WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY
Visual Art MFA Exhibitions

Born in New Jersey in 1997. Helene received her BFA with a concentration in painting from Mason Gross School of Art and Design at Rutgers University in May of 2019.  Dabbling in printmaking, drawing, and photography Helene has been featured in several shows and exhibits.

Taylor Cacici is a born and bred North Jersey portrait and figurative artist. He obtained his BFA degree in the Spring of 2019 from New Jersey City University. While there, he received The Herbert Rosenberg Scholarship and graduated magna cum laude. Currently residing in Bayonne, Taylor is attending the MFA program at William Paterson University in his hometown of Wayne. He was awarded a graduate assistantship at the University Galleries of William Paterson University. Taylor began his artistic journey at the age of 23 and has since fully dedicated himself to the study, practice and exploration of every peril and reward that comes with the life of a practicing artist.

Being an artist was not a decision that I made or a path I chose to walk through. The artist inside me was a baby whom I was pregnant with for years. I just took good care of him.  Finally, he was born healthy and strong. Gradually, he learnt how to walk and find his way on his own. Currently,  I am enjoying my journey, as he was generous enough to take me along. 

Returning to school after having had careers in both government service and the private sector, he is pursuing his passion in art.  Although skilled in working with ceramics, precious metals, screen printing and photography he is now concentrating on his primary interest, painting.  Having earned his BFA from Montclair State University he is now part of the Graduate Fine Arts program at William Paterson University in the attempt to earn an MFA.

Jeremy Fuscaldo was born in Bayonne, NJ before moving to Bergen County, New Jersey. He was a graduate from Nyack College in 2015 and was a continuing education student at School of Visual Arts where he studied illustration and animation. In 2018, he became a Graduate Student at William Paterson University where he was awarded a graduate assistantship.

Linda Steinhardt Majzner is an MFA student at William Paterson University in NJ. She holds an MA degree (1989) in Fine Arts, Painting from Montclair State University, and a BA degree(1976) in Fine Arts with a minor in Art History and Art Education, from Queens College, NYC. She has taught art for thirty-four years in private and public schools throughout NJ. She is recently retired from Livingston High School. She is a member of Studio Montclair and has exhibited in many of their art shows. Her work has been in shows in New Jersey, New York and beyond. Some of the shows she has participated in, are The New Jersey Center for Visual Arts, The NJ Arts Annual of Crafts and The George Segal Gallery at Montclair State University. Ms. Steinhardt Majzner resides in Caldwell, NJ with her husband and has raised three sons and now enjoys her nine (so far) grand-children. Please visit me at instagram steinhardtmajzner.

Donna Rega is an abstract visual artist from Jersey City, New Jersey. Mixed medium is essential. Holding an associate degree in applied science from Hudson County Community College and a BFA from New Jersey City University in painting and drawing. Taking snapshot angles, drawing and painting to create art forms. Having a broad perspective on the arts gives the freedom to interrelate elements of color, line and texture creating unique works of art.

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Follow her on Instagram donnarega@instagram.com Visit her website www.donnarega.com

Jonte’ Drew is a visual artist from Paterson, New Jersey. He attended William Paterson University, where he received both a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2018 and a Master of Fine Arts in 2021.

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Jonte’s style is one that utilizes humor to investigate the shared experiences of African Americans in America, the commodification of urban culture and the conversations surrounding mental health. His paintings and drawings often feature himself and other Black individuals in the midst of colorful and idealized environments. In addition, he emphasizes the humanity of his subjects by placing them in various scenes of leisure and domesticity in their plight of finding serenity and joy, while challenging the critical portrayal of masculinity and physicality as it relates to the perception of Black men.

Melissa Silvestri is a spiritual artist from New Jersey. She received her BA in Art and Art Education from Rowan University in Spring of 2015. While at Rowan, she hosted her own exhibition titled “Transcendence” and received the “Rodney E Gates Award” for excellence in Art Education. Afterwards, she began teaching at Mount Olive Middle School where she she teaches both regular and gifted and talented students grades 6th-8th. In December 2019, she was chosen to participate in “Artist of the Month” at Gallery on Main in Somerville New Jersey, where she presented and sold a variety of original works and prints of drawings and paintings. She is currently enrolled William Paterson University’s MFA program to pursue her art career.

Sarah Van Vliet was born in 1992 in New Jersey. She is an artist and an art educator in the New Jersey public school system. From an early age, she found an interest in creating art, building her skills throughout her high school career. Sarah graduated from Monmouth University with a BA in Art Education and is currently attending William Paterson University for her MFA. While she has been able to explore many mediums at WPUNJ, the work in this exhibit consists of oil paintings on canvas.