Quito Ziegler Lets Go

What have you been doing since graduating from the ICP-Bard MFA program?

As soon as I graduated, I started working at the Documentary Photography Project, a program of the Open Society Institute where I had interned during school. In my work, I coordinate photography exhibitions and design and administer programs to support photographers working on social justice or human rights issues. This whole time I've been experimenting almost daily in my studio and have been through many phases, from drawing to working with string to painting on transparencies. Lately, I've even taken up playing music. I'm not quite sure where this is all going, but I'm definitely enjoying the process.

What impact has the experience of going through the ICP program had on you?

I learned to put my work in context with other artists, and was exposed to so much photography I hadn't seen before. But mostly I was given the space to let go of my assumptions of what kind of artist I wanted to be, and the freedom to experiment with new ideas in a supportive environment.

What would you say to people contemplating applying to the program?

If you recognize that making art is a permanent part of who you are and you are serious about your intentions to improve and become more sustainable in your practice, then it's definitely worth it to invest in yourself and your own education.