Study Abroad | Art + Exhibitions
First Stop | Ceramics + Art History
Location: Rome + Tuscany
We made it! The first part of our trip was all about ceramics and getting to know the history and culture of Rome. We spent our days building pieces by hand in the city, pulling ideas from everything around us. Once our work was finished, we packed it up and brought it to Tuscany, where it was glazed and wood-fired—adding a really cool, unpredictable element to the final pieces.
In between studio time, we explored Rome through an art history lens, visiting places like the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, and the Pantheon. Being able to learn on-site made everything feel a lot more real, and mixing hands-on making with exploring the city made the whole experience super memorable.
Second Stop | History of Pompeii
Location: Naples + Pompeii
This part of the trip focused on the history and daily life of Pompeii and the surrounding Bay of Naples. We started in Naples, spending time in museums to get a closer look at artifacts and artworks from the region, and then traveled to Pompeii itself. Walking through the amazingly preserved city felt like stepping directly into the past.
In between courses, we took a quick 2 day trip to Venice, which was a nice change of pace and a chance to explore a completely different side of Italy. I had the opportunity to hop over to the Dolomites for a day - a place that will always be of inspiration to me. From here we headed to Sicily, where we got settled into our new home base in Siracusa for the rest of the program.
Final Thoughts | My Overall Experience
SOA Italy
This experience pushed me in ways I didn’t fully expect. Moving to a new place every one to two weeks meant constantly adjusting—new spaces, new routines, and living in close quarters with people I didn’t know well at first. Balancing travel with schoolwork taught me how to stay grounded and manage my time, while also learning when to slow down and take time for myself.
Being surrounded by the depth of Italy’s history and its incredibly rich art scene completely shifted how I think about making. At the same time, the day-to-day experience—sharing meals, discovering how important food is to the culture, and just how good it all was—made everything feel even more immersive.
There were definitely challenges I hadn’t anticipated, but working through them helped me grow a lot, both personally and creatively. This experience changed the way I see the world and my work, and it’s something that will continue to influence how I create moving forward.
Third Stop | Storytelling with Textiles + Bread Making
Location: Siracusa, Sicily
Our final stop brought us to Siracusa in Sicily, where we worked out of MADE Academy. Everything we did here connected to history and storytelling in one way or another.
One of our main prompts was based on Greek mythology, where we created pieces using textiles to tell a story. Everyone took it in their own direction, pulling from different myths and ideas. I made a small fabric book, using stitched symbols to represent themes from a mix of myths, creating a collection of stories.
We also learned how to make traditional Sicilian bread, which ended up becoming a huge part of our final exhibition. We used bread to build centerpieces, hanging decorations, and sculptural elements, turning the whole space into this immersive installation. It was such a fun, and hands on way to combine making, culture, and storytelling.
