Do you dream of a solo exhibition of your art one day? Are you interested in developing your artistic skills and understanding your creative process? Do you feel happiest in your studio, creating?
Consider a major in Studio Art. Converse offers both a BA in Studio Art, which is a liberal arts degree that allows a double major, as well as the more rigorous BFA, which prepares students to pursue graduate studio art degrees and/or become a professional artist.
Degrees Offered
- BA in Studio Art
- BFA in Studio Art
- Minor in Studio Art
About Studio Art
Thinking, making and inventive problem solving; these are the daily endeavors of the studio artist. Working in painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, ceramics and sculpture provides our students with a wide breadth of 2-D and 3-D experiences. These studio areas ask students to explore and communicate their personal concepts and instinctive creativity. From foundation level design problems to self-directed and interdisciplinary studio experiences, Converse’s studio art program provides students with a supportive learning environment to begin their professional art careers.
The BA in Studio Art is a liberal arts degree which allows a student to double major; the more rigorous BFA Studio Art degree prepares students for graduate school’s MFA programs and/or professional studio practice.
The Studio Art Program at Converse College is accredited by the National Association of Colleges of Art and Design (NASAD) The Studio Art faculty are both dedicated and accomplished teachers, and recognized nationally for their creative studio practice research. Converse will encourage you to develop your best work and then put your art to the test by entering juried exhibitions.
Converse student work is regularly included in national art publications like “Creative Quarterly” out of New York and “Photographer’s Forum” out of Los Angeles. Undergraduate works are also collected by museums such as the McNeese Museum of Art in Louisiana and the La Grange Museum of Art in Georgia. This is a huge endorsement of achievement, particularly at the undergraduate level.
Critics, gallery and museum directors, and art historians from across the nation recognize the success of Converse College studio art majors.
The proximity of Converse College to downtown Spartanburg, Greenville and North Carolina Artist Communities, provides students with several options to extend their creativity beyond the classroom:
- Off-campus exhibition opportunities in Spartanburg and Greenville
- Spartanburg Art Museum at the Chapman Cultural Center
- Lawson Academy of Fine Arts
- Drayton Mills nature sculpture trail collaborations
- West Main Artists Cooperative Student Studio Award
- Travel abroad opportunities
- Gallery internships
- Artist Assistants and Residencies opportunities
- Arts Management Studies within the School of the Arts
- “Art Club” Student Organization
All students begin with a strong foundation in design and drawing and in the sophomore year take introductory level work in painting, sculpture, printmaking, and ceramics. The BA majors will continue with six hours of advanced work whereas the BFA majors will continue with 30 additional hours in advanced studio work. Elective courses in artists’ books, graphic design, and alternative photography are available, as well as special topic courses in many areas of studio art.
BA in Studio Art
Students who elect the BA degree in Studio Art will explore a breadth of media and techniques rather than an emphasis on a single medium. All BA studio art majors participate in a group exhibition of their work at the end of the senior year.
This degree requires 44 credit hours of course work and is an excellent choice for students who seek a double major or minor in arts administration, art history or in areas outside the department.
BFA in Studio Art
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art is a professional degree that will prepare you to pursue graduate studio art degrees and/or become a professional artist. Students interested in the BFA apply for acceptance into the program in their junior year.
The degree consists of 73 credit hours, 15 of which are art history courses that provide the foundation for analyzing art on a formal level and also teach you the historical framework of western art. The final 30 hours are to be completed in advanced studio courses with an emphasis in one or more areas including six hours in your senior project, and which will culminate in a one-person exhibition.
Studio Art Minor
The Studio Art minor is a popular option for non-art majors. Students must complete 18 hours of course credit in Studio Art, including two surveys of western art history courses.
What are common studio art careers?
Recent graduates from the Studio Art Program have:
- Exhibited in several national juried exhibitions
- Been accepted into MFA graduate programs with fellowship awards
- Works in museum acquisitions
- Been recognized in national art publications
- Created sculpture commission work and won awards
- Been accepted into artist residency and teaching programs
What are Converse Studio Art alumnae doing?
Grad Schools
Many of our BFA majors have gone on to complete MFA graduate programs in the areas of sculpture, photography, ceramics, painting and printmaking. Some graduate programs include:
Clemson University- Florida State University
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- University of Idaho
- James Madison University
Jobs
Our graduates are:
- Professional artists
- Photographers
- Ceramists
- Curators of private art collections
- Jewelry designers
They work in:
- Museums and galleries
- Advertising and graphic design firms
- Private Studios
NEXT STEPS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Margaret Riedy ’17
“Converse art professors push us to make the best work we can and to effectively express ourselves and communicate with the viewer.”
