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The Daily Hub

A roundup of ideas and projects from around the Institute

  • Tomokazu Matsuyama, MFA Communications Design ’04, is profiled by Puck writer Marion Maneker, who visits Matsuyama’s studio in Greenpoint. “Matsu presented me with an articulate rationale for his syncretic work: Japanese anime-inspired figures inhabiting a world of riotous patterned wallpaper and clothing was an expression of his own sense of being a minority within a very different majority culture. His work is about representation, but within it, he imagines a sophisticated multicultural world where there are no set hierarchies.”

  • Pin-Up interviews Mark Grattan, BID ’06, in a wide-ranging conversation that explores his love of woodworking, his upcoming Layered collection for HBF Textiles, and his resistance to trends. “I’m not on trend. I’ve always stayed clear of a trend. Stacking and repetition give me comfort. In my eyes, it’s a beautiful thing to repeat a shape. The new collection has a lot of repeating shapes, like marquetry, which I’m working on a lot at the moment.”

  • For the Brooklyn Rail, Assistant Dean in the School of Art Marcus Civin reviewed a new monograph on artist and musician Lonnie Holley. “The highlight is his assemblages of cast-off objects installed in his backyard or other outdoor spaces—often stacks of rusty or busted-up furniture, tools, and wood,” writes Civin. “Collectively, these sculptures represent a kind of archaeology, history unearthed from the junkyard, combinations that appear as improvisational as the artist’s singing.”

  • Professor of Writing James Hannaham’s Didn’t Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta was included on Michelle Tea’s top ten list of favorite gay books for Literary Hub. “Is this perhaps the best book in the world?,” writes Tea. “This is a funny book about a serious subject—my fave—and it features one of the very best characters I’ve ever loved, Carlotta, and I happen to give a very serious shit what happened to her, from the electric first page til the last.”

  • Chair of Fine Arts Jane South spoke with The New York Times about the state of New York City. She noted that applications to Pratt’s Fine Arts program are up, indicating that artists still see the city as a place of hope. “[Artists] generate opportunities for themselves, for others. There’s a tremendous amount of that going on.”

  • Associate Professor in the School of Information Nancy Smith is presenting at the Data | Art Symposium at Harvard. Her presentation, “Environmental Data & Fiber Arts: Experiments in Stitching, Quilting, and Sculpture,” explores her recent work in data physicalization and slow technology.

More Pratt Institute News

Four individuals pose together in front of a black backdrop featuring the word

Celebrating Creative Legends

Legends 2025 raised vital funds for student scholarships and honored distinguished creative icons Jeremy Scott and Mavis Wiggins, with awards presented by Heidi Klum and Cindy Allen.
A group of five individuals stands together outdoors, smiling and posing for a photo. One person holds a certificate framed with the text "NOMA Barbara G. Laurie 2025 Student Design Competition Honorable Mention, Pratt Institute." They are dressed in a mix of casual and formal attire, with trees and a fence visible in the background, indicating it's late afternoon or early evening.

Architecture Students Make Strong Debut at Design Competition

From Pratt Institute News

The Pratt team earned national recognition and the honorable mention award for a project centered on food, culture, and connection in Kansas City.
Two individuals are engaging in conversation while looking at a book in an art gallery. One person has short hair and glasses, wearing a black sleeveless top with a white panel and a long black skirt. The other has long, dark hair in a ponytail, dressed in a bright blue blouse with a bow tie and light gray pants. A large pink artwork is visible in the background.

Nurturing Exquisite Relations

From Pratt Institute News

Cocreated with alumni, faculty, and students across the Institute, a recent exhibition presented by Pratt’s School of Art embodied mentorship, collaboration, and support for the LGBTQIA+ community.