Art Department

The art department focuses on communicating ideas in visual form within the liberal arts environment. Through close relationships with faculty who are both dedicated teachers and active artists, students gain exposure to a variety of artistic philosophies and professional practices in art.

Students may experiment or concentrate in a broad range of studio disciplines, including ceramics, graphic design, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. Studios, darkrooms, computer laboratories and galleries supporting these disciplines are all located in Cummings Arts Center, pictured above.

Introductory-level art courses in studio art are open to all students.

For students majoring in art, the development of technical expertise and visual communication skills begins with courses in three-dimensional design or design concepts, and in foundation-level drawing. These courses, combined with three art history courses, provide the beginning basis for the development of students’ skills and concepts. A student majoring in art must choose one or two disciplines of specialization and embark upon a journey of visual investigation, which culminates in the ideas and concepts expressed in the Senior Thesis Exhibition.

Each art major works one-on-one with a member of the faculty; advising and refining of their artistic techniques often continues with a mentoring relationship beyond graduation. The College provides each senior art major with their own studio space with unlimited access.

Teaching beyond the studio or classroom often takes place on faculty- led field trips to New York City, New Haven, Hartford and Providence to see museum exhibits and visit artists at work in their studios. Often times these trips are organized in conjunction with follow-up visits by artists and lecturers to the campus. The Weissman Visiting Artist Program, and the more recent Dayton Artist in Residence, have brought outstanding artists to Connecticut College. A partial list includes Maya Lin, Faith Ringgold, Sol LeWitt, Mary Heilman, and Elena Sisto. These artists and many others have contributed to discussions, lectures and workshops directly involving our students.

The department sponsors changing exhibits in the galleries of Cummings Arts Center which relate to course work. View the Online Calendar of Events for dates of these exhibitions throughout the year.

The studio art experience propels graduates towards numerous professional occupations with a broad range of technical knowledge coupled with a sound liberal arts education.

Many Connecticut College art majors have maintained working studios and achieved wide spread recognition with their work as artists, illustrators, designers, filmmakers, animators and teachers.