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Study Studio Art

Gain the skills and confidence to turn your imagination into reality. Study Studio Art and discover the many ways art can be used to explore the human experience.

Program Snapshot

Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts

Major, Minor

124

4 Years

Salem Campus

A woman holding up artwork in progress

Our Studio Art Major & Minor

Explore artistic theory and practice in a variety of mediums. In our Studio Art major, you will develop technical skills through hands-on studio work. Apply principles from different artistic styles to create a unique practice. 

Why choose Studio Art at Willamette?

  • Experience a holistic approach. Our Studio Art major encourages interdisciplinary exploration, allowing students to integrate concepts from other fields into their artistic practice. 
  • Benefit from small class sizes. With small class sizes, students receive personalized attention from faculty mentors, fostering collaboration and guidance as they hone their artistic skills. 
  • Learn in state-of-the-art studios. You will have access to state-of-the-art studio facilities equipped with high-end tools and equipment. Experiment and create in a supportive environment.

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Alumni Stories

Studio Art alumni gain the necessary experience to pursue a variety of careers in the visual arts and beyond. Our graduates are thriving as studio artists, teachers, exhibition designers, curators, art critics, architects, and graphic designers.

  • Marcella Kriebel ’07

    Willamette grad sells a piece of artwork to Vice President Kamala Harris
    While visiting an outdoor market in downtown Washington, D.C., Vice President Kamala Harris bought the artwork of Marcella Kriebel ’07. Harris, who was supporting Small Business Saturday, spent some time at Kriebel’s booth, asking about her work.

    Person with red hair smiling, holding a red bell pepper and a green cucumber against a reddish-brown background.
  • A woman and a boy seated at a table with board game pieces in front of them, set against a background of shelves filled with

    Rosie Roberson

    Willamette grad becomes award-winning game designer and business owner
    Rosie Roberson, an Oregon-based software designer, has created nearly 100 games, with several winning awards and a nomination for a Toy and Game Inventor Excellence Award, focusing on fun and family time rather than explicit learning.

Introducing Some of Our Faculty

Professors in the Studio Art department are working artists. They are painters, sculptors, designers, critics, and creative entrepreneurs making contributions to Oregon’s arts scene. Receive one-on-one mentorship and make connections in the art community.

  • Meet Professor Opie

    Alexandra Opie specializes in antique photographic processes and experimental photography. Her innovative courses inspire students to explore unique visual phenomena and develop their creative skills in both traditional and contemporary contexts.

    Headshot of Alexandra Opie
  • Meet Professor Skillin-Brauchle

    Cayla Skillin-Brauchle emphasizes the power of art to envision and practice meaningful life through her diverse classes. Her extensive international exhibition history and numerous artist residencies demonstrate her commitment to socially and politically engaged art, inspiring students to explore the potential of creative expression.

    Headshot of Cayla Skillin-Brauchle

Curriculum

Learn the fundamentals of a variety of fine art mediums from drawing and painting to sculpture, photography, and 4D art. Through independent and collaborative work, you will develop your technical skills and creative practice. Courses in the studio art program will offer you the space, resources, and support to develop and express your point of view. 

  • ARTS 344 Art and Public Engagement

    This course introduces students to art-making processes and strategies that create a dialogue with the greater public. Plan and execute public projects in a variety of media and explore activism, community building, and idea sharing through art.

  • ARTS 321 Drawing Inquiry

    Explore drawing through traditional and experimental approaches that push the boundaries of the discipline. Students will use strategies such as site-specificity, interdisciplinary work, and digital mixed media to engage with unusual approaches to drawing.

Program Requirements

Our Studio Art major requires 44 semester hours to complete the degree. 

Students pursuing the Studio Art minor will need to complete 20 semester hours. 

Person using a paint roller in a small spray painting booth with graffiti and numerous spray paint cans.
Financial Aid

All admitted Art Studio undergraduate students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships starting at $26,000 per year. Through generous financial aid opportunities, students can make a Willamette University education affordable.

A woman looking down at her artwork
Scholarships

Willamette University offers plenty of exclusive Art Studio scholarship opportunities on top of a generous financial aid package. Students can be awarded merit scholarships, competitive scholarships, and even scholarships for current students.

A person unwinding yellow thread on a artistic work bench

FAQs

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Studio Art