The School of Art + Art History + Design is the center for creative innovation and study at the University of Washington, one of the world's leading public research institutions. The School's focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of new practices enhances both studio and classroom learning as well as fostering dynamic engagement and critical discourse. Our students are inspired to learn through a rigorous and creative academic experience, competitive internships, and international opportunities. Learning from influential faculty, alumni, visiting artists, designers, and scholars, students of our undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs investigate and create in an environment of possibility.
The School offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in art, art history, and design. Our students come to the School from diverse backgrounds and all share a passion for experiential learning. They participate and learn through research, experimentation, creative thinking, and critical dialog. Classes support stimulating collaborations with peers and close mentoring relationships with faculty. They graduate with a collaborative mindset, confidence, and the critical problem-solving skills needed to participate in a wide range of personal, professional, and creative pursuits.
Highlights
Learning beyond the Classroom
The Divisions of Art, Art History, and Design identify and provide programming beyond the classroom that enriches the student experience. Students participate in lectures, workshops, field trips, and collaborative research projects with renowned faculty and visiting artists, scholars, and designers.
Spaces to Create
Our facilities across three buildings offer undergraduate majors and graduate students the studio space, technology, and equipment to ideate and fabricate creative work in a wide range of mediums and disciplines. This includes the Art Building with a newly renovated first floor (including a ceramics studio, a glass blowing space, and an Advanced Concepts fabrication lab), the Ceramic + Metal Arts Building, and the Sand Point Studios and Gallery.
Opportunities to Exhibit
The School offers students spaces and opportunities to showcase their creative work while in their programs. As part of the School’s graduation programming, Art seniors show their capstones in the newly renovated Jacob Lawrence Gallery, while the MFA graduates exhibit their thesis work in the Henry Art Gallery. Graduating Design students (BDes and MDes) showcase their capstone and thesis projects in the annual Design Show in the Jacob Lawrence Gallery and on the Design Show website, an online gallery of cumulative student projects.
Applicable Learning
Art History graduate and undergraduate students advance and apply their learning through research and curatorial internships and fellowships in galleries and museums, such as the Seattle Art Museum, the Burke, and more. The MA in Art History: Practicum-Track program offers a practical approach to Art History in which students create projects that investigate and advance areas in the field.
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