College of Fine Arts

Art Studio - Graduate

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In Scholarships Available

Most students are fully subsidized.

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A space all your own to work on your passions.

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Jonathan McFadden

Director of Graduate Studies

Associate Professor

College of Fine Arts

Art & Visual Studies Building

236 Bolivar Street

Lexington, KY 40506-0090

Program website

859-257-8151

  • MFA

The Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree in Art Studio is the terminal academic degree for studio artists and the required faculty credential for most institutions of higher learning. In addition to being fully qualified to teach at the college-level, M.F.A. graduates will possess the skills to pursue careers in commercial venues or as full-time practicing fine artists. Students enrolled in the M.F.A. program are encouraged to explore inter-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary mediums or concentrate upon a single media dependent upon the direction of their research.

Our graduate program is small so that we are able to support most M.F.A. candidates financially throughout their graduate careers. Our students are presented with a robust curriculum based on a combination of individual studio-based research coupled with theory seminars and graduate critique-based workshops. Our endowed visiting artist program presents our students with opportunities to meet internationally recognized artists, curators and scholars. In order to succeed, MFA candidates are encouraged to both critique and contribute to the local and national conversations regarding contemporary art, theory and practice, as well as participate in art events in the growing Lexington/Louisville arts scene.

Mentorship and coordination are the keys to the success of our TA program at the University of Kentucky. Once in the TA program, graduate students shadow experienced Professors for one or two semesters before teaching as the instructor of record. TA meetings are held regularly to discuss the everyday scenarios of teaching in a college studio classroom and the development of a personal pedagogical approach.

Many TAs work in the Foundations Program, a first year, undergraduate experience at UK. Foundations has a coordinated curriculum with projects written to allow a diverse approach to teaching in Art Studio. The Director of Foundations observes each TA on a regular basis and provides individualized feedback to improve their instruction. As a TA progresses in the program they may be given more latitude to develop their own projects within the curriculum guidelines. We are committed to helping our TAs succeed as college instructors.

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Master's Program Description

While a B.A. or B.F.A. in studio art is the preferred preparatory degree for the M.F.A. program, students from a variety of educational backgrounds may apply. The determinate factor in admittance to the program will be the quality of the submitted artwork.

Master's Application Requirements

  1. CV
  2. Personal Statement
    • A brief letter stating your goals for graduate study and your interest in being considered for an assistantship, fellowship, and/or internship.
  3. Portfolio
    • ​The application for a Master's in Fine Arts (MFA) requires that the applicant upload an electronic portfolio of 20 recent artworks sent as a PDF with an image key with title, date, size, and medium for each submitted work as part of that document. (Maximum resolution 8" x 10" x 72 dpi - NO PowerPoint presentations). Time-based materials on DVD (QuickTime or DVD with menus - 10 minutes max) should be sent to the Graduate Advisor (207 Fine Arts, School of Art & Visual Studies, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0022) by January 6. Web address with same materials, as a back up if the CD/DVD fails, will be considered. This may be uploaded as one document under "Writing Sample".
  4. Three letters of recommendation

Applicants must meet the Graduate School admission requirements.

See the School of Art & Visual Studies website for information about assistantship applications.

The GRE is not required for admission to this program.

 

Application Deadlines
  • Fall: January 6

Contact

Jonathan McFadden

Director of Graduate Studies

Associate Professor

College of Fine Arts

Art & Visual Studies Building

236 Bolivar Street

Lexington, KY 40506-0090

859-257-8151