Auburn Bulletin 2023-2024

Department of Art and Art History

The Department of Art & Art History offers a relevant, rigorous, and purpose-driven education in studio art and art history and presents engaging programs and exhibitions that both stimulate an understanding of diverse forms of artistic expression and encourage cultural and intellectual awareness. The Department provides a challenging and supportive atmosphere in which majors learn to conduct insightful and high-impact scholarship and creative research, and through outreach and professional experience become competitive in diverse career paths. The Department of Art and Art History offers three majors: a Bachelor of Arts (formal option in Art History), a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts.

The BA in Art (formal option in Art History) offers students training in the global history of art, from the ancient period to the present, through a range of interpretive methods. Bolstered by internship opportunities and study abroad experiences, the curriculum requires a breadth of study across Ancient and Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque, Modern and Contemporary, and Non-Western art. The degree prepares students for careers in museums, galleries, auction houses and other cultural institutions, as well as education, business, and law, and provides a foundation for graduate studies in the field. 

The BA in Studio Art is ideal for students who are passionate about art making and who wish to take a breadth of courses across media, including animation, ceramics, drawing and painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. The flexibility of the BA degree curriculum enables students to take advantage of additional academic courses of study across the University and to combine the study of studio art with a major or minor in another field of study.

The BFA in Studio Art is a professionally oriented program that prepares students for graduate school and careers in the arts. BFA students concentrate in one of six areas: animation (pending NASAD [National Association of Schools of Art and Design] approval), ceramics, painting/drawing, photography, printmaking, or sculpture. Students may complement their focus with additional studio courses in digital arts or study abroad. BFA students must complete an advisory review during their sophomore year. The following are required for the review:

  • Completion of 21 credit hours of studio art and art history courses (check with the department for a list of courses).
  • Submission of a written statement of academic and career goals.
  • Submission and presentation of a portfolio of artwork.
  • Completion of an in-person review with a committee of designated Department of Art & Art History faculty.

The Animation Minor will give students a foundation in 2D and 3D animation in traditional and digital applications. Animation skills can complement a range of majors, such as advertising, business, computer science, graphic design, marketing, media studies, music production, and prepare students for careers in film, television, music video production, visual effects, and video games. Animation is also extensively used in a variety of other contexts, such as advertising, education, and medical and scientific fields.

The Art History Minor is ideal for students who wish to supplement their majors with the visually and intellectually stimulating study of art and visual culture. Minors develop numerous transferable skills including writing, research, critical thinking, visual analysis, and oral presentation. These skills are invaluable in professions as diverse as law, medicine, business, communication, and education, as well as design, cultural preservation, and museum and gallery work.

The Photography Minor will give students a foundation in creative photography, both analog and digital, in the context of fine art. Students majoring in advertising, business, communications, education, graphic design, journalism, marketing, media studies, public relations, and many medical and scientific fields will find that photography skills, and the related visual acuity cultivated in the photography minor, can be a major asset in their careers. 

The Studio Art Minor is designed for students who want to enrich their major field of study with a competency in art making. A minor in studio art is valuable for any student seeking to develop innovative thinking and creative expression through a range of drawing, design, animation, ceramics, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture courses. Students pursuing fields as varied as engineering, communications, and marketing can benefit from instruction in creative thinking practices, and in critical and observational skills. Art coursework can better prepare students for advanced study in allied fields such as architecture, graphic design, environmental design, interior design, and industrial design. The range of art experiences offered in the studio minor fosters a lifelong appreciation and enjoyment of art.

A Studio Art Lab/Materials Fee will be assessed in all studio art courses (ARTS courses designated STU in the AU Bulletin) starting fall semester 2021. This fee, $100 for each STU-designated ARTS course, will partially defray the cost of materials supplied to students enrolled in studio courses, such as canvas, clay, glazes, photo chemicals, metals, and wood; and the maintenance and replacement of studio equipment, like cameras, enlargers, kilns, presses, and printers.

Courses

ARTS 1040 BASIC PAINTING FOR NON MAJORS (3) STU. 6. Instruction in painting concepts, materials, and techniques. Oil and water-based paints and other media are used to explore a variety of approaches and subject matter. Not open to ARTF, ARTH, and ATLA majors.

ARTS 1110 DRAWING I (3) AAB/STU. 6. Basic drawing with emphasis on accurate observation, pictorial organization, and the depiction of space; development of drawing skills using various black and white media.

ARTS 1210 STUDIO FOUNDATIONS I: MATERIALS AND CONCEPTS (3) STU. 6. An introductory course on the application of two-dimensional and three-dimensional art materials and conceptual development.

ARTS 1220 STUDIO FOUNDATIONS II: PROCESS AND CONCEPT (3) STU. 6. Pr. P/C ARTS 1210. An introductory art course focusing on in-depth creative research in conjunction with artmaking.

ARTS 1230 INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL ART (3) STU. 6. An introduction to the skills and concepts of digital art such as imaging, time, and 3D modeling using computer-based tools and techniques.

