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MFA In Illustration

@illustrationmfa

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Low Residency MFA in Illustration Program @hartfordartschool. Check our highlights for current and former student work ⚡️Directed by @cfoxpayne.

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We look forward to seeing @illustrationmfa in New York City!

👉🏽Fall Contact -
New York City
Society of Illustrators
@soi128
October 19 - 23, 2026

👉🏼Spring Contact -
Los Angeles|Pasadena
March 15 - 19, 2027

☀️Summer Contact -
University of Hartford Residency
@hartfordartschool
July 19 - 30, 2027 taken in New York City by @illustrationmfa

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19 days ago

This weekend I officially became the Program Director of the MFA in Illustration @hartfordartschool @universityofhartford ✨ I am beyond excited for this new chapter, and can’t wait for the extraordinary future of this incredible non-residency illustration program! There are so many exciting things on the horizon!
July residency @hartfordartschool July 19-31
October contact period @soi128 NYC! October 19-23
A heartfelt, huge thanks to @cfoxpayne @shaynapiascik for their unwavering support🤍

The @illustrationmfa program has a wonderful legacy - and as I am a proud alum - we are all an illustration family!🤍 by @illustrationmfa

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3 months ago

Big news from the Hartford Art School’s MFA in Illustration program.

This year brings a meaningful transition for our community. After many years of extraordinary leadership, mentorship, and artistic vision, Program Director C.F. Payne has announced that he will retire in summer 2026. We’re deeply grateful for the talent, heart, and guidance he has shared with generations of illustrators.

At the same time, we’re thrilled to share the exciting news that Leslie Cober will be serving as Guest Artist and Director of the MFA in Illustration program, effective in July 2026.

@lcgdesign is an award-winning illustrator, designer, curator, and educator whose work champions optimism, storytelling, and the power of visual communication. Her illustrations have appeared in countless global publications and international initiatives, and she currently serves as President of the Society of Illustrators in NYC. As an alum of our MFA program, she brings both a deep connection to our community and a bold, visionary approach to the field.

Her career spans teaching at FIT and Western Connecticut State University, curating major exhibitions, and inspiring students nationwide to “think out of the box” and develop their own distinct voices. Leslie’s leadership bridges art, education, and community—empowering artists to create expressive and meaningful work.

We’re looking ahead with excitement as our MFA in Illustration program reaches new heights and steps into an inspiring new era. by @illustrationmfa

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a year ago

Congratulations to @illustrationmfa alumni and frequent Philadelphia contact week speaker @mario_zucca for making the cover of the New York Times today! Mario is often featured in posters and publications nationally - today’s feature is all about him winning the @philaparallelparking championship! Congratulations Mario! Amazing!👏👏🏎️💨 by @illustrationmfa

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13 days ago

The MFA in Illustration @hartfordartschool @universityofhartford is headed to NYC for our October 19–23 contact period! 🗽

We have an extraordinary lineup to share!
Part two post-here’s a look at the 4th and 5th day - and it’s just part of the incredible 🎉👏👏👏week!

We ❤️ NYC, and we’re thrilled to have the Society of Illustrators @soi128 as our home base for a week of top talent presentations, workshops, exclusive gallery tours, and museum visits. We can’t wait to see everyone!

Presenters:
@obrienillustration
@marcoschinart
@simonenoronha
@rudy_gutierrez_art
@davidcooperart

We look forward to being inspired - and seeing you all soon! taken in New York City by @illustrationmfa

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19 days ago

The MFA in Illustration @hartfordartschool @universityofhartford is headed to NYC for our October 19–23 contact period! 🗽

We have an extraordinary lineup to share, so here’s a look at the first few days - and it’s just the beginning of the 🎉👏👏👏week!

We ❤️ NYC, and we’re thrilled to have the Society of Illustrators @soi128 as our home base for a week of top talent presentations, workshops, exclusive gallery tours, and museum visits. We can’t wait to see everyone!
👉🏼Part 2 Schedule posted in the next few days!

