The first mention of the School of Art is found in the 1935-1936 edition of the Annual Catalogue of the University of Washington. Prior to that, the existence of an Art Department or a Painting, Sculpture and Design (PS&D) Department came and went. A Department of Art is listed in the first printed annual catalog for the university, 1890-1891.
The College of Fine Arts was dissolved in the second half of 1935, and Painting, Sculpture and Design (PS&D) became the School of Art within the University College.
The name change to School of Art + Art History + Design was originally proposed by Christopher Ozubko, who was director of the school from 1996 to 2014. The name change was officially approved in spring 2015.
Directors
| Years | Name | Division |
|---|---|---|
| 1935–1954 | Walter Isaacs* | Art |
| 1954–1966 | Boyer Gonzalez | Art |
| 1967–1977 | Spencer Moseley | Art |
| 1977–1986 | Richard Arnold | Art |
| 1986–1992 | Constantine Christofides | Art History |
| 1992–1996 | Jerome Silbergeld | Art History |
| 1996–2014 | Christopher Ozubko | Design |
| 2014–2024 | Jamie Walker | Art |
| 2024–Current | Annabelle Gould | Design |
*Began in 1923 as Chair of Painting, Sculpture and Design (PS&D), part of the College of Fine Arts.
Associate Directors
| Years | Name | Division |
|---|---|---|
| 1986–1990 | Robert C. Jones | Art |
| 1990–1995 | Paul Berger | Art |
| 2011–2014 | Jamie Walker | Art |
| 2023-2024 | Annabelle Gould | Design |
| 2024-2025 | Stuart Lingo | Art History |