Sotheby's Institute of Art

Sotheby’s Institute of Art is proud to present Traces, a student-curated exhibition examining how the memories we have established for ourselves, and those we’ve adopted from others, inform how we lead our lives and form our identities.

Please join us for the opening reception on April 30th from 6–9 pm EST. To RSVP for this event, please visit tracesnyc.cn. RSVP is required for entrance.

Traces features three first-generation American artists working with film, painting, and textile, who examine their personal experiences and identity through the lens of memory. Curated by MA students Stephen Callcott, Ellen Donnison, Reece Goodson, Lara Lin, and Tekla Meladze, Traces destabilizes the assumption that identity is rooted in origin stories. Instead, it proposes that memory is structured – revised through retelling, reshaped by distance, and altered by political and geographic displacement.

Featured artists include Muna Al Fadl, Pamela Lopez, and Marie Salud. Across the exhibition, memory operates not as evidence but as interpretation: a reconstruction shaped by loss, inheritance, and survival. If identity is built from memory, and memory is built from revision, then who are we becoming each time we remember?

Cover art credits:
google earth, 33°31'02"N 36°16'09"E, Muna Al Fadl
Call Me When You Land, Marie Salud
Tierra Fertil, Pam Lopez

Interested in spending your summer immersed in the global art world?

RSVP on Eventbrite to join our Virtual Open House on April 23 at 5 PM ET to learn more about Sotheby's Summer Program 2026 in London and New York City. 🏙️

This is your chance to connect directly with our Program Team and hear first‑hand from a program alumnus about what it’s really like to study with us.

In this live session, you’ll:
🖼️ Get an inside look at our 4‑week summer programs
🖼️ Explore course options and academic experiences
🖼️ Learn about student life, accommodation, and on‑site support
🖼️ Understand the admissions process and how to apply
🖼️ Hear personal insights from a past participant
🖼️ Ask your questions during a live Q&A

Thinking about applying but still have questions? Book a one-on-one virtual meeting with a Collegiate Advisor to get personal guidance before you apply. Please note: This program is geared toward students 18-21 years of age who are currently enrolled in or considering enrolling in university.

This event will be held via Zoom webinar. RSVP to reserve your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sothebys-summer-program-virtual-open-house-tickets-1985592162609