The School of the Art Institute of Chicago Alumni

Kimmah Dennis (MFA 2024) has been awarded the American Academy in Rome 2024-2025 Terra Foundation Affiliated Rome Prize Fellowship! Dennis will participate in a six-month residency at the American Academy where she will further develop her art, cultivate her practice, and grow her network of connections. During her residency, she will also immerse herself in the American Academy and the city of Rome through lectures, study trips, concerts, and exhibitions. Congratulations, Kimmah!

Udit Toshniwal (BFA 2015) is the Co-Founder & Creative Director of The Pant Project, a direct-to-consumer fashion brand specializing in custom-made and ready-to-wear pants. The Pant Project recently received $4.25 million in investments to expand its team, technology, brand awareness, and retail presence. The company has already generated about $4 million in revenue this financial year and plans to continue its growth by increasing stores and expanding product lines. Congratulations on the incredible success, Udit!

Eddie Breitweiser (MFA 2012) was recently appointed as an Instructional Assistant Professor in the Creative Technologies Program at Illinois State University's Wonsook Kim School of Fine Arts. The Creative Technologies Program allows students to explore the intersection of art, design, and technology. Congratulations, Eddie!

Kanika Ranka Adani (BFA 2015), a Mumbai-based artist, is the founder of The Studio Project, a venture dedicated to the concept of wearable art. Through The Studio Project, Adani customizes and transforms luxury items with her unique paintings. She collaborates closely with clients to bring their visions to life, personally hand-painting each piece to ensure exceptional quality and consistency. Check out The Studio Project here: .

Don't forget to submit your news to Class Notes for the Fall Magazine by July 1. Link for submissions is in our bio!

Questions? Contact [email protected]

Ceilidh Birkhahn (BFA 2023) has recently filled the role of Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Arts Fund. The Arts Fund runs a community gallery, bi-monthly art walks, and a teen mentorship program that connects practicing artists with high school students to help them navigate a career in the arts. Birkhahn, an alum of the mentorship program, credits the program for inspiring them to pursue an art degree at SAIC. When the mentorship program was at risk of ending, Birkhahn took on this new role to ensure its continued impact on future generations. Congratulations, Ceilidh! We can’t wait to see what you accomplish next!

Lois Song (BFA 2005), a former public school teacher, recently opened Bunny Ears Art House alongside childhood friend and fellow former public school teacher, Jinny Choi. The play-based art studio allows parents and children to explore their creativity while experimenting with art techniques. Congratulations on turning a childhood dream into reality!

Check out Bunny Ears Art House’s programs and classes at 4541 N. Lincoln Ave in Chicago, IL.

The Chicago Sun-Times named Stephanie Cristello (BFA 2013) Someone to Watch in 2024. Cristello is making waves in the art world as she redefines curation throughout her work on Sif Itona Westerberg’s exhibition at the Driehaus Museum in Chicago. She's crafting a forward-thinking approach to appreciating art by blending innovation with respect for tradition. Congratulations!

Beth Hetland (BFA 2009) published her debut graphic novel titled “Tender,” which was featured in the New York Times. Tender is described as a “psychological thriller about a woman obsessed with her vision for a picture-perfect, curated life.” Congratulations Beth!

Beth Hetland will be moderating the panel discussion “Cartoonists and their Publishers” on April 26th as part of SAIC’s Comic Industry Week put on by CAPX. Check out@saiccareers for more information!

Six SAIC alums have been named as 2024 Guggenheim Fellows! 🌟 These prestigious fellowships, awarded by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, recognize exceptional creativity and promise across various disciplines. Congratulations to Ben Thorp Brown (MFA 2012), Carrie Schneider (MFA 2007), Lilli Carré (BFA 2006), Ariana Gerstein (MFA 1993), Shengze Zhu (MFA 2017), and Leonard Suryajaya (MFA 2015) for their remarkable achievements in Fine Arts, Film-Video, and Photography. Join us in congratulating them on this outstanding accomplishment!

Swoo Kyung Suh (BFA 1991, MFA 1993) was recently elected as the 14th President of the Korea Cultural Space Architecture Society KICA. She is the first female president to be appointed since the founding of the society. Her goal is to raise the group's status as the largest national university association dealing with various issues related to cultural spaces. Congratulations!

The Whitney Biennial is a historic survey of the American art scene. 2024 marks the eighty-first edition of the Whitney Biennial and is co-curated by our very own Meg Onli (BFA 2008). This year’s Whitney Biennial also features work from artists Christopher Harris (MFA 2000), B. Ingrid Olsen (BFA 2010), and ektor garcia (BFA 2014). Congratulations to all the SAIC alums involved with the 2024 Whitney Biennial!

