Art, MFA
Do you want to push the boundaries of your artistic practice while exploring new subjects and methods of expression? The MFA in art at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville allows you to develop a resilient, dynamic approach to making and thinking about art. You will engage in deep research, technical growth, and sustained engagement with contemporary discourse.
Program Overview
The Art MFA program is a three-year program with immersive studio work in a chosen field and a final project, preparing students for professional art careers.
The Master of Fine Arts in art equips you to specialize in one of five concentration areas—ceramics, painting/drawing, printmaking, sculpture, or time-based art. Through a combination of studio work, professional development, art history courses, and dedicated one-on-one mentorship from faculty and artists-in-residence, you’ll learn to experiment with artistic materials, techniques, and mediums.
By the end of the program, students develop a substantial portfolio of work and complete a final project (in place of a thesis), equipping them to pursue impactful careers in the arts.
Our program is ideal for students who want to hone their creative vision, artistic skills, and contribute original work in exhibitions, galleries, and other art-related spaces.
Concentrations
Whether you’re interested in developing expertise in two-dimensional, three-dimensional, or time-based arts, our concentrations prepare you to hit the ground running and develop an artistic vision and practice that fosters critical thought, reflection, and inquiry.
Our currently available concentrations include:
- Ceramics concentration
- Painting/Drawing concentration
- Printmaking concentration
- Sculpture concentration
- Time-Based Art concentration
Minors
If you want to supplement your artistic and creative skills with knowledge of art history, our minor will set you up for additional success.
Our current selection of minors includes:
- Art History minor
What Sets Us Apart
Ranked #28 in Best Fine Arts programs
The School of Art’s fine arts program was ranked #28 in Best Fine Arts Programs by U.S. News and World Report.
Private studio space for MFA students
Our program offers all MFA students their own unique, private studio space in the Walters Academic Building, empowering them to meaningfully explore their creative and artistic skills.
Creative and passionate faculty
With faculty that have received numerous art accolades—like fellowships, grants, and creative awards—and classes with a low faculty-to-student ratio, you’ll be mentored by some of the most dedicated and knowledgeable members of the arts.
Why Study Art?
With state-of-the-art facilities, a unique artist-in-residence program, and opportunities to complete residences and workshops, the Master of Fine Arts equips you with exciting opportunities unique to our school.
Plus, our faculty and artists-in-residence provide constructive feedback to all students, prompting conversations and collaborations that support you, nudge you, and inspire you to grow. You’ll also be able to apply for graduate teaching assistantships (GTAships) that offer tuition waivers, health insurance, and stipends.
At UT, you’ll find no shortage of opportunities to pursue your passions with purpose.
What Sets Us Apart
State-of-the-Art Facilities
Most of the UT School of Art’s facilities are located within the Art + Architecture Building, a 180,540-square-foot, light-filled building designed especially for UT’s Art and Architecture students. Since 1981, the building has evolved into a vibrant center for creative experimentation and inter-disciplinary exchange. With cutting-edge facilities, expansive studios, and shared spaces designed to foster collaboration, it supports ambitious work across all areas of art.
Creative and Passionate Faculty
At the heart of the University of Tennessee’s Art program is a faculty of internationally recognized artists and scholars who are not only at the forefront of their respective fields but are deeply committed to the success of their students.
Residences and Workshops
Our art students also benefit from opportunities to attend residences and workshops at various art centers across the country and the world. Recent students have completed summer workshops in local Tennessee areas such as the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Penland School of Crafts, and the Appalachian Center for Craft in Smithville, giving them next-level experiences.
What Can You Do with an MFA in Art After Graduation?
In the Art program at UT, students are encouraged to pursue whatever field they feel passionate about, whether that be fine art, digital art, photography, filmmaking, gallery work, arts administration, etc. With a combination of small studio art classes and a wide range of course opportunities, students will be able to find their purpose within the School of Art. Graduates go on to work in many different areas, such as fine arts, museums and galleries, commercial art, education, media, fashion, and more.
In museums, galleries, and nonprofits, many graduates become curators, conservators, archivists, marketing specialists, development coordinators, or art installers. Others go into fine arts and craft arts as illustrators, sculptures, printmakers, installation artists, or ceramic artists, working for independent studios, artist collectives, or theatre/film set production studios. In commercial art and design, graduates work as graphic designers, art directors, motion designers, or advertising designers.
Education is another path, where you could work as an art teacher, workshop instructor, professor, or museum educator. You could work in media and content creation as a creator, visual media producer, or digital media specialist, for online media platforms or magazines, or in photography as a photojournalist, fine art photographer, or photo editor.
There are a multitude of opportunities within art for graduates of this program to pursue.
Featured Courses
ART 504 First-Semester Graduate Seminar
This course covers issues in art, design and art history presented by School of Art faculty.
ARTH 422 Roman Art
Students will learn architecture, sculpture, and painting during the 1000+ years of Rome’s cultural dominance from the hyper-realism of the Republic, to Classical beauty of the Augustan age, and abstract symbolism in Late Antiquity. This course also considers how adaptations of earlier traditions such as the Greek and Etruscan and the diverse artistic heritages encompassed within the empire fused into something new and substantially different than what had come before.
ART 511 Graduate Painting and Drawing I
This course teaches graduate level techniques in painting and drawing.
ART 521 Graduate Ceramics I
This course teaches graduate level techniques in ceramics.
Complementary Majors, Minors, and Certificates
Looking to enhance your degree? Consider these programs as a complement to your primary major.
Looking For More Options?
The College of Arts and Sciences offers students the broadest range of academic programs and opportunities for research and creative activities at the University of Tennessee, powered by faculty expertise across every discipline.
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