Master of Fine Arts in Studio
Painting & Drawing saic.edu/ptdw Widely considered one of the most important studio programs in the country, SAIC’s MFA in Painting and Drawing promotes the development of new approaches that are redefining contemporary painting. Through studio production, critical discussion, and experimentation, students acquire the conceptual, material, and methodological tools to build a sustainable practice.
Unparalleled resources Students have access to resources unique to SAIC, including the Art Institute of Chicago, an internationally renowned museum offering a depth and breadth of exhibitions and collections including its Prints and Drawings room. The department boasts a thriving Visiting Artists Program, in which a variety of artists, critics, and curators present lectures and participate in individual or group critiques.
Chicago connections Chicago has an active artist-run gallery scene, vibrant commercial galleries and not-for-profit spaces, in addition to major museums including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago.
Freedom to explore Our interdisciplinary orientation challenges students to explore their ideas across a wide range of creative approaches, from traditional painting and drawing practices to methods incorporating other media and materials—including fiber, photography, ceramics, printmedia, film and video, digital imaging, and performance. Students are encouraged to develop their individual studio practices using critical and historical frameworks to inform their aesthetic and conceptual decisions.
Faculty The Painting and Drawing faculty are accomplished artists, writers, critics, curators, and gallerists actively engaged in the local, national, and international art community. They are represented by major international galleries and have been awarded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Fulbright Program, and the Tiffany, Ford, Guggenheim, Warhol, and Newhouse Foundations. The diverse faculty supports a wide array of conceptual and material models for painting and drawing.
For more information on the program and application requirements, please visit:
saic.edu/ptdw
Nicola Simon Florimbi Girl with Orange, 2024