Robyn Farrell (MA 2013) was appointed Senior Curator at The Kitchen in New York City. In addition to organizing and overseeing exhibitions, publications, live and online programming at The Kitchen, Robyn will serve as Curator for the Focus Section of the 2024 Armory Show in New York. Congratulations Robyn and we wish you the best of luck in your new role!

SAIC's fourth-annual Giving Day is complete and the results are in! This year we were able to raise $96,511 with the help of 340 donors, 120 of them being alums! Your dedication to SAIC and our current students is deeply appreciated and we thank you for your participation in this year's Giving Day!

Join us on April 11th at 6pm for a special celebration of SAIC's remarkable alumni, faculty, and staff at EXPO CHICAGO, a pivotal event for our city's art community. RSVP here by April 8th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/saic-expo-chicago-tickets-856252112117

Are you presenting at EXPO? Let us know by filling out this form: https://forms.gle/U4AsQKehreq5RrNQ9

Questions? Contact [email protected]

Thank you to everyone who contributed to SAIC's fourth annual Giving Day! Whether you were advocating online or donating yourself, you have greatly contributed to the next generation of artists at SAIC - thank you!


Artwork: Michela Colognese, Fragments of an Ecosystem, 2022.

Last chance to Make Way for Giving Day! 113 SAIC Alums have already given - will you join them? Give now at saic.edu/givingday and don't forget, with a gift of $25 or more you will receive a limited edition SAIC picnic blanket!

We completed our challenge of 300 donors - adding $20,000 to our total raised for Giving Day! Don't worry - there is still time to get your last minute gifts in to Make Way for the next generation of artists and designers at SAIC! Donate now at saic.edu/givingday

Forget to make your gift to SAIC yesterday? Good news! Giving Day has been extended! Give now at saic.edu/givingday or at the link in our bio!

52 alums are Making Way for Giving Day! Will you join us? Give now at saic.edu/givingday or at the link in our bio!



Artwork: Grace Roberts, SNES Track 3 (Sand Ocean), 2022.

‼️ Challenge Alert ‼️

SAIC Parent, Emily Alexander has pledged to give $20,000 when we reach 300 donors today! Maximize your impact and donate now at saic.edu/givingday or at the link in our bio!

We have reached 25% of our goal so far! Get involved in Giving Day today by donating, sharing on social media or encouraging fellow alums to donate! Remember, gifts of any size to any fund make a difference! Give at saic.edu/givingday or at the link in our bio!

Today is Giving Day! Join fellow SAIC Alums in giving back to the School and support the next generation of artists, designers, and scholars! Don't forget to share your contribution using to spread the word and maximize your impact. Gifts to any fund, of any size, make a difference! Give now at saic.edu/givingday or at the link in our bio!

Giving Day is tomorrow! You won’t want to miss the global, 24-hour show of support for the next generation of artists, designers, and scholars. Help us meet our goal tomorrow of 400 donors - the highest it has ever been! And for any gifts of $25 or more you will receive a limited edition SAIC picnic blanket as a token of our appreciation! Get yours now by donating early at saic.edu/givingday or at the link in our bio!

"I am sending you a whole-hearted thank you for your financial support. Your involvement has enhanced how I see the world, shown me how to marry art and journalism in my work, and given me opportunities to learn from the many diverse artists in my program" says Andrea Bruce (MFA 2024), a 2022-23 Scholarship Recipient. Donate today at saic.edu/givingday or at the link in our bio!

Riley Palkert (MFA 2024), a 2022-23 Scholarship Recipient, describes the impact donations like yours have on her education at SAIC, "Due to your donation, my financial stresses have been minimized and allowed me to focus and create without distraction and produce work I’m proud of. Thank you for your generosity and for contributing to the talents and dreams of many individuals." Gifts made to the school are a direct investment in the artists of tomorrow, make your gift early at saic.edu/givingday or at the link in our bio!

SAIC's fourth-annual Giving Day is just 1 week away! This year we are highlighting three essential elements for student success: scholarships, wellness, and career preparedness. We are asking all alums and friends to celebrate our students and donate early! Gifts to any fund, of any size, make a difference. Stay tuned this week to learn more about the impact Giving Day has on our students and the funds we are highlighting this year!

Fawn Penn (BFA 2020) recently opened a new gallery space, Old Friends, in Chicago’s Roscoe Village. Fawn saw a need in Chicago for a place where ceramics could be exhibited on equal footing with paintings and other media instead of as a niche genre or interest and created Old Friends. The gallery aims to elevate the stature of ceramics in the local art scene.

The inaugural show at Old Friends opened on March 1 and is on view until March 31, 2024. penn

Thank you to alum Nakiyah T.M. Jordan (MFA 2022) for speaking last week during .maffairs Black Heritage Month series! Nakiyah is an artist and poet that provided space to students to reflect on Black love and what it means to us. We loved collaborating with Multicultural Affairs to bring Nakiyah back to engage and collaborate with our current students!