Alum Mathew Zefeldt (MFA 2011) is participating in the show “Open World: Video Games & Contemporary Art” at the Akron Art Museum  in Akron, Ohio. “Open World” will be on display at Akron until February 2, 2020. This exhibitoin will eventually make its way to the San Jose Museum of Art where it will be in view from September 10, 2020 to January 10, 2021.

The artworks in “Open World” reference a broad cross-section of games, ranging from early text adventure and arcade games to modern massively multi-player online roleplaying games and first-person shooters. Participating artists are influenced by some of the most beloved video game franchises including Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, The Sims and Final Fantasy. The exhibition’s title refers to open-world video games, which allow a player to roam through a virtual world, freely selecting their objectives. The title also draws attention to the rich opportunities video games offer for creative expression.