Report III

The Pritzker Scholarship Funds at SAIC Pritzker Graduate Fellowship, Pritzker Scholarship, and Thomas and Margot Pritzker Scholarship A REPORT FOR THOMAS AND MARGOT PRITZKER December 2022



The three funds created by Thomas and Margot Pritzker and the Pritzker Family Foundation—the Pritzker Graduate Fellowship, the Pritzker Scholarship, and the Thomas and Margot Pritzker Scholarship Fund—have opened up many opportunities for the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s (SAIC) next generation of citizen artists. We are grateful that between 2008 and 2018, you chose to expand access to an art and design education for undergraduate and graduate students through your philanthropy. Today, your investment continues to make a lasting impact on the emerging artists and designers who proudly become Pritzker Scholars and Fellows each year. This year alone, 27 emerging creatives received support from one of your funds, making a huge impact on their education and future careers. Sage Dye (MFA 2023) said: “Without the generosity of the Pritzker Graduate Fellowship, I would not have been able to afford to attend SAIC. My graduate work has greatly expanded my understanding of myself as an artist and person, and I cannot express my gratitude enough.” Scholarship support encourages current students like Sage to engage fully in their practice as they connect with SAIC’s innovative community of changemakers. The pages that follow highlight four recipients’ artistic practice. Their work last academic year would not have been possible without support from the Pritzker family. Thank you for your continued partnership. 1

FUNDS IMPACT THROUGH THE 2021-22 Each year, the School awards scholarships to over 3,000 students. Need and merit-based aid is critically important to ensuring that all prospective students can make the choice to pursue an art and design education, regardless of financial barriers. The Pritzker Scholarship Funds at SAIC have made a huge impact on our community of emerging artists, designers, and scholars. Collectively, with over $2.75 million disbursed and X students supported: Pritzker Graduate Fellowship $1,242,516 disbursed Pritzker Scholarship $1,242,516 disbursed $628,000 disbursed Thomas and Margot Pritzker Graduate Scholarship 2

2021-22 PRITZKER SCHOLARS AND FELLOWS 3 PRITZKER GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP Established by the Pritzker Foundation in 2014, this fund supports merit-based scholarships Michaela Chan (MFAW 2023) Isabelle Cho (MFA 2023) Michelle Davo Ortiz (MAHA 2023) Mira Dayal (MAVS 2023) Rose Dickson (MFA 2021) Sage Dye (MDF 2023) Sarah Garcia (MAAE 2023) Priyanka Kumar (MAAJ 2022) Amanda Mendelsohn (MAAH 2023) Yesha Mody (MARC 2021) Viet Phan (MFA 2022) Iliana Regan (MFAW 2022) Rachel Salem (MSHP 2022) Corey Smith (MFA 2021) Lillian Spangler (MAT 2022) Allison Tepper (MAAH 2022) Kimberly Upstill (MAVS 2021) Emily Wilson (MARC 2023) PRITZKER SCHOLARSHIP FUND Established by the Pritzker Family Foundation in 2008. This fund supports need- based scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students at SAIC. Erica Dincalci (MFA 2023) John Doley (MFA 2023) Josiah Ellner (MFA 2023) Serena Elston (MFA 2023) Clara Emery (MFA 2023) Maria Antonieta Hernandez (MARC 2023) Yuri Yi (BFA 2024) THOMAS AND MARGOT PRITZKER SCHOLARSHIP FUND Established by the Pritzker Family Foundation and the Pritzker Foundation in 2011, this fund supports merit and need-based scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students at SAIC. Students must meet all or most of the following criteria to receive the award: first in his/her family to attend college; have prior work or study experience in China; have familiarity with the Chinese language, culture, and history; and/or intend to work in China after graduation. Yuqing Ren (MAAT 2024) Xuechen Zhao (MARC 2023)

