Art

Do you have an eye for form, color, and visual expression? Do you enjoy creating with your hands? We invite you to join others like you on a journey to explore your talents. You’ll begin with a guided foundation of fundamental art concepts, then focus on the specialization of your choice.

Our acclaimed KU artist-faculty will nurture your creativity through mentorship and guide your professional development. You’ll explore a variety of approaches and media ranging from traditional to digital, study new techniques, and experience the creative environment of professional studios and galleries.

Areas of specialization include ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and textiles. The program is taught by the Department of Art and Design.

Students from across the university may enroll in the Minor in Art, which requires completion of 18 credit hours of art courses.

Galleries and Exhibitions

The KU community holds the visual arts in high regard, with multiple opportunities to display and view art on campus:

Marlin and Regina Miller Gallery, KU's premier gallery, hosts group exhibitions by professional artists of national and international reputation, senior exhibitions (group shows by majors), and site-specific installations created as part of our artist residency program.

Sharadin Art Building offers constantly changing displays of student artwork, including the College Boulevard Gallery, the Atrium gallery, the New Media Gallery, and a new Digital Gallery which has been renovated into a fully immersive space for video and projections.

McFarland Student Union Student Gallery hosts curated shows by KU students of all majors.

Art Faculty
Our faculty are widely recognized in their chosen disciplines. Their artwork is included in prestigious national and international collections, including The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, The Philadelphia Museum, The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Petrucci Family Foundation. Art faculty have been honored with public art works commissioned by the cities of New York, Cleveland, and San Diego, and recognized through numerous national and international awards, exhibitions, screenings, residencies, fellowships, and grants.

Extracurricular Opportunities

• Student clubs including the KU Arts Alliance, Clay Club, Textiles and Weaving Club, and Sketchbook Club all provide opportunities for students to engage in leadership roles and offer arts events to the KU community. These clubs host visiting artist workshops, curate student art exhibitions and sales events, perform community service and collaborations, and offer field trips to museums, art openings, and conferences.
• Big Art Day is an annual day-long celebration of the visual arts that includes career path talks by invited art alumni, a departmental luncheon, and student awards.
• The Department of Art and Design and the College of Visual and Performing Arts host visiting artist lectures from New York, Philadelphia, and across the country.
• Open figure drawing sessions.
• Bus trips to NYC to view art at galleries and museums.

Post-graduation, art majors pursue employment and create their own businesses as working artists.  The art major is also preparation for working in education as many BFA students go on to pursue graduate school programs, preparing them for art therapy, arts administration, art conservation, teaching in higher education, and other leadership roles.

Sample Career Options

• Studio Artist
• Studio Production Assistant
• Studio Technician
• Conservator & Restorer
• Teaching Artist
• Museum Educator
• Professor of Art
• Gallery Owner / Assistant
• Museum Preparator
• Museum Registrar
• Art Handler
• Art Curator
• Arts Administrator
• Art Therapist
• Art Critic / Writer
• Photographer
• Photojournalist
• Mold Maker
• Master Printmaker
• Illustrator
• Industrial Weaver
• Interior Designer

Student Learning Outcomes