Art and Art History

2 women looking at a painting

ART AND ART HISTORY


Academic Programs

Student Focus

My Hands Are a City

OSU Wind Ensemble presented Jonathan Newman's Symphony No. 1: My Hands Are A City featuring poetry and photographs inspired by the music and crafted by OSU students

In January 2024, students of Julia Bradshaw’s photography class and Jennifer Richter’s poetry class were instructed to listen to Jonathan Newman’s 2009 wind ensemble composition “My Hands Are a City,” and to take inspiration from the piece as they wrote original poetry and took photographs around campus.

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Faculty Focus

Evan Baden preaches the power of photography: Acclaimed photographer encourages students to look deeper at imagery

There’s a quote in “The Things They Carried,” Tim O’Brien’s classic novel about the Vietnam War, that Evan Baden likes very much, in part because it says something important about Baden’s photography.

Here’s the quote: "Fiction is the lie that helps us understand the truth."

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Mission

The arts programs at Oregon State University provide undergraduates with the technical skill and cultural awareness essential to the careers of professional artists, scholars, teachers, and creative thinkers in all fields. Through research, our students learn about themselves and learn how to become responsible members of the larger communities to which they are connected. Coursework includes practice and discussion with faculty, peers, and guests of our exceptional Visiting Artists and Scholars program. Students are provided close mentoring from the faculty, a diverse group of award-winning artists and scholars.

 

Yes, you can graduate in 4 years...guaranteed.  

4-year graduation guaranteeAnd we're here to help you. Our graduates go on to successful careers in music, art, media, design and more. Your path is wide open. The College of Liberal Arts is the only college at Oregon State that guarantees you can graduate in four years.

That means if you meet all of your 4-Year Guarantee obligations and still have unfulfilled requirements at the end of four years, we'll cover in-state tuition for the courses you need to graduate. 

ADVISING

The School of Visual, Performing, and Design Arts is the academic home for students interested in the fields of Art, Graphic Design, Music, and Theatre Arts.

The SVPDA advising team provides academic advising assistance that supports students’ educational and career goals. Advising is a collaborative relationship between the student and their advisor. The advisor for each area will work with students to help clarify goals and assist students in evaluating degree progress. Ultimately, students are responsible for making decisions, setting individual goals, and meeting identified requirements for their degree.

Art and Art History Alumni and Friends

Connect with us, make a gift, or support the work of aspiring artists.

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