PRITZKER GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP SAGE DYE MFA 2023 WITH GRATITUDE Without the generosity of the Pritzker Graduate Fellowship, I would not have been able to afford to attend SAIC. Before coming to Chicago, I was unsure if I would ever be able to see myself as an artist, and had relegated myself to sticking in the domain of wearables. My graduate work has greatly expanded my understanding of myself as an artist and person, and I cannot express my gratitude enough for this. The last year I have been able to explore sculpture, installation, collaboration with nearly every department, and return to my love of performance. The opportunity to work at the Roger Brown Study Collection has deepened my knowledge of self taught art, curation, and curatorial research, and has helped me develop public speaking and research skills that I will bring with me for the rest of my life. I have found a highly receptive art community in Chicago and have been able to exhibit my graduate work in six galleries over the last year. My experience at SAIC has truly surpassed my expectations, and I am so grateful for the scholarship that gave me this opportunity. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Website: sagedye.com/about Sage Dye (MFA 2023), Vicdoughry Loaves, 2022, photo litho print on pattern paper, found 5 4 cellophane, found cotton lace tablecloth, found cotton bedsheet, wool batting

SARITA GARCIA MA 2023 WITH GRATITUDE I am grateful for receiving the Pritzker Scholarship as it has allowed me the opportunity to grow into my work as an artist, educator, researcher, and cultural worker based in Chicago. Working alongside amazing instructors, peers, museums, students and youth at SAIC, my time here has been fortified by the vital networks and communities who have influenced my work. Not only has this scholarship been helpful in aiding me to attend SAIC, but it has also validated work that I have done in the past that has brought me to this point within my life’s work. I am thankful and happy to know that this scholarship sees both the integral programming I have done in the past and also sees the potential of what I can provide for the Chicago communities in the future. Website: www.saritagarcia.com Sarita Garcia (MA 2023) stands in front of artwork created by her students at the Hyde Park Art 5 Center.

MICHAELA CHAN MFA 2023 WITH GRATITUDE The Pritzker Graduate Fellowship has helped me pursue an internship with the American Medical Association Journal of Ethics to create a collection of comics concerning topics of medical ethics which are available in the August and October 2022 issues. My work often intersects with medicine, as seen with my graphic novel, LAB RAT. With this funding, I am able to apply to more residencies than would otherwise be possible. As I look toward graduation, I am happy to know that my options are more broad thanks to the generous support of this scholarship. Thank you! Michaela Chan (MFA 2023), excerpt from graphic novel LAB RAT, 2022, ink on paper 6

PRITZKER SCHOLARSHIP FUND JOSIAH ELLNER MFA 2023 WITH GRATITUDE Many thanks for supporting my education at SAIC. As I have pursued my MFA degree here at SAIC, my work has become much more enriched by the classes and conversations with the faculty and my cohort. My paintings are narratives that revolve around the tumultuous relationship between humanity and the natural world. I am drawn to moments that embody the feeling of oneness with nature. The formal decisions I make in my work are all informed by the characteristics of these moments which tend toward the awkward, whimsical, playful and sometimes slightly humorous. This results in ungainly and awkward figures and environments that are patterned and playful. Through these abstractions I strive to achieve a heightened narrative that encapsulates the connections and the concealed discomfort we have with the natural world. As I continue my time here I plan to hone my practice both in skill and technique, as well as concept and research. Currently I am studying the history of animation and trying to understand its relationship to my painting practice. Once again, thank you for making it possible for me to attend school here at SAIC. Josiah Ellner(MFA 2023), Now Entering Hyperspace, 2022, oil and oil pastel on canvas 7

LOOKING AHEAD Our School has been around for more than 150 years. In the next 150 years, we want to continue diversifying our campus and providing opportunities for all talented artists to study here. We see a future campus that includes students from Chicago and all over the world. We see scholarship support that removes financial barriers to attending the School. We see a student body that reflects our society as whole, enriching every aspect of the student experience and cementing our reputation as a world- class institution that encourages diverse perspectives and playful creativity. Thank you for giving us the ability to support aspiring artists. Our scholarship recipients and the faculty and staff that nurture the student experience are forever grateful for the opportunities these funds provide. Rose Milkowski, Vice President of Enrollment 8



COURTNEY ROWE, VP FOR ADVANCEMENT 116 S. Michigan Ave., 5th Floor Chicago, IL 60603 [email protected] O: 312.499.4186 C: 303.335.6255