Opening Doors with an MFA

Edreys Wajed, Master’s in Fine Art, University of Buffalo

For Edreys Wajed, craftmanship is essential to the art that he creates and to his own success.  

“I don’t subscribe to perfection at all,” Wajed said. “But I do subscribe to attention to detail. I’m concerned about every brush stroke being intentional, as with every drop of paint. There’s an order to it.” 

Wajed was already an established artist in his community before he decide to pursue a master’s in fine arts (MFA). In 2017, he was commissioned to paint seven murals on The Freedom Wall, at the corner of Michigan Avenue and East Ferry Street in Buffalo. In 2020, he partnered with fellow artist Yames Moffitt and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery to co-create “Love Black, 2020” at Say Yes Buffalo (located at 712 Main St. in Buffalo). His artwork made a cameo in HBO’s hit series “Insecure.” His piece “Back to Life” — inspired by the music group Soul II Soul — is featured prominently on the wall during an intense conversation among some of the show’s main characters in  season 5, episode 5.  

“I feel like I have so much more to do and so much more to learn…But I also think about all the doors that might not otherwise be open to me if I didn’t have my MFA.” 

Wajed found out about the UB MFA program while working as a resident at the Buffalo Art Studio. His wife, Alexa, talked Wajed into applying to the Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship Program. He hadn’t initially considered going back to school, but he is now grateful that his wife encouraged him apply. Wajed says he’s learned a lot from his courses and from his professors who have 20-30 years of experience.  

“The faculty and staff that I’ve met are untapped gold. They are invaluable resources and are key to anyone in the MFA program,” he said. 

Wajed says he has learned a great deal while attending UB, but that being an MFA student has really expanded his networking opportunities, which has been invaluable. 

“I know lots of people and have lots of associations with organizations and individuals as part of my network, but being part of UB is a world in its own. I’ve made some meaningful and rich connections with people I wouldn’t have met otherwise,” Wajed said. 

“I feel like I have so much more to do and so much more to learn,” he said. “But I also think about all the doors that might not otherwise be open to me if I didn’t have my MFA.”