80 Washington Square East, NYU

VAA Curatorial Practice

Transversal: Where We Come From and Where We Are Going

January 6 – January 28, 2023

Project Space

80WSE and the NYU Visual Arts Administration students are proud to introduce, Transversal: Where We Come from and Where we are Going from January 6-28, 2023. Showcasing new works from students practicing in the university’s BFA program, Transversal is dedicated to celebrating the complex journey of navigating one's identity and the way this manifests within their practice.


Presenting ten emerging artists for Transversal: Where We Come From and Where We Are Going, artists explore themes of duality – organic and inorganic, identity and culture, realism and surrealism, inclusion and exclusion, and past and present. Through these poles the artist connects their ideas of self and the external world. Diving into the intersection of origin, identity, and contemporary practice, each piece gives us a deeper understanding of the complex emotions that arise when simultaneously presented with feelings of belonging and displacement. The artists employ a variety of mediums in this exhibition including painting, photography, sculpture, wood carving, and woven textiles. With these selections, we hope to provide a platform for visibility, contemplation, and reflection – looking at how each work manifests in a uniquely distinct form while still exploring each artist's relationship with their identity and practice.  

Participating Artists:

Elaine Du 
Oscar Garay
Ningci (Alice) Jiang 
Kat Nestser
Rebecca Panos
Owen Roberts
Talia Rudofsky
Yutaro Sahara
Tasneem Sarkez
Angela Xu

The exhibition is curated, produced, and managed by NYU Steinhardt Visual Arts Administration MA students enrolled in the Curatorial Practice course, which provides hands-on experience in the development, curation, installation, and operation of exhibitions, programs, and events. Special thanks to the 80WSE staff for their assistance and accommodations. 

Installation image of the exhibition featuring a sculpture in the foreground with five art works on the wall behind it in the background.
Installation view of the exhibition featuring two walls and a sculpture in the middle of the floor. On the left side wall, a large abstract painting of what appears to be an outdoor garden scene of a shed. Bright green covers the background, with a suggestion of a stone table and wood shed. Next to the painting, a smaller painting on the left includes an painting of a frog wearing clothes, seated on a lily pad. The frogs arms are crossed in an anthropomorphic fashion. Next to the frog on the right, is a white pedestal, and next to that is a painting with three small circular discs on either side of it. On the right side wall, an abstract image of faces are painted in pink and green pastels. In the middle of the gallery, on the floor, is a wooden chair-like sculpture with white, tulle fabric draped over one side.
Installation view of one wall in the exhibition. A large abstract painting of what appears to be an outdoor garden scene of a shed. Bright green covers the background, with a suggestion of a stone table and wood shed. Next to the painting, a smaller painting on the left includes an painting of a frog wearing clothes, seated on a lily pad. The frogs arms are crossed in an anthropomorphic fashion. Next to the frog on the right, is a white pedestal, and next to that is a painting with three small circular discs on either side of it.
Installation view of three objects in the exhibition against a white wall. The first object is a painting with an anthropomorphic frog figure crossing its arms and wearing clothes as it balances a top a lily pad. Next to this frog, a white pedestal sits against the wall with a small glass box on top. The contents of the pedestal are illegible. On the right side of the pedestal, a painting hangs with three circular discs on each side.
Close-up view of an object in the exhibition featuring a small wooden open box with a cracked egg inside. The box is rectangular, and made of yellowish wood. Contents include what appears to be a cracked egg, as there are shells, yellow yolk, inside the object.
Installation view of four objects in the exhibition on two walls. On the right side wall, an anthropomorphic frog sits with its arms crossed as it wears human clothes. Next to the frog, a white pedestal sits on the ground with a clear box on top. The content of the box are illegible from the camera angle. Next to the pedestal, an abstract painting on panel is surrounding by six discs, three on each side. On the right wall, an abstract painting of faces in various pink pastels, hangs against a white wall.
Installation view of two walls in the exhibition. On the left wall, a white pedestal sits on the ground with a clear box on top. The content of the box are illegible from the camera angle. Next to the pedestal, an abstract painting on panel is surrounding by six discs, three on each side. On the back wall, an abstract painting of faces in various pink pastels, hangs against a white wall. Right of this painting, are two hung pieces of clothing. On the right, a long-sleeve tank sweater with the words, “ I DON’T THINK WE’RE WASTING TIME” stitched in pink. On the right, a multicolored tank top is knitted with the words, “BUT IF YOU DO I’M SORRY” in white yarn. They are hung on the wall on grey hangers and attached to one another with long pieces of yarn.
Installation view of two walls in the exhibition An abstract painting of faces in various pink pastels, hangs against a white wall. Right of this painting, are two hung pieces of clothing. On the right, a long-sleeve tank sweater with the words, “ I DON’T THINK WE’RE WASTING TIME” stitched in pink. On the right, a multicolored tank top is knitted with the words, “BUT IF YOU DO I’M SORRY” in white yarn. They are hung on the wall on grey hangers and attached to one another with long pieces of yarn.
Installation view of the entire exhibition room include two walls, four window panes that look out onto the street, and a sculpture in the center of the room.
Installation view of the exhibition featuring the window in the gallery with four panels of glass and two artworks hung in the two center panels. In the left window pane, two abstract prints are taped to the glass and on the right side, two other prints are taped to the glass.
Installation view of two works in the exhibition hanging on a white wall. On the left, an abstract figure is painted into a grey and white abstract background of swirling, and unblended colors. The figure has no face, and no legs, but seems to be emerging from the cloud of painterly smoke. On the right, a white canvas is hung on the wall with a photograph in the bottom right corner. The photograph is negative in color with light shining through to emphasize it. A black cord hangs down from the canvas and plugs into the wall near the ground.
Photos by Carter Seddon.