MFA Alumni Career Panel

Join us for a lively discussion on careers in the arts. Each of our invited distinguished alumni will give a brief description about their unique career path. Through thoughtful conversation students can ask questions and get inspired by career difficulties and successes.

Panelists:

Rami George (MFA’19, born 1989, U.S.) is a multidisciplinary artist currently based on Lenape land in what is now called Philadelphia. Their work—spanning photo, video, installation, text, and music/sound—has been presented in exhibitions and screenings at the William Way LGBT Community Center, Philadelphia; MIT List Visual Arts Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Anthology Film Archives, New York City; Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow, Scotland; Grand Union, Birmingham, England; the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London; the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia; LUX, London; the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago; and elsewhere. They continue to be influenced and motivated by political struggles and fractured narratives.

Gina Michaels (MFA’93) work has been shown in numerous solo, group and public art exhibitions in galleries, museums and public spaces. Gina is the owner and director of Legacy Atelier, a foundry, metal fabrication and sculpture studio serving artists and the conservation/preservation community. She is a graduate of Oberlin College, studied intensively at the New York Studio School, and received her MFA from the University of Pennsylvania.

Demetrius Oliver (MFA’04) received his BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, his MFA from the University of Pennsylvania, and attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. His work has been exhibited widely, with solo exhibitions at the Print Center, Henry Art Gallery, Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston; High Line, Inman Gallery, Klaus von Nichtssagend, D’Amelio Terras, and P.S. 1/MoMA. Group exhibitions include Marianne Boesky Gallery, Roberts & Tilton, MASS MoCA, The Renaissance Society, The Studio Museum of Harlem, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Crystal Bridges, and the Tang Museum.

Tamara Suber (MFA’11), a Philadelphia-based multi-media performance artist and educator, holds a unique blend of expertise spanning sculpture, photography, video, and pedagogy. Graduating from the Maryland Institute College of Art with a bachelor’s degree and earning a master’s from the University of Pennsylvania, her artistic works delve into themes of relational aesthetics, American history, and the symbiosis between man and nature. Tamara’s teaching roles, including serving as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and as a Primary School Teacher at the ITB School of Sustainability, have allowed her to shape young minds, imparting not just the skills but also the philosophies behind artistic creation and appreciation. Her teaching experience underscores her commitment to community engagement and educational development in the arts.

In addition to her pedagogical contributions, Tamara has played a pivotal role in arts administration and strategy, particularly at the Sachs Program for Arts Innovation. With a background in technology, illustrated by her tenure at Apple, Tamara is a versatile professional equally adept in arts and technology. Her recognitions, including artist residencies at the Skowhegan School of Painting and academic certifications from the University of Pennsylvania, serve as a testament to her esteemed position in the arts and educational spheres.

If you require any accessibility accommodation, such as live captioning, audio description, or a sign language interpreter, please email news@design.upenn.edu. Please note, we require at least five (5) business days’ notice.