School of Art

Art lives here and transforms society.

School of Art students chart their own paths across a broad range of subjects, bolstered by        state-of-the-art studio and research facilities. We extend the classroom into the community through exhibitions, research sites, public artworks, co-ops and internships, supporting both reflection and action. We recognize that diverse ideas, perspectives, and backgrounds create a strong educational environment. Our commitment to excellence and social responsibility empowers staff, faculty, and students.

The School of Art champions a culture of inclusiveness. We are unified in our commitment to excellence and social responsibility, which go hand-in-hand with empowering students, staff, and faculty to share their experiences and ideas. We acknowledge that to be engaged, you must feel valued, and that diversity drives innovation.

The School of Art provides a student-centered, multi-faceted encounter with the history, practice, and philosophy of the visual arts.  It champions equity and inclusion and the role of the visual arts in the greater community. We are committed to the development of fundamental skills and knowledge in studio practice, theory, history, culture, and research coupled with in-depth, advanced studies in contemporary practices. We are housed within the renowned College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning widely known for a unique learning experience where experiential learning, cooperative education and an exhilaration for dynamic practice and research ensures that academic study will have a transformative effect on the lives of our students. Fine Art undergraduate students engage in 3-semesters of experiential learning or co-operative education.  

Rather than requiring students to declare a studio concentration, we offer a cross-media curriculum that encourages students to focus on the development of their work through contact with internationally recognized faculty and visiting artists.  Our School engages with the thriving and growing city of Cincinnati through exhibitions, public artworks and student internships at art institutions, firmly supporting the Urban Pathway of UC’s Next Lives Here strategic direction. 

• Master of Arts in Art Education
• Master of Fine Arts
  • 2022 MFA Exhibit Guide from Graduate Student Showcase
• Bachelor of Art History
• Bachelor of Fine Arts

Studio facilities include:

• Laboratories for wood, metal, ceramics and plastic
• Foundry
• Fully-outfitted photography area with traditional black/white, color, and digital printing facilities
• Lithography, etching, screen printing laboratory
• Computer Graphics Center that offers state-of-the art computers with extensive software libraries
• State-of-the-art Rapid Prototyping Center for 3D printing, computer controlled milling, and laser cutting
• Experimental technology laboratory that houses additional 2D and 3D input and output equipment in an environment that encourages exploration and the development of new processes

The School of Art hosts the Elise Zeller Sauer Fund for Fine Art and the Agnes Croll Blackburne Visiting Artist Lecture Series that enables our students to interact with nationally and internationally recognized artists.

Our students find themselves steeped in a rich academic and creative environment both on and off campus - from signature architectural buildings on campus to an active and growing art scene with international programming at the Contemporary Art Center, the Cincinnati Art Museum, and the Taft Museum of Art. Additionally, Cincinnati boasts an active local art scene with many artist-run spaces with dynamic, challenging programming.

As part of the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, the School of Art programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Arts and Design (NASAD).