Chair, Department of Art and Art History
M.A., Art History, New York University Institute of Fine Arts
Department of Art
(440) 826-2152
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OVERVIEW
Develop your artistic talent and build analytical thinking and technical skills that prepare you for career opportunities in education, advertising, arts management, design and more.
Studio art is a comprehensive major that melds theoretical study with practical application. It builds proficiencies in visual communication, aesthetics, conceptual thinking and creative problem solving.
Course offerings include ceramics, photography, painting, drawing, jewelry-making and printmaking.
BW's core curriculum - rooted in the liberal arts tradition - offers you an ideal foundation for learning to comprehend and critique art. You'll delve into the work of leading artists and study how the social, cultural and economic circumstances of their time inspired and influenced them.
Studio art offers diverse hands-on learning and portfolio-building opportunities to showcase your work. An internship enables you to apply classroom studies to real-world situations.
Nearby Cleveland offers an array of art museums and galleries that provide impressive cultural opportunities for internships, field experiences, networking opportunities and more. On campus, Fawick Gallery features local and student talent.
BW faculty are award-winning artists as well as professors. You'll learn from instructors with decades of experience.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
- Graphic designer
- Illustrator
- Arts manager
- Gallery curator
- Interior designer
- Buyer
- Advertising executive
- Architectural services
- Professor
- Art therapist
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A TEACHER?
If you would like to become an art teacher, BW has an outstanding teacher education program.
DISTINCTIVE SEMINAR EXPERIENCE
BW Junior/Senior Seminar experience facilitates the transition from being an art student to becoming a professional artist. Upper-level art majors and studio art faculty meet on a weekly basis for a range of mentoring opportunities, including critiques, workshops and guest artist lectures. This multi-semester course is centered around the students' artwork and prepares them for their Senior Exhibition and professional work.
CURRICULUM
Offered as a major and minor, studio art is a comprehensive program that develops fundamental art skills of drawing, design, composition, color theory and more.
Studio art is a flexible major that can be a companion for a double major or can serve as a minor for communications, art management, history and music, among other disciplines. Students interested in art therapy can combine a studio art major with psychology.
The studio art major prepares students to:
- Effectively communicate a visual or conceptual idea
- Creatively solve visual and/or conceptual problems
- Demonstrate a high level of craftsmanship
- Develop a high level of technical skill
- Effectively critique their work and the work of others
STUDENT EXPERIENCES
Small class sizes, individual attention and faculty mentoring are at the core of BW's studio art program.
Experiential learning bridges classroom study with real-world opportunities. You can enhance your studies through internships, co-curricular activities and other learning opportunities that include:
INTERNSHIPS/FIELD EXPERIENCES
BW's proximity to Cleveland puts you within a 20-minute drive to outstanding opportunities. Most students have multiple internships prior to graduation. Cleveland offers access to numerous cultural facilities, including the world-renowned Cleveland Museum of Art. Educational trips plus field experiences at private art galleries, auction houses and museums make learning career relevant.
INDEPENDENT STUDY
Independent study offers students enrichment opportunities beyond the classroom for individualized and advanced study. Students work one-on-one with a faculty member.
FAWICK GALLERY
The gallery holds six exhibitions each year that feature student work and Ohio artists.
STUDENT CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS
Personally and professionally rewarding, student organizations and activities foster skills in leadership and teamwork. Opportunities include:
Art
Attack
Club
The
club
provides
opportunities
for
students
to
learn
about
the
fields
of
studio
and
visual
arts
to
help
prepare
them
for
careers
in
the
visual
arts
or
for
further
study.
Arts
Management
Association
(AMA)
The
AMA
provides
service
to
area
arts
organizations
and
the
BW
community.
It
also
sponsors
professional
development
opportunities
for
its
members,
including
all
the
arts
(art,
dance,
music
and
theatre)
as
well
as
those
that
focus
on
not-for-profit
and
for-profit
sectors.
The
association
has
partnerships
with
various
organizations
in
Cleveland,
including
The
Cleveland
Orchestra,
and
assists
in
the
promotion
and
operation
of
University-sponsored
arts
events
and
festivals.
Member
activities
have
included
networking
trips
to
New
York
City,
Chicago
and
Toronto;
Arts
Advocacy
Day
Conference
in
Washington,
D.C.;
and
grant
writing
workshops
with
panelists
from
leading
organizations.
STUDY ABROAD BOOSTS CAREER MARKETABILITY
The opportunity to experience another culture and gain an international perspective is invaluable to your professional development and will add to your career options. Benefits include:
- Understanding art from an international perspective
- Expanding cross-cultural communication and problem-solving skills
- Preparing for an increasingly diverse and international workplace
- Broadening academic horizons
- Improving language skills
- Experiencing a different culture
- Building an international network of contacts
ALUMNI SUCCESS
FACULTY
Full-Time Faculty
Darlene Michitsch
Chair, Department of Art and Art History
Associate Professor
M.A., New York University Institute of Fine Arts
Paul Jacklitch
Professor
M.F.A., Rhode Island School of Design
Benjamin Lambert
Assistant Professor
M.F.A., Edinboro University
Erica L. E. Lull
Coordinator, Digital Media and Design
Associate Professor
M.F.A., Kent State University
Steven P. Ziebarth
Professor
M.F.A., University of Cincinnati
Adjunct Faculty
Megan C. Blocksom
Lecturer
Ph.D., University of Kansas
Nicole Follen
Lecturer
M.F.A., Kendall College of Art and Design
Julie Friedman
Lecturer
M.F.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Nancy Lick
Lecturer
Jessica Pinsky
Lecturer
M.F.A., Boston University
Deborah Pinter
Lecturer
M.A., New York University/International Center of Photography
Sara Wichtendahl
Lecturer
M.F.A., Iowa State University
Staff
Rich Cihlar
Office Manager
(440) 826-2152, rcihlar@bw.edu