Sample MFA Personal Statement (admitted to New School and Rhode Island)
by Talha Omer, M.Eng., Cornell Grad
In personal statement samples by field.
The following personal statement is written by an applicant who got accepted to top graduate programs in fine arts (MFA). Variations of this personal statement got accepted at Rhode Island School of Design, New School–Parsons School of Design, and School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Read this MFA personal statement to get inspiration and understand what a top MFA essay should look like.
You might also be interested in reading this Sample MFA Statement of Purpose that got admitted to Yale, UCLA, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Sample MFA Personal Statement
Art rescued me from an abusive marriage in an oppressive society where human life is dispensable. It gave me the courage to stand up for myself and talk about uncomfortable things in our society. Born and raised in a conservative family, my father had conformist female values like; girls don’t answer doorbells and playing in public parks. So, while growing up, I wasn’t allowed to explore the outside world. The only thing that interested me indoors was the art section of weekly magazines. It was my first window to art.
My mother was always fond of making handcrafts like wooden crafts, flower making, and embroidery. As a curious child, I learned these techniques from her. Unfortunately, following a path dictated by my father, I completed high school in science instead of arts. Nevertheless, thanks to the Internet, I became aware of how vital it is to pursue my passion and then decided to apply to an Arts school. With only four months to prepare for the competitive entry test, my mother and I found a drawing studio where I religiously practiced 18 hours a day for the next four months.
Against all the odds, I went to the top art school in the country and graduated with honors on a scholarship. My thesis got a distinction and the Principal’s Honors award. Dr. Virginia Whiles, a UK-based Art Historian, saw my thesis and was awestruck. She remarked, “I hadn’t seen anything like this before,” and purchased my work for her collection. Later, she sent me an email from the UK informing me that she had quoted my work in an international art magazine (Art Monthly UK). This small but meaningful event consolidated my belief that art could transcend cultural boundaries.
As a child at home, I witnessed gender inequality. This created a perception that women are not welcome in a conservative household. In grade 6, I complained to my father, “I know you are not fond of daughters, but your behavior is hurting me.” He was astonished. I guess he was not expecting this from a naive 11-year-old. But something changed after that day. My father started to redress.
Eighteen years later, I still explore social, personal, and political discomforts. However, this time through my art, I translate what I see and experience into my own “language,” primarily sculptures. My father talks with pride about me being a first-generation college graduate and a financially independent woman. He also boasts about my work exhibited in London and the sculptures I created as a studio assistant to Benedict Cumberbatch, an Oscars Prize nominee. I guess generations-old taboos could be challenged. However, one needs the courage to be articulate, and I found myself most articulated through art.
I have always embedded social and cultural factors in my artwork. Whether they were community-based women empowerment projects with CED and CDC or my studio practice as a sculptor. Where my peers opted for jobs at fashion houses, I instead chose community-based projects. These projects allowed me to travel worldwide and offered me the experience of interacting with women in remote areas, discovering their untapped potential, and listening to their fascinating stories.
Moreover, teaching helped me boost my confidence and polish my art practice. It also taught me multitasking and teamwork. I realized social engagement through arts is rewarding, so I began teaching at a local art school. This experience taught me how therapeutic it is to share an artistic space with students. However, I need further education, an MFA precisely to teach at the university, alongside my studio practice.
Working in various locations has been challenging. Currently, I have a small studio set up at my home. I am proud of this studio as my work speaks to many viewers worldwide. Working with limited resources is hard, but I am trying.
The last five years of abusive marriage and divorce were tragic for me, and the most freedom I got to express myself was through art. It gave me the courage to face the world, pay collective homage to women’s struggles, and encourage them to break the silence and realize their potential. Therefore, I seek an artistic community where I can refine my practice in a true essence while defying social norms and taboos. An MFA will allow me to explore societal norms and female roles.
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