Moore College of Art & Design

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Moore College of Art & Design

Moore College of Art & Design is the only independent school for art and design in Philadelphia.

The world doesn't need just another art school—the world needs Moore. Moore College of Art & Design prepares students for learning and leadership in the fine arts, design arts, art history, art education and curatorial studies.

05/28/2026

Come explore "Handmade," this year's juried alumni biennial (opening Friday 6/12 from 5-7pm) and see new and recent works by alumni artists across generations and disciplines. This special exhibition is presented as part of Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a nationwide initiative organized by Craft in America in honor of the United States Semiquincentennial.

For this exhibition, craft is defined broadly, encompassing works in clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood and other materials. The works on view range from functional to nonfunctional, and include decorative, wearable, sculptural, and conceptual approaches. Techniques range from traditional to bold & contemporary—come discover this fabulous selection of work created by alumni and curated by alumna Leila Cartier ‘04, Executive Director of Houston Center for Contemporary Craft.

Images in order: Tisha Taylor '01, Margaux McAllister '04, Jasmine Schulte '20, Judy DeSimone '78, and Nina Valdera '20. All images courtesy of the artists. More info about the show and full list of participating artists can be found at the link in bio. The exhibition is on view from June 13–August 29, 2026.

05/24/2026

We were looking through photos from the Giving Week Student Celebration — and had to share this moment. 💙 Earlier this year, the Moore community came together for our very first Giving Week, raising more than $39,000 in support of students, scholarships, and creative opportunity.

To celebrate, Fine Arts and Interior Design students gathered for an evening of desserts, drinks, laughter, and well-earned recognition after tying for the most donors during the campaign. Because of your generosity, students weren’t just supported — they were celebrated! Thank you for helping make moments like this possible.

05/22/2026

Alumni Gallery Alert! "Homecoming" by Laura Petrovich-Cheney ’11 was installed last week and celebrates her signature style that transforms salvaged materials into striking works inspired by quilting and craft traditions. If you can’t get here to see it in person, no worries! And/or if you want to learn more about the project, we invite you to join us for a virtual artist talk featuring Laura in conversation with Program Head and Assistant Professor of Interior Design Sheri Watson as they discuss her artistic journey, creative processes and the ideas shaping the work on Thursday, June 18 from 12–1:30 p.m. Registration info at our link in bio.

"Homecoming" is on view May 16–July 18, 2026 and we invite you to join us for the opening reception: Friday, June 12 | 5–7 p.m. (in conjunction with the Juried Alumni Biennial). More info at our link in bio.

All images courtesy of the artist.

05/20/2026

It’s official! Moore’s 2026 BFA and MA degrees were conferred on Saturday 5/16 at Philadelphia’s one and only Academy of Music, located on Broad Street (AKA the Avenue of the Arts). Our 177th Commencement ceremony celebrated the academic & creative accomplishments of 133 students who have spent the last few years working so hard to get here.

We congratulate you all for your achievements and wish you well as you begin the next chapter in your narrative. It won’t be without its challenges, but we hope that Moore has helped you to hone your skills and that, together, we’ve set a solid foundation for your career success. We know that you are creative professionals who will continue to evolve your craft as you launch your path out in the world and we are so proud to have been a part of your journey.

And know that we will continue to support you over the years as you change and grow! Stay in touch with your faculty, your favorite staff, and with our team in the Locks Career Center–they can help to guide you along the way. Cheers to the Moore College of Art & Design Class of 2026! 🥂

📸 Photos by Emily Morton ’22

BFA degrees:
Animation & Game Arts x 34
Art Education x 5
Fashion Design x 5
Fine Arts x 8
Graphic Design x 9
Illustration x 42
Interior Design x 11
Photography x 10

MA in Art Education with an emphasis in inclusive practices x 9

05/13/2026

Last night we attended the premiere of a new documentary called “Becoming American, Philadelphia’s Story” at and are thrilled to share that 3 of Moore’s students helped with the production!

Last summer, we partnered with BearHouse Media and sent three of our students to work alongside the film crew and producers over the course of several weeks, filming both in Philadelphia and Bristol, England. The project was designed to provide practical opportunities for students, and to help the crew understand the founding history of America – specifically Philadelphia.

The project took place in two phases: the first involved a fashion student who completed research on historical costuming, artifacts and references from 1770s to 1830s. This student then shadowed the film crew throughout the city, shooting footage of Philadelphia. The second phase involved two animation students who travelled to London and Essex, England, and spent time with the paper artist commissioned for the film. Students worked in her studio on scenes she created for the film, and discussed techniques she used to animate. They also spent 4 days on set with the artist, the film crew, and the photographers who prepared and filmed the paper art scenes in a studio for the documentary. In addition, they spent time on their own visiting various locations in the city to understand how Bristol was a critical port for Britain during the transatlantic trade in enslaved people.

