By David Dong, Intermediate Program Student at The Florence Academy of Art
Opening night of the FAA’s etching exhibition
On December 5th, The Florence Academy of Art opened a new exhibition celebrating the craft of etching, featuring works by current students, faculty, alumni, and selections from the Academy’s permanent collection.
Principal Instructor, Matteo Taverna talking to students at the etching exhibition.
Curated by Principal Instructor Matteo Taverna, the exhibition brings together an impressive range of prints, including landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and figures. While these subjects are familiar to the FAA community, encountering them through the medium of metal-plate etching offers a fresh and revealing perspective. Unlike large paintings or figure drawings, etchings demand precision within a far more intimate format—an exciting challenge for any artist.
Students admiring work at the etching exhibition
Throughout the gallery, students leaned in close with magnifying glasses provided by the Academy, examining the prints line by line. This close viewing transforms the experience: each mark becomes a window into the artist’s decision-making, showing how the image was built, carved, and refined.
FAA student looking at an etching up close with a magnifying glass
The exhibition also highlights the diverse community of etchers at the FAA. Prints by current students and workshop participants appear alongside works by principal instructors and FAA Founder Daniel Graves, creating a cohesive visual dialogue across generations. Though each artist brings a different level of experience, all share a common curiosity and commitment to exploring the depths of the etching process.
Students admiring work at the etching exhibition
Hosted in Studio Van Dyke, the exhibition also doubled as an internal competition. Congratulations to Tatiana Popova, former FAA Graduate in Residence, for winning first prize, and to Bui Hoai Nam Minh of the Intensive Drawing Program for receiving an Honorable Mention.
Tatiana Popova, former FAA Graduate in Residence, beside her first prize etching
Intensive Drawing Program Student, Bui Hoai Nam Minh, beside his etching
