School of Art

The School of Art, housed within one of the most respected research universities in the United States, offers an unparalleled convergence of contemporary art, technology, and critical discourse. Combining a renowned studio program with the interdisciplinary resources of a cutting-edge research environment, the School of Art bridges the fundamental areas of studio practice with the experimental practices of new media, physical computing, and program-based expression. Esteemed faculty provide an intense, professional-level learning environment that fosters experimentation, boundary crossing, and the development of hybrid processes.

Benchmarks of the School include collaborative relationships with innovative learning environments such as the Center for Arts in Society, the Frank Ratchye Studio for Creative Inquiry and IDeATE; individual studios for all junior and senior BFAs; 24-hour access to state-of-the-art facilities; and a unique curriculum that includes contextual practice, critical theory, and technology alongside traditional programs in painting, drawing, and sculpture. Designed as one of the most progressive environments for student learning, the School of Art offers its undergraduate students either a BFA degree or a hybrid BXA degree, which allows students to merge the humanities and sciences with their creative practice.

Rated the number six art school in the United States, and number one in the area of time-based and new media, the School stands among the world’s leading art programs. At the graduate level, our MFA program offers exceptional funding and individual studios within a small cohort of serious and focused artists. Every MFA student receives a Graduate Assistantship, guaranteeing hands-on experience in the classroom alongside a dynamic visiting lecture series, tailored graduate coursework, and the capstone thesis exhibition.

Distinguished alumni include Andy Warhol, Mel Bochner, Joyce Kozloff, Philip Pearlstein, and John Currin, and our current faculty include internationally recognized figures such as Jim Duesing, Suzie Silver, Jon Rubin, Paolo Pedercini, Golan Levin, Angela Washko, and Charlie White. The school’s rich history informs its current position as an expansive platform for creative experimentation and social engagement through art and innovation. From our intimate and focused MFA to our progressive BFA and unique BXA degrees, the School of Art occupies a space of research, creative practices, developing technologies, and new ideas unlike any other art school in the world.

Situated within the city of Pittsburgh, which has been rated the most livable city in the United States as well as one of the top five best cities for creative production and a top-ten tech city in America, the School of Art offers its students a safe, dynamic urban living experience. In close proximity to internationally recognized institutions such as the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Frick, the Andy Warhol Museum, and the Mattress Factory, the School of Art sits at the intersection of an international array of cutting-edge exhibitions, performances, and experiments.

Learn more at the School of Art’s website.