Event
Events
MFTA Gallery: “Unraveling Threads” by Borinquen Gallo
"Extrapolating beauty in unexpected places is a way for me to feel at home, to feel safe as I nomadically inhabit and navigate different spaces and places,” shared MFTA Artist-in-Residence Borinquen Gallo about her creative practice. Born and raised in Italy, Gallo’s world perspective shifted dramatically when she moved to the Bronx at thirteen years… Read More »MFTA Gallery: “Unraveling Threads” by Borinquen Gallo
Beltane: Sketch Night (Summer Edition)
You know what they say, April showers bring May flowers, and that expression couldn't be any more true than at MFTA’s Sketch Night on Thursday, May 1, from 6:30 — 8:30pm! Titled “Beltane,” this iteration of our popular series honors the Gaelic May Day festival and marks the beginning of summer. Curated by Anthony Kieren… Read More »Beltane: Sketch Night (Summer Edition)
MFTA Gallery: “Soaring High” by Daveed Baptiste
Born in Port au Prince, Haiti, Baptiste immigrated to Miami, Florida at a young age alongside his two siblings. Immersed in a heavily Haitian community in Miami, Baptiste found a home away from home while navigating his cultural identity, Blackness, and queerness in this new landscape. A self-described interdisciplinary artist, Baptiste’s creative practice has evolved… Read More »MFTA Gallery: “Soaring High” by Daveed Baptiste
Opening Reception: “Soaring High” by Daveed Baptiste
Join us on Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 6:30 — 8:30pm for Materials for the Arts’ first ever fashion exhibition “Soaring High” designed by MFTA Designer-in-Residence Daveed Baptiste. Baptiste’s solo exhibition explores the metamorphosis of his Haitian immigrant background, chronicling his journey through the stages of life within urban Black American society. Each look represents… Read More »Opening Reception: “Soaring High” by Daveed Baptiste
Sketch Night: PRIDE Edition
Join us on Thursday, June 26, 2025 at the Materials for the Arts warehouse for our PRIDE edition of Sketch Night! Curated by Anthony Kieren and Machine Dazzle, this sketch night will feature live modeling by Ahmad Maksoud and Velvetina Taylor. As always, our sketch nights provide the necessary art materials for the evening, —sketch… Read More »Sketch Night: PRIDE Edition
Posters to Podcasts: Social Activism from the 20th Century to Today (Summer 2025)
Explore the artmaking techniques of 20th and 21st century social activism – zines, posters, and more. In partnership with New York Historical Society.
Raw Fibers: The Art of Fabric (Summer 2025)
This studio class will take a single product — fabric — and work out its historical, scientific, social and mathematical properties through hands-on art making.
Props, Puppets and Set Design (Summer 2025)
In this hands-on studio course, you will learn to make puppets, props, miniature sets — and more — using new techniques in creative reuse.
Closing Reception: An Artist Talk with Daveed Baptiste
Join us on Thursday, August 7, from 7:00 — 8:30pm for an evening with MFTA Designer-in-Residence Daveed Baptiste as he reflects on his solo exhibition, “Soaring High,” during a special artist talk and closing reception. Through a blend of fashion, narrative, and cultural symbolism, “Soaring High” examines Baptiste’s personal and creative evolution—from his Haitian roots… Read More »Closing Reception: An Artist Talk with Daveed Baptiste
August Third Thursday: Black Dye Event Led by Victor Pearlman
Join us on Thursday, August 21, from 6:30 — 8:30pm at the Materials for the Arts warehouse for a Black Dye Event led by MFTA Designer-in-Residence Victor Pearlman! Attendees are welcome to bring a lightweight garment they’d like to dye that evening (think t-shirts, linens, cotton blends). Though the dyeing process will be completed at… Read More »August Third Thursday: Black Dye Event Led by Victor Pearlman
Opening Reception: “Temporal Belonging” by Natsuki Takauji
Join us on Thursday, September 18, 2025, from 6:30 — 8:30pm for the solo exhibition opening of "Temporal Belongings" by MFTA Artist-in-Residence Natsuki Takauji.
Sketch Night
Join us on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at the Materials for the Arts warehouse for our autumn Sketch Night!