About the Theme

In the exhibition of 2025, New Students will enter Rice with a clean slate and the newfound freedom to decide how they wish to paint their future. Our mission for McMurtry's PicassO-Week is to equip our incoming painters with the palette to transform their blank canvas into an eventual masterpiece - a collage of academic and personal successes that they can treasure for years to come.

To create an artwork from scratch, an artist needs to have a plethora of tools at their disposal: a vibrant palette, a diverse array of brushes and pens, and most importantly, an open imagination. These instruments of success are analogous to the values we hope to instill in our new Murts during PicassO-Week: spirit, inclusion, and creativity. Just as we marvel at artworks from across continents, movements, and time periods, we are so excited to admire the variety of beautiful students from all backgrounds curated together in our McMurtry museum.

Here at McMurtry, we can't wait to see the first brush strokes on your canvas of memories, and we hope that the connections and celebrations of O-Week provide inspiration for your artistry. As PicassO-Week begins, don't forget that your studio is filled with hands-on helpers. A diverse and enthusiastic team of advisors, affiliates, and A-Team members are waiting to model McMurtry's characteristic spirit and inclusivity.

Although only you can decide how to make your mark at Rice University, remember that you will now always have a place in the gallery we call home: McMurtry.