Rhode Island School of Design to Showcase Graduate Exhibition 2025
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Prepares to Showcase Innovative Graduate Work at Grad Show 2025
Each year, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) celebrates the creative achievements of its graduating master’s students with a public exhibition of their thesis work — and 2025 is no exception. RISD Grad Show 2025 continues this tradition by presenting a dynamic and wide-ranging collection of projects by students completing advanced degrees in art, design, and architecture. This inspiring exhibition offers a glimpse into the next generation of creators and thought leaders across diverse disciplines and is free and open to the public from May 22 to May 29 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in downtown Providence.
An Immersive and Expansive Exhibition
Held in Halls C and D of the Rhode Island Convention Center, RISD Grad Show 2025 transforms a 43,000-square-foot venue into an expansive yet distinctly personal gallery space. Designed to foster creative freedom, the space includes over 2,000 linear feet of custom-built walls that form a labyrinth of smaller, versatile galleries. This carefully curated layout allows each graduate student to present a unique body of work that reflects their academic journey and artistic vision.
From large-scale installations to multimedia explorations, the expansive setup accommodates the diversity of formats and mediums that characterize contemporary art and design practice today. The exhibition is open daily from 12–5 pm (closing at 3 pm on May 29), and aims to foster conversations between students, educators, industry professionals, and community members alike.
Multidisciplinary Creativity on Full Display
RISD Grad Show 2025 features new work from emerging artists, designers, and scholars in 19 graduate departments, including:
– Architecture
– Ceramics
– Design Engineering
– Digital + Media
– Furniture Design
– Glass
– Global Arts and Cultures
– Graphic Design
– Illustration
– Industrial Design
– Interior Architecture
– Jewelry + Metalsmithing
– Landscape Architecture
– Painting
– Photography
– Printmaking
– Sculpture
– Teaching + Learning in Art + Design
– Textiles
These departments represent the multidisciplinary spirit that RISD fosters through rigorous studio work, research-based inquiry, and collaborative experimentation. The thesis projects on display are the result of one to three years of immersive study, showcasing sophisticated levels of critical thinking, conceptual development, and craftsmanship.
A Digital Experience for a Global Audience
In addition to the in-person exhibition, RISD Grad Show 2025 offers an online showcase, available at risdgrad.show. The digital platform allows a global audience to explore and engage with student work remotely. Viewers can browse student portfolios, read artist statements, and experience multimedia presentations that extend the reach of the on-site exhibition. The virtual component highlights RISD’s commitment to accessibility and to sharing its graduate students’ impact beyond institutional walls.
Graduate Education at RISD: A Global Creative Community
Graduate study at RISD draws a global community of artists, designers, architects, and scholars seeking to expand both disciplinary knowledge and interdisciplinary reach. With a curriculum rooted in rigorous studio practice, theoretical exploration, and collaborative problem-solving, the institution prepares graduates to think critically and act creatively in an increasingly complex world. RISD’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of practice is evident in the innovation and thought leadership embodied in each student’s final thesis.
In a world that increasingly values creative problem-solvers and visual communicators, Grad Show 2025 is both a celebration and a launchpad — showcasing the work of graduates who are poised to make a lasting impact across industries and communities.
Event Details
– Exhibition Dates: May 22–29, 2025
– Location: Rhode Island Convention Center (Halls C & D), Providence, RI
– Hours: 12–5 pm daily (12–3 pm on May 29)
– Admission: Free and open to the public
– Online Access: risdgrad.show
– More Information: risd.edu
Whether you’re an art enthusiast, industry professional, prospective student, or member of the local community, RISD Grad Show 2025 offers a rare opportunity to experience bold and original ideas at the forefront of contemporary art and design.