Yiwei Ma '22
BA Studio Art
Minor in Digital Art

 

Where are you originally from?

I was born and raised in China, and I moved to the US in 2018.

Why Stony Brook?

Studying fine art in the United States has been my dream since I was a child, and I believe without a shadow of a doubt that this was my ultimate goal. Something I always wanted to achieve. When I did the research for undergrads application, I noticed Stony Brook's geographical advantage in that the neighborhood is relatively safe and only takes a 50-minute drive to New York City. Meanwhile, the Studio Art program here is pretty mature, has the best instructor team, and complete infrastructural facility.

Major/minor?

I am Studio Art major and Digital Art minor.

Favorite class?

Honestly, I love all of the classes from the Studio Art major. Some of the classes taught me technical skills in the art creating process, while the others inspired my creativity. Varieties of classes from different disciplines could be chosen.

Awards & Accolades: 

• Graduated with an honors distinction of summa cum laude (2022)
• Dean’s List Recognition, Stony Brook University (All attending semesters)
• Senior Show Art Exhibition, Stony Brook University (2022)
• Honorable Mention, Student Affairs Art Competition, Stony Brook University (2022)
• 1st prize Virginia Fuller Award, Gallery North (2022)
• Best Acting, SBU-TV Student Short Film Festival, Stony Brook University (2022)
• Best Drama, SBU-TV Student Short Film Festival, Stony Brook University (2022)
• Nomination for URECA Exhibition, Stony Brook University (2022)
• Sunwood Student Art Competition, Sunwood Estate & Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery (2022) 
• Studio Art Senior Honors Project, Stony Brook University (2021)
• Pearl Award - "no grit, no pearl", Mastic Beach Mini Indie Film Festival (2021)
• Undergraduate Film & Script Showcase, Stony Brook University (2021)
• Sunwood Student Art Competition, Sunwood Estate & Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery (2021)
• RECKONING: Student Mural, Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery (2021)
• 3rd prize Virginia Fuller Award, Gallery North (2020)
• Nomination for URECA Exhibition, Stony Brook University (2020)
  
  
  
  

Plans for post-graduation:

I've accepted the offer from Chapman University for pursuing MFA in Film Production - Cinematography. I am looking forward to working in the film industry, and to establish a name for myself in the field.  

Advice for future Seawolves? 

Never think about the result, but pay more attention during the learning process. The process is something you can experience, something you can think about, while the result is not uncontrollable. Whatever you are going to challenge, trying your best is good enough! Hard work pays off.