From April 4 through May 10, 2025, visitors to the University of South Florida’s Contemporary Art Museum can experience Thank You in Advance, a bold and thoughtful exhibition showcasing the work of six emerging artists completing their Master of Fine Arts degrees. More than a thesis show, this annual exhibition is a launchpad—a first look at the voices shaping what’s next in contemporary art.
The featured artists – Jocelyn Chase, Olin Fritz, Adrian Gomez, Michael Lonchar, Emily Martinez, and Tom Rosenow – have spent the past three years immersed in creative research and collaboration with faculty in the School of Art & Art History. Their work spans a wide range of media, ideas, and approaches, unified by a deep commitment to exploration and experimentation.
Step into the exhibition and you’ll find: Jocelyn Chase blending sculpture, ceramics, painting, zines, and darkroom photography to create immersive installations; Olin Fritz transforming discarded objects into uncanny forms that live somewhere between humor and discomfort; Adrian Gomez offering intimate, interdisciplinary reflections on first-generation identity; Michael Lonchar building large-scale sculptural and video installations that navigate the complexities of mental health; Emily Martinez crafting theatrical, myth-inspired landscapes that center brown figures in surreal fashion-infused worlds; and Tom Rosenow reimagining printmaking through the lens of internet culture.
Each artist has worked closely with the museum’s professional staff to bring their vision to life – learning how to install, promote, and exhibit their work in line with professional museum standards, including the processes around lending and managing artwork. It’s a key part of what makes the MFA experience at the School of Art & Art History and the Contemporary Art Museum both rigorous and real-world ready.
The museum’s mission is rooted in education and access. Through lectures, artist talks, publications, and over 5,000 contemporary works in its permanent collection, the Contemporary Art Museum creates a space where students can learn, research, and grow. Graduate assistantships, internships, and directed study opportunities add depth to that experience, preparing students for careers across the arts and cultural landscape.
Thank You in Advance is free and open to the public. Whether you're a seasoned art lover or just curious, this is your chance to see what’s next – before it’s everywhere.
More information is available at the College of Design, Art & Performance’s event page.