👇🏼Art credit 1-6 below👇🏼
@kuperart
@eumiel
@artofmm at @philippelabaunegallery
@bildonovan
@gbillout
@michaelknapp1304

We look forward to seeing everyone - and viewing your reaction artworks! taken in New York City by @illustrationmfa

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25 days ago

I wanted to share a little behind the scenes info about the visual essay I wrote and illustrated. For the past two years, while juggling client work and teaching responsibilities, I’ve been working towards my MFA in Illustration at the University of Hartford. “The Space We Make for Each Other” was one of the projects that ended up being part of my MFA thesis and thesis exhibition.
Being a student again, after so many years of teaching, has been such a pleasure and privilege. It has been wonderful to have the space to reconnect with work that is meaningful to me, and to be fully immersed in an environment with peers and educators who share similar interests.
Thank you @cfoxpayne @lcgdesign @billthomsonart @carolfschwartz and all the fantastic professors i had the opportunity to learn from during my time at Hartford’s @illustrationMFA - and of course my incredible cohort. 🫶 I’ll be sharing more of the process behind the work soon! by @illustrationmfa

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2 months ago

We love how the MFA in Illustration - after enjoying a wonderful day at the Norman Rockwell Museum @norman_rockwell_museum recreated this iconic painting! We are all thankful for the inspiration and a great day!💛
Thank you @lenzillustration for sharing📸 taken in Stockbridge, Massachusetts by @illustrationmfa

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2 months ago

A retirement gift for my @hartfordartschool mentor , program director, and all around artistic master, the great @cfoxpayne , who has carried the @illustrationmfa torch these last ten years! I was lucky to go through the MFA program while he was there, but the program will indeed continue on in the capable hands of @lcgdesign @dalestephanos @brianrlutz @carolfschwartz @shaynapiascik and others. #hartfordartschool #cfoxpayne #cfpayne #illustrationmfa #meesimo taken in Hartford Art School by @illustrationmfa

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2 months ago

Class of 2028 showing their book dummy - on their second summer week - class with faculty @jransomillustr @jeffmackbooks ! Pow! Bang! 🎉🎉👏👏👏✍️Congratulations on your first summer @illustrationmfa !
Photo credit - James Ransome by @illustrationmfa

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2 months ago

As summer 2026 concludes a shoutout to the @illustrationmfa team @lcgdesign @cfoxpayne @shaynapiascik @carolfschwartz @dalestephanos @brianrlutz & Bill Tompson who gifted artwork to carry the torch🔦
🥇🎉🎉🎉What an extraordinary two weeks - as we experienced top leaders in illustration teaching✨demos✨workshops✨and presentations in all genres of illustration. The MFA in Illustration Thesis Exhibit was truly memorable - Congratulations to the Class of 2026!!!🎉🎉🎉To the class of 2027 & 2028 we have so many exciting plans in place! See you in NYC @soi128 October 19-23. We can’t wait!!! To our alum - come say hello!🤍✍️ taken in University of Hartford by @illustrationmfa

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3 months ago

Wow - what an incredible two weeks of intensive illustration - workshops✨demos✨presentations✨top, leading illustrators instructing advanced, professional MFA cohorts at the University of Hartford @illustrationmfa ! It’s a team of the very best - and I am more than honored by my role as Director. A huge thank you to @cfoxpayne who has supported to the max, @shaynapiascik for her management of this top program, our Thesis Advisors @billthomsonart & @carolfschwartz, and @dalestephanos who agreed to take on this new role. @brianrlutz who comes in as Thesis consultant and our extraordinary guest faculty - who are the best of the best! It’s a winner!!!🥇Next stop contact period NYC @soi128 October 19-23🎨🎉🎉Can’t wait!!! taken in University of Hartford by @illustrationmfa

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3 months ago