across other academic departments and centers, mentorship through independent study with art faculty, as well as a graduate students’ thesis committee, each MFA candidate pursues a unique and rigorous art practice for three years. Waiting for the Light to Change features the work of nine MFA graduate students whose art bravely responds to today’s cultural contexts.

Through artistic mediums including interactive kinetic sculpture, painting, drawing, illustration and cartoons, text and poetry, ceramics, video and moving image, found roadside materials, photograms, photography, and the body, each artist addresses historical forces and our world today. With each medium, dynamic methodologies include pressing feet and hands into clay, submerging one’s body in water, driving a car, weaving hair and thread, laser-cutting paper, and the imaging of breath. In tandem with each art practice, many of the works are brought to fruition through dialogue with professors who are practicing artists, the Department of Art’s phenomenal technicians, and facilities, therefore demystifying the notion that art is solely a solitary individualistic endeavor. The artists and artworks teach us how the space of the studio is deeply intertwined with the world—past, present, and future.

Each artist in this exhibition contributes to the vast and ever-changing field of art in conjunction with their own specific fields of research, life experience, and dedicated artistic inquiry. Each of their art practices forge steadfast presence for interconnected spheres of influence including relational aesthetics, geometry, queer theory, mixed-race studies, Eastern philosophy, phenomenology, psychology, pandemics such as Covid-19 and the AIDS crisis, systems of control and resistance, connections between self and place, the interstices of public and private, the mystery of trees, dog walking, notions of the superhero, issues of representation, multilingual identity, and diasporic experiences. Each body of work in Waiting for the Light to Change signals and invites you—to be challenged, to closely observe, listen, and ask questions.

—Gina Osterloh, Associate Professor of Art, Department of Art, The Ohio State University

Participating Artists: Banerjee, Shaheen Beardsley, Maria Conlon, Onni Estabrook, Samuel Lo, Takahiro Okubo, Shruti Shankar, Sam Wrigglesworth, Xuan

Reception: Saturday, February 21 from 5–7 PM at Urban Arts Space

November Project is a free outside fitness group that started in Boston in 2011 to break down barriers to movement! Now in 53 cities around the globe, we create free, fun, scalable (adjustable to your fitness level) workouts for all ages – and doggos!

Our workout starts at 6:14a every Wednesday morning in Genoa Park on the Scioto Mile (on the steps behind COSI). We work out for 45 minutes together until 7am, then walk down to One Line Coffee to hang out before work!

Come join us if you’re an off-the-couch fitness newbie, a runner looking to cross-train, or any fitness level in between, we’d love to see you!

Join us and bring your friends to our monthly meet-up. We will be at Dempsey’s Food and Spirits on Wednesday, February 18th at 6 pm.

Enjoy complimentary lite bites, hear about upcoming events all over Downtown and meet your new neighbors.

Grab your free Event Brite ticket in the link.

We’re kicking off our For Your Information series with “Discuss, Define, Describe”—how to put language to your artistic practice, inspirations, and process. Columbus-based artists Lance Johnson and Ky Smiley will join Urban Arts Space Director Dr. Terron Banner in an open conversation about articulating creative vision, identifying your artistic process, and finding the words to express what influences your work. This discussion will illuminate how to harness the power of language as a tool for connection and introspection while maintaining agency over your creative voice.

After the one-hour panel, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and continue the discussion in a judgment-free environment.

For Your Information (FYI) was designed to create space for artists to access knowledge and resources to build a sustainable creative practice. Free and open to all, FYI is a bimonthly professional development series from Urban Arts Space, offering in-depth learning sessions on topics essential to building an art career. These gatherings will typically be held on Thursday evenings from 6:00–8:00 PM and feature field experts who will share their knowledge through workshops, panel discussions, or lectures, followed by a dedicated time for questions and connection.

Whether you’re interested in beginning your professional path, or looking to deepen your existing practice, FYI is open and welcome to all artists across disciplines. In our space, we encourage dialogue, connection, and curiosity, believing that access to knowledge and information is fundamental to fostering a thriving arts ecosystem. We invite you to join us to learn, ask questions, and strengthen connections with your practice while supporting others.

Join Mickey Mouse and his friends at Disney On Ice presents Mickey’s Search Party, an adventure filled with world-class skating, high-flying acrobatics and unexpected stunts! Look for clues in the search for Tinker Bell through immersive, fantastic worlds. Explore the colorful spirit realm of Coco, sail away with Moana as she bravely saves her island, see Belle in the sky as the enchanted chandelier comes to life, and sing-along with Elsa in the icy world of Frozen. 

Zachariah Porter is a comedic creator based in Brooklyn, New York. He enjoys experimenting with his content and does everything from character bits to testing kitchen gadgets to offering unsolicited advice. Zachariah loves having multiple niches and is always coming up with new content ideas. In 2021, Zachariah was a guest on the Drew Barrymore Show where he taught Vanessa Hudgens and Drew how to make puff snacks. As a member of the LGBTQ community, Zachariah uses his platform to spread acceptance and positivity.

This event is for all ages.

Join Mickey Mouse and his friends at Disney On Ice presents Mickey’s Search Party, an adventure filled with world-class skating, high-flying acrobatics and unexpected stunts! Look for clues in the search for Tinker Bell through immersive, fantastic worlds. Explore the colorful spirit realm of Coco, sail away with Moana as she bravely saves her island, see Belle in the sky as the enchanted chandelier comes to life, and sing-along with Elsa in the icy world of Frozen. 

Purchase art prints from Sarah Gormley Gallery.

Join Mickey Mouse and his friends at Disney On Ice presents Mickey’s Search Party, an adventure filled with world-class skating, high-flying acrobatics and unexpected stunts! Look for clues in the search for Tinker Bell through immersive, fantastic worlds. Explore the colorful spirit realm of Coco, sail away with Moana as she bravely saves her island, see Belle in the sky as the enchanted chandelier comes to life, and sing-along with Elsa in the icy world of Frozen. 

Step into Berlin’s Kit Kat Klub, where music, dance, and decadence collide in a bold, immersive and interactive experience. Set against the backdrop of 1930s political unrest, Cabaret invites you to embrace freedom, self-expression, and the joy of living, even in uncertain times. After all, while we can’t ignore the challenges ahead, it’s also essential to embrace joy, fight for what we believe in, and savor the beauty in every moment. Perfect for teens and adults, Cabaret is a thrilling, thought-provoking experience you won’t want to miss.