The Department of Art offers its students an education in the visual arts as an integral part of a comprehensive educational experience. Our degree programs offer intense, professional education in the aesthetics and theories of the visual arts. Additionally, students will be trained in the skill and intellectual awareness that are the basis for a future of creative and professional achievement in the visual arts.
At UNLV the BFA is an additional year of study during which time students have an opportunity to focus more intensively on developing their skills and creativity. Admission to the BFA program is by portfolio review.
The Painting, Drawing & Printmaking concentration at UNLV focuses on the exploration of two-?dimensional areas. Students have the opportunity to encounter a variety of processes including intaglio, lithography, the drawing techniques and media of watercolor, acrylic and oil painting. Communication skills are developed through periodical critiques. Historical and contemporary examples are presented and discussed in class, resulting in a thorough investigation within the concentration. Students leave the program with a portfolio of work that can lead to the beginning of a career as a studio artist, to admission to an advanced degree in studio art, or to opportunities for employment in the art world.
Concentration in PhotographyThe Photography Area of Concentration provides students with a solid foundation in technical, aesthetic, conceptual, critical and practical skills necessary to thrive in the challenging and diverse world of photography. Students in this area work in traditional and non-traditional mediums with a pluralistic approach to picture making, learning both film-based and digital technology with emphasis placed on photography as a Fine Art. Students define their individual photographic style in terms of both content and approach, and once technical and conceptual skills are solidified, students develop a portfolio that shows their unique personal view of image making. After being accepted into the BFA Program students produce an advanced-level thesis project, demonstrating mastery and synthesis of the skills taught in the program, utilizing visual, oral and written presentations.
Concentration in SculptureStudents in the BFA degree program at UNLV, who concentrate on sculptural practices, advance their understanding of materials, process and content, leading to the creation of a sustainable studio practice. Studio experimentation and risk taking are encouraged while an awareness of the professional field and how he or she fits into the historical and contemporary trends in sculpture is considered and defined. Students leave the program with an advanced portfolio and practice that can help them develop an art career after college, employment or potential graduate study.