Meet the 2026 Faculty of Fine Arts valedictorians
The Fine Arts valedictorians 2026, from left to rigth: Gaëlle Legrand, photo by Tyson Houseman and Rodrigo D'Alcântara, photo by Bronson Jacque.
As Concordia University’s Faculty of Fine Arts convocation approaches on June 15, the Faculty is proud to recognize two exceptional 2026 valedictorians: Gaëlle Legrand, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Studio Arts – Sculpture) and Rodrigo D’Alcântara, PhD in Art History.
Both are celebrated for their academic excellence, sustained creative and research practices, and their engagement with broader artistic communities in Montreal and beyond.
“These students’ achievements reflect the depth, curiosity and commitment that define our Faculty,” says Shauna Janssen, associate dean, academic programs and pedagogy. “Their work demonstrates how creative practice and research can meaningfully intersect with community, critical inquiry and new ways of thinking.”
Gaëlle Legrand, undergraduate valedictorian
Department of Studio Arts, Sculpture
For Gaëlle Legrand, her time in the Faculty of Fine Arts has been defined by experimentation across materials, disciplines and visual languages. Her recent work explores the relationship between celestial and earthly forms, drawing unexpected connections between natural systems.
“I have been developing a research project which engages with the idea that flowers are earthly reflections of celestial bodies,” she explains. “This project explores the formal, spatial and conceptual resemblance of flowers and stars, emphasizing their singular relationship as one mediated by light.”
Alongside this conceptual inquiry, Legrand has also been expanding her technical practice, particularly through the intersection of photography and sculpture.
“I also began experimenting with ways of combining photography and sculpture, deconstructing and merging the visual languages and codes of both mediums,” she says.
Reflecting on her experience in the BFA program, she encourages future students to remain open and patient with their process.
“Try as many ideas, techniques, tools and materials as possible,” she advises. “Try not to rush your BFA — there is a lot to learn from and enjoy at Concordia, take your time. Try to do an independent study at the end of your undergrad; I found they prepare very well for independent work outside of school or potentially give you a taste of MFA studies.”
Legrand is looking ahead to new opportunities within the professional arts scene, including her participation in the Art Volt Collection and the 2026 Launch Exhibition at FOFA Gallery this June. She has also been selected for the 2026 cohort of the Artch program, a Montreal-based initiative supporting emerging contemporary artists, and will take part in the Artch festival in October 2026.
Rodrigo D’Alcântara, graduate valedictorian
Department of Art History
Over the course of his PhD studies, Rodrigo D'Alcântara developed a deeply interdisciplinary research practice grounded in Brazilian art history, decolonial theory, and curatorial work across international contexts.
“My time at the Faculty of Fine Arts has been incredibly meaningful,” he says, “giving me the support and freedom to explore overlooked topics in Brazilian art history, such as Indigenous cosmologies and cross-dissident artistic practices, while engaging with decolonial perspectives I encountered in Canada.”
His doctoral research expanded alongside an active professional life, spanning teaching, conferences, publications, and curatorial collaborations across Canada and abroad.
“I expanded my professional network through teaching, research groups, conferences, publications, public events, and curatorial projects, all of which helped shape both my research and artistic practice,” he explains. One major milestone was his co-organization of Tropi-X: Brazilian Art in Canada, 1970s–Now at Museum London (Ontario), which was described as the largest exhibition of Brazilian art ever presented in Canada.
His research-creation practice also continued to evolve conceptually throughout his doctoral studies.
“Themes that have always been close to my heart, such as a critical study of Brazilian religious syncretism to conceive contemporary dissident mythologies, have intensified,” he says. “New conceptual layers, such as the influence of Montreal’s multicultural scene and my own perception of life as someone in diaspora, began to shape the direction of upcoming projects.”
Alongside his academic work, D'Alcântara is actively involved in exhibitions and curatorial initiatives. He is currently participating in Commencement, the Fine Arts graduating students’ exhibition at VAV Gallery, where his video work Sinfonia Lunatique is on view until June 19, 2026. He is also serving on the jury committee for the 18th edition of the Massimadi Festival Afro LGBTQ+ Film & Arts, and recently presented his video work CHARME at both the Milieux Institute and the MAIRI International Overflowing Film Festival.
Looking ahead, he will lead the sculptural and performative workshop Matrilinear Spectra at Fonderie Darling as part of the Place Publique program, and curate The Jaguar and the Scarlet Bird at OBORO this fall, an exhibition bringing together artists working across Indigenous, diasporic, and feminist perspectives.
Find out more about Concordia’s spring 2026 convocation ceremonies.