MFA Art Practice

Opening reception for “Timeshare,” an exhibition of work by the class of 2017.
We aim to foster an atmosphere of risk-taking and experimentation, and to create a community of clever artists and culture producers.
David A. Ross
Chair

The Art Practice program offers an interdisciplinary approach to an MFA degree. Artists in the program are not defined or separated by medium or discipline. The students in our program engage in research-based practices and are encouraged to converse and collaborate across subject matters using a combination of traditional and non-traditional media, technologies and techniques.

Like the nature of the work we hope to help students produce, this program is continuously redefined as a function of the experience of all its participants.

Faculty members include: Angel Abreu, Gaelyn and Gustavo Aguilar, Suzanne Anker, Beth B, Kathy Brew, Lia Gangitano, Laura F. Gibellini, Johan Grimonprez, Thyrza Nichols Goodeve, Baseera Khan, Steven Henry Madoff, Glendalys Medina, Iviva Olenick, Stefan Saffer, Heather Schatz, Sarah G. Sharp, Jovana Stokic, Jacquelyn Strycker, Nicolas Touron and Robin Winters.

Our department site

artpractice.sva.edu
Why We Stand Out:

  • Interdisciplinary, research-based program that addresses the intellectual, aesthetic, technical and practical concerns of the artist

  • Low-residency format combines three intensive summer residency periods with four semesters of rigorous online coursework, and the ongoing guidance of a mentor

  • Students will engage with artists, thinkers, curators, critics and culture producers from around the world, participating in a global conversation about the arts

Student Work
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More About the Department

Our program approaches art-making holistically. We view process as a kind of critical thinking.


As the program makes use of a low-residency framework, students participate in seven weeks of NYC-based course work and studio practice for three successive summers. During the intervening academic semesters, participants engage in rich-media online course work. Additionally, each participant is assigned a mentor for the entirety of the program.

An underlying thread running through the low-residency program is the ability to situate one’s creative practice within a thoroughly considered social context, and the ability to remain open to the revision of one’s operating premises. Students combine personal narrative with critical theory to be active citizen artists.

Degree candidates must successfully complete 60 credits, including all required courses. The final summer session includes the presentation of a thesis project and accompanying written thesis document. All candidates must have their thesis proposals approved by the department chair and thesis committee at the conclusion of their second summer residency period.

Selected Lectures

Resources
MFA Art Practice
335 West 16th Street, 5th floor
New York, NY 10011
Tel:  212.592.2781
people talking and pointing to an art piece