Studio Arts
What is studio arts?
LMU's Studio Arts major provides a broad foundation in fundamental techniques and concepts, and permits individuals to experience the possibilities of creative expression and to develop an understanding of art as a key to cultural awareness.
The Studio Arts major offers four emphases: Graphic Design, Art Education, Multimedia, and Fine Arts. Students in the Fine Arts emphasis may choose among the following concentrations: Painting and Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, or Ceramics.
The Studio Arts program is enriched both by LMU's location in Los Angeles - an international art center - and by the university's studio arts facilities. The latter include darkrooms, sculpture yard, print room, computer graphics and photography labs, and studios for ceramics, sculpture, and printmaking.
What do studio arts majors do?
Studio Arts majors, regardless of emphasis or concentration, spend time in the classroom and the art studio. Studios are open to enrolled students 24 hours a day. Students who choose the Fine Arts emphasis explore a wide variety of forms of visual expression, with instruction geared toward a balance of discipline and discovery.
Students who choose Graphic Arts develop competence in design, computer graphics, advertising, illustration, and lettering and typography. They gain familiarity with both printing processes and electronic media.
The Multimedia emphasis allows students to embrace the technological advancements in every area of mediated communication.
The Art Education emphasis provides experience in the arts appropriate for teaching careers or may lead to a single-subject teaching credential.
Is this major right for you?
You might be a Studio Arts major if you:
- Are an artist
- Are a photographer or designer
- Are interested in big ideas
- Care about aesthetics
- Like visiting museums and galleries
About our faculty
Our faculty members are experts in fields such as digital media, painting, drawing, video, photography, performance art, installation art, art education, frescoes, communications design, sculpture, printmaking, silkscreening, animation, design, and packaging.
Faculty members are working artists, filmmakers, visual effects experts, and designers. They exhibit their artwork in museums, galleries, and biennales worldwide. Their works are held in public and private collections. Faculty members win awards and honors and serve on boards. Their work has appeared on the cover of the New York Times Magazine and in Artweek, Art in America, Afterimage, American Photographer and other publications.
About our students and graduates
Our students are able to take advantage of a wealth of public art and museums, galleries, and other cultural institutions in Southern California - including the university's Laband Art Gallery. Additionally, the students enjoy exhibition space in the new student-run Thomas P. Kelly art gallery. These institutions provide myriad opportunities to directly experience art, both at its traditional best and at its experimental frontier.
LMU students majoring or minoring in Studio Arts will be prepared to work in a variety of fine art professions such as painter, sculptor, illustrator, graphic designer, computer artist, photographer, silkscreen artist, creative director, animator, advertising art director, product designer, studio manager, gallery owner, and arts educator.
Representative courses
Our courses have included:
- Introduction to Studio Arts
- Introduction to Drawing and Printmaking
- Figure Drawing
- Computer Graphics
- Three-Dimensional Design
- Ceramic Sculpture
- Multimedia Survey
- Photography
- Silkscreening
- Field Experience in Art
- Illustration
- Experimental Typography
- Mural Painting
- Design for Print
- Social Design
- Professional Practices in Fine Arts
- Independent Studies