THE MFTA GALLERY

Experience the Art of Creative Reuse

In 2012, Friends of Materials for the Arts funded the creation of the MFTA gallery. This former hallway is now a dynamic exhibition space inspiring guests to see how artists integrate a wide variety of materials into their work and bring Creative Reuse to life.

MFTA hosts about 5 gallery shows per year.

The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 9AM to 5PM.

Spring 2023 Artist-in-Residence
Sui Park

My work involves creating 3-dimensional organic forms in generic and biomorphic shapes. Through these forms, I attempt to express seemingly static yet dynamic characteristics of our evolving lives. While they resemble transitions and transformations of nature, the forms are to capture subtle but continuous changes in our emotions, sentiments, memories and expectations.

I weave and connect traces and tracks of subtle changes into organic forms. The organic forms are made with mass-produced industrial materials, in particular, Monofilament and Cable Ties. They are non–durable, disposable, trivial, inexpensive and easily consumed materials. But, when I weave and connect them, they are transformed into organic visualizations. I want them to be creating lasting moments, evoking and encapsulating our precious thoughts.

I often find these moments from nature. I think nature allows us to pause and find things that have been overlooked and are inspiring. Nature provides me with rooms to find breakthroughs and answers, and gives me time to ponder into thoughts. Through my work, I want to bring to our attention the moments that nature allows us to find and look forward. I present nature in abstract and porous ways so that they can be filled with our thoughts and moments.

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MFTA Artist-in-Residence

Seeing Creative Reuse in action is an invaluable source of inspiration for the public. The bi-annual MFTA Artist-in-Residence program invites artists who incorporate reusable materials into their practice to share their work with visitors.

Program Overview
The residency lasts for three months and concludes with a solo exhibition at the MFTA Gallery.

Requirements:

  • Resident artist must already incorporate reusable materials or concepts of Creative Reuse into their practice.
  • Meet and work with students and visitors several times a month to give tours of the MFTA studio space, lead one art workshop on a Third Thursday.

Benefits include:

    • Private workspace and access to materials at the MFTA warehouse.
    • Stipend

Artists interested in submitting relevant work for the MFTA Gallery are welcome to email a letter of intent and artwork images or website links to education@mfta.nyc.gov.

Please note that MFTA Gallery primarily shows artwork that is created from the transformation of reusable materials. The MFTA Gallery offers Group Shows, monthly artist showcases, performances, as well as our competitive Artist-in-Residence program.

6000

Students Tour the Gallery Each Year

22000

MFTA members see the Gallery each year

2

Artists-in-Residence Per Year

Made possible by

A special thanks to the

for continued support of our gallery programs.