It’s an exciting project that airs on WHYY-12 on May 28. It airs nationwide (and becomes available for streaming via PBS) on June 15.

05/12/2026

Congratulations to our two 2026 co-valedictorians, Lulu Chen (Illustration) and Madison Quinones (Graphic Design)! With perfect 4.0 GPAs, their talent, intelligence, and dedication have made them the first students in 25 years to share this distinction. We know you will achieve great things out there in the world, never stop thinking creatively and keep up the phenomenal work! You make us so proud.

Lulu describes herself as “an artist guiding lost souls into mythical realms where the chaos of life can be escaped through fantastical illustrations.” She has received numerous honors and awards during her time at Moore including the AMDG 1933 Foundation Scholarship, Visionary Woman Honors Scholarship, and the Si Friedman Memorial Art Award. She interned at Legacy Photographics and currently works as a graphics artist & workshop artisan at Jeffrey Levinson.

Madison is a graphic designer specializing in branding, children’s design, environmental design, and UX/UI. She has received recognition for her academic excellence and creative work through honors including the Dieline Student Showcase, and the Tiffany & Co. Fellowship. She was a former Marketing and Digital Media Intern at the Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art as well as a Conservation Intern at the Historical Society of Pennslyvania, and is currently working as a freelance web designer.

Slides 2-4: illustrations by Lulu Chen Slides 6-11: graphic design projects by Madison Quinones All images courtesy of the artists.

05/08/2026

Moore’s 2026 Fashion Show was a great success because of the people involved! Big thanks to our production teams, faculty, students, alumni, staff, families, guests, sponsors, to our fabulous emcee , and everyone else who helped bring the dream to life! Congratulations to our juniors and seniors who participated and to our amazing Fashion Design faculty who continue to guide the department’s creative vision!

These capstone collections speak volumes about the excellence of our students—through them, their hard work and dedication to their craft is evident! Congratulations to our seniors, in order of appearance: Greta Hartman , Krysta Peters, Lonnette Wiley , Willow Gehman and Ensaam Farraj

2026 Adrienne Vittadini ’66 Award for Excellence in Fashion Design: Ensaam Farraj
2026 Northern Trust Critics’ Choice Award: Ensaam Farraj
2026 Northern Trust Best in Show Award: Willow Gehman

Keep an eye out for more Moore College of Art & Design Fashion Show 2026 content and we hope to see you at next year’s event!

05/04/2026

Meet Morgan Riley ‘26, the student behind Moore’s 2026 Senior Show graphic identity! Her collateral for the project celebrates themes of departures and new destinations, imagery that inspires Morgan as she plans to embark on her own career in graphic design.

Morgan completed an internship with the Philadelphia Zoo between her junior and senior years and plans to work there again as a freelancer after graduation. Morgan is interested in branding, package and web design and we can’t wait to see her build a rewarding career that’s rich with color, creativity, and exceptional graphic design! Congratulations to and to all of your Moore College of Art & Design class of 2026 peers, we are so proud!

Images all courtesy of the artist.

05/01/2026

Alumni Reunion is here! Last call for registrations, it’s not too late and you’re never too young or too old to attend! Join us for some, all, or even just one event. Think about closing out the festivities with us on Saturday before your dinner plans… come socialize during our happy hour in the penthouse of Rittenhouse Hall, Moore’s newest luxury-style student residence! Reconnect with classmates, meet fellow alumni and explore the beautiful accommodations that represent the College’s continued growth and investment in student life. Raise a glass with fellow alumni as we celebrate Moore’s past, present and future!

Penthouse Party | Saturday 5/2 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m

Register now for it and/or everything else, it’s not too late! 🔗 link in bio.

Photos: party in the penthouse with alumni guests at the Rittenhouse Hall ribbon cutting last fall, by Naomieh Jovin ’17,

04/30/2026

TONIGHT (4/30)! We celebrate our Animation & Game Arts, Art Education, Fine Arts, and Photography seniors with a fabulous exhibition that showcases their final thesis projects. There’s so much to see and we are so proud of the work they’ve accomplished over their years at Moore College of Art & Design! School’s not out for summer yet but we are excited to share this culminating moment as we ramp up towards Commencement on May 16!

04/14/2026

We got gold frames on frames on frames! We celebrate our Graphic Design, Illustration, and Interior Design seniors this Thursday 4/16 from 6-7 pm during the friends & family reception. Come out and see the fabulous exhibition full of thesis projects this year’s cohort has worked so hard to complete! And if you can’t make it Thursday, the show is on view through April 25.

Seen here, the work of 3 Illustrators whose paintings feature gold framing in some way. Images: Amanda Jaggard ’26, Nova Vela ’26, and Emily Larsen ’26. Congratulations to all!

Address

1916 Race Street
Philadelphia, PA
19103

Telephone

+12155684515

Website

http://www.moore.edu/

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