Each of the artists featured in the exhibition has recently completed or is in the process of finishing an MFA at the University of New Orleans. The artists’ works provide noteworthy fresh experience in the New Orleans art community. Their work already evidences cohesion and maturity.

Jessica Bizer works principally with acrylic and contact paper on canvas. Originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, she completed undergraduate work at Boston University before studying Studio Art at Stanton College in New York and continuing on her MFA in painting at the University of New Orleans.

John Fields has two large acrylic paintings in the exhibition. One work is on canvas and the other painting is on yupo, an archival synthetic paper from Japan. In 2003 he received a B.A. in Studio Art at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 2007 he completed an MFA at the University of New Orleans with an emphasis on painting and video.

Rachel Jones is presently working with oil on yupo. She completed a B.A. in Studio Art and Sculpture at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She is currently working toward an MFA in painting at the University of New Orleans.

Alex Podesta creates sculpture, paintings and photo-collages, drawing from his childhood fantasies and experiences as source materials for his work. The artist was born in central North Carolina and studied sculpture at Virginia Commonwealth University before moving to New Orleans where he completed his bachelor’s degree in 2002 and his MFA in 2007.