Artist Sarah Hayashi, a master of fine arts’ graduate student and recipient of the Sam and Beverly Maloof Scholarship and SSI Graduate Research Award, is set to unveil her MFA thesis show titled "Fragments of Forgiveness.”

The opening reception will take place on Feb. 22 at 4 p.m. at the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art’s Dutton Family Gallery, and the exhibition will run from Feb. 22-29. The exhibit showcases Hayashi's exploration of the intricate relationship between the body and the traumas it can harbor.

Drawing inspiration from her own experiences, Hayashi's work delves into the profound and often painful journey of healing from bodily traumas, such as disease, abuse and sexual assault. Her art, primarily featuring ceramic sculpture, serves as a meditation on catharsis, offering viewers a deeply personal glimpse into her struggles and triumphs.

“The artworks I create are ‘fragments’ in the sense that each work represents a fragment of some specific trauma I’ve experienced, but also in the sense that they are small pieces, steps along my journey, which is still incomplete/fragmented," said Hayashi. She expanded on the concept of forgiveness within her work, emphasizing that it's not about absolving her abusers, but rather about self-forgiveness and the transformation of traumatic memories into something gentler and more forgiving.

“For viewers who’ve had similar experiences as me, I hope my artwork makes them feel a sense of solidarity and comfort,” said Hayashi. “In general, I hope viewers feel a kind of quiet resilience from the exhibit and gain an awareness that trauma doesn’t need to either be completely removed or completely succumbed to, that it can be transformed into something that can be peacefully cohabitated with.”