Bachelor of Fine Arts

The BFA program is small enough to allow the close interaction and free exchange of ideas that are so vital to art. With no more than 15 students enrolled in a studio course, individual instruction is a high priority. Students have direct contact with faculty work in the studio, which allows them to share both technical and conceptual processes.

Our students are encouraged to explore, achieve and create. You'll be immersed in a rigorous course of study that includes studio techniques, conceptual directions and art history.

The student undergraduate experience is enhanced by informal professional activities with faculty; field trips to art centers in Charlotte, Columbia, Atlanta, New York City and Washington, D.C.; interaction with visiting artists; and opportunities for local and regional exhibitions.

Whether you plan a career in making, teaching or managing art, you’ll leave Clemson having had numerous opportunities to explore your abilities and develop your creativity.

What You'll Study

You can choose an emphasis in ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking or sculpture. Regardless of your studio concentration, you'll have full access to the department’s clay, drawing, painting and printmaking studios, plus computer, photo and sculpture labs. Art historians, with a deep knowledge of modern and contemporary art, offer a rich understanding of past and current developments, will help provide context for your studies.

You’ll be encouraged to investigate materials, processes and contexts that best suit your mode of expression. Rigorous studio activity and strong conceptual development are vital for success in this program. You’ll produce a cohesive body of artwork and a portfolio for graduate study or professional applications.

Ceramics

Deepen your understanding of the diverse range of materials, concepts and processes related to clay, and develop a dynamic, individual practice in a supportive studio environment.

Drawing

Develop skills of observation, perception and interpretation through the immediate and immersive act of drawing and through experimenting with various drawing mediums and processes.

Painting

Cultivate your talent formally and conceptually to become a versatile, vital contributor to the contemporary art-making dialogue.

Photography

Master the tools, techniques and methods, including traditional black and white film and contemporary digital formats.

Printmaking

Explore the myriad possibilities offered — traditional and nontraditional materials, formats and production techniques — as ways to challenge the conventions of image and presentation to facilitate a transformative artistic experience.

Sculpture

Immerse yourself in the ever-expanding field of this discipline as you create work in a host of contexts, including traditional gallery, site-specific, temporal/relational and installation modes.

Beyond the Classroom

Whether you plan to embark on a career in making, teaching or managing art, Clemson offers numerous opportunities for you to explore your abilities and show your creativity.

Study Abroad

Draw and journal your way through a five-week summer school study abroad in Italy. See sites in Rome, Orvieto, Florence and Venice. You’ll visit historically significant artworks and take classes in Italian and Etruscan ceramics.

Lee Gallery and Acorn Gallery

Providing access to regional, national and international artists, Clemson's art galleries hold a varity of exibitions and special events during the year. In addition, you'll have a chance to showcase your work in the galleries.

Center for Visual Arts

The CVA is a place where students, visitors and scholars explore contemporary perspectives in art and culture through research and studio practice. Its mission is to engage and render visible the creative process.

The Fine Arts Student Association

FASA is a student-run organization that strives to increase awareness and appreciation of art on campus. Past events include parties, trips, fundraising events and art sales. FASA Student organizes field trips and at least one annual trip to a major urban art center such as New York City.

Careers