Did you know you a lot of East Lansing public art has @michiganstateu connections?
MSU students and faculty are partnering with the @cityofeastlansing to leave a creative mark on the cityscape while inspiring Spartans and the local community.
The Grove Street Parking Ramp now shows off colorful fall oak leaves and spring apple blossoms highlighting how trees shape @downtowneastlansing . This installation was created by students in the Integrative Arts and Humanities course Hacking the Built Environment.
Coming this weekend is the new “Fragmented Reflections” microgallery behind @SCENEMetrospace . This mobile piece encourages appreciation of local artists and was created Studio Art students in the Installation and Expanded Media course.
Walk through a tunnel of color in the skywalk connecting the Charles Street Parking Ramp and the Marriott Hotel. The colorful film strips on the windows were installed last fall by students in the Studio Art Color and Design course.
MSU puts the ART in SpARTan!
#517Day #PublicArt #SpartanArt #ArtsMSU
The 2026 Master of Fine Arts Exhibition closes this weekend, and we’re not ready to say goodbye. 🥹
Spend some time with the work of this year’s artists—Yeroham Ashagre, Hailey Becker, Niloufar Fallahfar, Vadu Rodrigues, and Alex Vlasov—before the exhibition closes on Sunday, May 17. Plan your visit at the link in our bio.
Support for this exhibition is provided by the @msugradschool and the John and Susan Berding Family Endowment.
📸: 2026 Master of Fine Arts Exhibition installation views at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University, 2026. Photos: Alex Nichols
Alex Vlasov (@alexey_esenin ), a 2026 MFA candidate in @msu_aahd , has his thesis work on display at the @msubroad through May 17.
Vlasov’s work includes a series of painted words arranged with unconventional breaks, as well as drawings that explore color, shape, and spatial relationships. He is also exhibiting sculptures made from construction materials and other found objects.
He encourages viewers to look for connections across his work and remain open to the emotions his art may evoke.
Vlasov, a native of Russia, came to the U.S. without knowing a single word of English. His passion for art was sparked by works from Philip Guston, Cy Twombly, and Jackson Pollock at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. He earned his BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2023 before continuing his studies at MSU.
Vlasov plans to return to New York to continue his artistic career while pursuing a tenure-track teaching position.
"I've had a lot of fun being here," Vlasov said. "The Broad is a great museum, and the proximity to the museums and galleries in Detroit and Chicago was invaluable.
Introducing “Fragmented Reflections”! Created by the MSU STA 351: Installation and Exploration class, taught by Prof @villaresrafael this micro-gallery aims to create a space that invites reflection and joy for the East Lansing students and community members, by encouraging appreciation of local artists as well as the surrounding campus.
Congratulations to the students for bringing this collaborative project to life!
@msucal@artsatmsu@downtowneastlansing
McKenna Long (@hellomckennalong ), a @michiganstateu senior majoring in Graphic Design, spent a semester abroad studying at the @pariscollegeofart , an opportunity available exclusively to MSU College of Arts & Letters students.
She used the experience to expand her academic and creative focus, exploring interior design, architecture, and spatial design — areas of study that align with her long-term goal of becoming a creative director in the hospitality industry.
“The program was a culmination of all the things that I loved in the current moment and all the things that I wanted to grow into,” Long said.
She documented her travels across six countries that semester on analog 35mm film, resulting in a collection of photographs that was recently exhibited at Kresge Art Center.
“Living in Paris unto itself was so inspirational,” Long said. “Every single time I stepped outside my door, I’d be going to a new café, a new market, a new museum. Being immersed in such a lively and creative-driven city was beautiful.”
After that semester ended, she traveled to Greece to assist with architectural renderings of an ancient Roman bath through MSU Excavations at Isthmia program.
“Paris was a catalyst to that,” Long said. “It was special to do something so far outside my comfort zone and open new doors that I never thought would be possible.”
As she prepares to graduate this May with her BFA in Graphic Design, Long is applying to multidisciplinary design studios in Chicago, Detroit, and London while continuing to freelance brand content for multiple clients.
Overseen outside of Kresge! Prof. Lorelei d’Andriole’s STA 112 Concepts and Practices class celebrates the end of the semester with a “Joy Parade” inspired by Bread & Puppet Theater.
@artsatmsu@msucal
Stop by the Kresge Art Center to see the Graphic Design BFA exhibition! The Reception is this Friday from 5-7, don’t miss it!
#spartanexcellence #spARTans #msuart #msuaahd
Looking ahead to the weekend? Checkout the new show “Shooting Stars” curated by @mahbube.parnian featuring the @msu_aahd MFA cohort 💫🌟 This show opens tomorrow, Friday, from 5-8pm @struk_studio just north of Old Town in Lansing. See you there!
Congratulations to the recipients of these awards and scholarships for their hard work, determination, and outstanding creativity. Your continued dedication and passion for art are an inspiration to many, and the Department of Art, Art History, and Design is proud to present these awards and scholarships to you all. These scholarships not only recognize your current efforts but also support your continued journey through the world of art, art history, and design. Keep up the excellent work!
#spARTans #msuaahd #michiganstate #msu #SpartanExcellence
Congratulations to our MFA candidates on insightful thesis presentations @msubroad last evening! Yeroham Ashagre, Hailey Becker, Niloufar Fallahfar, Vadu Rodrigues, and Alex Vlasov, we are so proud of your accomplishments and can’t wait to see where your creative research leads you 💚🤍
The 2026 MFA Exhibition is currently on view at the MSU Broad Art Museum. We hope you will check it out!
@msucal@artsatmsu
