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Art professor and student examine ceramic art
Department of Art

Programs

Degree Programs and Accreditation

The Department of Art along with Clemson Visual Arts is part of the College of Architecture, Art and Construction. We offer the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Bachelor of Arts (BA), and the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) professional degrees and our curricula are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Art and artists thrive on the campus of Clemson University. Clemson is a comprehensive university with the resources and facilities to offer students excellent educational opportunities in the visual arts.

Faculty exhibit internationally and nationally, are represented in museum collections, and are recipients of numerous awards, some with international acclaim. In addition, faculty are active in a number of professional associations. Individual faculty members have received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, from NSF, S.C. Arts Commission, and the Fulbright program.

Learn More About

  • Creative Inquiry
    Creative Inquiry is an initiative at Clemson University that engages students at the Undergraduate level in applied research.

    Students take on problems that spring from their own curiosity, from a professor's challenge or from the pressing needs of the world around them. Team-based investigations are led by a faculty mentor and typically span two to four semesters. Students take ownership of their projects and take the risks necessary to solve problems and get answers.

    Currently the Art Department offers four creative inquiry options open to all majors.
  • Public Art
    Atelier InSite is a project that implements public artwork on the Clemson University Campus. It capitalizes on a cross-disciplinary and inclusive approach that is predominantly student driven. The goal is to create a new paradigm for the administration of public art on university campuses.

    The word Atelier is derived from the French word meaning workshop or studio. Atelier describes the atmosphere and attitude toward the installation and development of public art on campus. Learn More 
  • Clemson Curates

    Faculty teach experiential-learning courses through a partnership with the CVA, allowing students to gain practical knowledge of how arguments are constructed, how visual arts exhibits are developed and how various social media platforms are utilized for marketing and communication. Students learn to consider the arts from a variety of perspectives and fields, providing them with a comprehensive view of exhibit development and applied learning.

  • Community Supported Art (CSArt)
    CSArt endeavor was created to support local art, artists, and collectors and to create a unique shopping experience.

    The Clemson CSArt program, begun in 2014, is unique because it has been started by college students and has been funded by the Clemson University Creative Inquiry program so that the CSArt team is able to further explore and research new, innovative ways to run the program. Interested consumers and collectors will purchase a share and in return, receive one share of locally-produced artwork at our seasonal pickup event. Learn More
  • Contemporary Art in Practice

    Contemporary Art in Practice students spend time researching and evaluating exhibit presentation strategies while seeing some incredible art in New York City. This trip is part of a Creative Inquiry-Clemson course, a part of Clemson's commitment to student engagement and undergraduate research. This opportunity for engagement is what set the Clemson experience apart from other institutions. Learn More

  • Art History
    Visual Art students are immersed in a rigorous course of study that includes studio techniques, principles of design, conceptual grounding, and art history. Our art historians at Clemson University possess a broad knowledge of art history and specialize in modern and contemporary art history. These professors offer a rich understanding of past and current developments in art. Courses demonstrate how history, geography, politics, religion, and culture are reflected in and shaped by art. This understanding helps provide context for students studying visual arts and other fields.
    Here are some of the topics and areas covered in the art history courses:
    • Global art and architectural history from prehistory to the age of the Enlightenment.
    • Modern art history, theory, and criticism in the West.
    • Global contemporary art history, theory, and criticism.
    • The place of art today in regional, national, and global contexts.
    Please refer to the most recent course catalog for further information regarding the several art history courses offered at Clemson University.

Alumnus Spotlight

“Clemson was a perfect convergence of everything I was looking for in my education and life as an MFA student. Profoundly dedicated and knowledgeable faculty, a program scale where you didn’t become just a number, a spirit of collaboration and cross-discipline fluidity in a region with countless possibilities for outdoor enthusiasts. A major factor was Clemson’s dedication to significant study abroad opportunities. My time in Genoa was a transformative part of my life and I have been lucky to participate in and lead numerous international programs in the decades since studying in Italy. As a photography student, the opportunity to study alongside students in architecture and other art disciplines represented to me the ideal of higher education as the very subjects of our studies surrounded us. Twenty years later, I’m still working through some of my archives of negatives from those experiences. This summer, I led a group of Illinois students on a study abroad program in Dijon, France. I credit Clemson for providing the foundational opportunities that made these things possible.”

Travis Linville '03
MFA ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Clemson University
Department of Art
Department of Art | 2-121 Lee Hall, Clemson, SC 29634