Judith Zabar Visiting Artist Program

Now in its sixth year, the Zabar Visiting Artist Program brings internationally renowned painters, sculptors, photographers, and filmmakers to Hunter. Each semester, Zabar Visiting Artists meet individually with graduate students, take part in MFA seminars, and deliver lectures to the Hunter community and a broad public audience. The program is sponsored by Judith Zabar ’54 and her husband, Stanley, both talented artists themselves.

“Creating the Visiting Artist Program was especially meaningful for us because we felt strongly that providing opportunities for art students to have personal contact with contempo rary working artists was rare, and that the exposure and contact would be an invaluable experience and inspiration for their work,” said Judy. “We couldn’t be happier with the program, the artists who have participated, and the overwhelmingly positive response of the students.”

During their residencies at Hunter, the Zabar Visiting Artists work directly with MFA students in both classrooms and studios.  Student interaction includes master classes, critical seminars, and private tutorials, which have provided students with rare opportunities to interact with top practitioners in their field and to engage personally with artists they have known only in books and magazines. “The Zabar artists have been exceptionally generous with their time and ideas,” said Howard Singerman, chair of the Department of Art and Art History. “The conversations they have begun in the studios and seminar rooms continue to resonate through our students’ work long after their visit.”

Each semester, the classroom and studio sessions are filled to capacity, as are the public lectures. Each lecture is followed by a lively discussion between artist and audience, and   many have been taped, preserving the discussion for future generations of Hunter students. “The roster of artists who have come as Zabar Visiting Artists is remarkable,” said Singerman. “The program has helped raise the profile of Hunter’s  MFA program internationally. It helps in attracting those future generations.”