ARTS 1250 ORIENTATION TO STUDIO ART FOR THE MAJOR (0) LEC. 0. SU. Introduction to the BA and BFA studio arts major, photo documentation, and portfolio development.

ARTS 1510 LOOKING AT ART: APPROACHES TO INTERPRETATION (3) LEC. 3. Introduces the fundamental structures of the art world and multiple approaches to looking at and responding to art.

ARTS 1610 INTRODUCTION TO ART HISTORY (3) LEC. 3. This introduction to global art history teaches the basic concepts of visual analysis by discussing the historical, social, and political contexts of major themes in art history. Specific topics and emphases vary by instructor.

ARTS 1617 HONORS INTRODUCTION TO ART HISTORY (3) LEC. 3. Pr. Honors College. This introduction to global art history teaches the basic concepts of visual analysis by discussing the historical, social, and political contexts of major themes in art history. Specific topics and emphases vary by instructor.

ARTS 2100 FOUNDATIONS OF ART HISTORY I (3) LEC. 3. A history of art from ancient cultures to approximately 1300 CE, with an introduction to basic art historical research and writing skills.

ARTS 2150 FOUNDATIONS OF ART HISTORY II (3) LEC. 3. A history of art from approximately 1300 CE to the contemporary period, with an introduction to basic art historical research and writing skills.

ARTS 2970 SPECIAL TOPICS IN STUDIO ART AND ART HISTORY (3) LEC. 3. Topics in studio art and art history. Focus will vary according to the instructor. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

ARTS 3020 2-D ANIMATION (3) STU. 6. Pr. (ARTS 2100 or ARTS 2150) and ARTS 1110 and ARTS 1210 and ARTS 1230. Introduction to the fundamental principles of animation and storytelling in 2-D traditional and digital formats.

ARTS 3110 FIGURE DRAWING I (3) STU. 6. Pr. ARTS 1110 and ARTS 1210 and (ARTS 2100 or ARTS 2150). The human figure as form and as compositional element. Measuring and sighting for proportion. Drawing from casts, skeletons, and nude models.

ARTS 3120 3-D ANIMATION (3) STU. 6. Pr. ARTS 3020 and ARTS 3110. Introduction to the fundamental principles of 3D modeling and animation.

ARTS 3130 THEMES IN CONTEMPORARY ANIMATION (3) STU. 6. Pr. ARTS 3120. Creative exploration of varying topics in contemporary animation. Studio work supplemented with lectures, critiques, and reading. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

ARTS 3140 ADVANCED DRAWING I (3) STU. 6. Pr. ARTS 3110. Concepts, materials and techniques with emphasis on the development of a personal vision and individual approach. Nude models may be used.

ARTS 3150 ADVANCED DRAWING II (3) STU. 6. Pr. ARTS 3140 and (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150). Medium and subject determined by student with approval of instructor. Emphasis on strengthening the student's aesthetic awareness and technical skills.

ARTS 3160 FIGURE DRAWING II (3) STU. 6. Pr. ARTS 3110. Continued study of life-drawing from nude models and casts. Materials and techniques emphasize building observational drawing skills and strengthening aesthetic awareness. Repeatable up to 6 hours. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

ARTS 3210 INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY (3) STU. 3. Pr. (ARTS 2100 or ARTS 2150) and ARTS 1110 and ARTS 1210. Departmental approval. Fine art photographic concepts and techniques including camera operation, tonal control of black and white prints, presentations of historical and contemporary photography.

ARTS 3220 DIGITAL AND COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY (3) AAB/STU. 6. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150) and (ARTS 3210 or GDES 3210). Departmental approval. Concepts and practices of contemporary art photography including digital production techniques and color photographic theory.

ARTS 3230 INTERMEDIATE PHOTOGRAPHY (3) STU. 6. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150) and (ARTS 3210 or GDES 3210). Departmental approval. Intermediate study of photographic processes with emphasis on technique, classroom craftsmanship, medium and large camera formats, approaches to content and researching concepts to inform studio production.

ARTS 3310 PAINTING I (3) STU. 6. Pr. (ARTS 2100 or ARTS 2150) and ARTS 1110 and ARTS 1210. Instruction in painting concepts, materials, and methods.

ARTS 3320 PAINTING II (3) AAB/STU. 6. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150) and ARTS 3310. Departmental approval. Instruction in painting concepts, materials, and techniques with emphasis on the development of technical skills and a personal vision and individual approach.

ARTS 3330 PAINTING III (3) AAB/STU. 6. Pr. ARTS 3140 and ARTS 3320 or Departmental approval. Medium and subject determined by student and instructor. Emphasis on strengthening aesthetic awareness and technical skills.

ARTS 3410 PRINTMAKING: RELIEF (3) STU. 6. Pr. (ARTS 2100 or ARTS 2150) and ARTS 1110 and ARTS 1210. Introduction to relief printmaking. Studio work supplemented with lectures, critiques, and readings.

ARTS 3420 PRINTMAKING: INTAGLIO (3) STU. 6. Pr. (ARTS 2100 or ARTS 2150) and ARTS 1110 and ARTS 1210 or Departmental approval. Introduction to intaglio printmaking. Studio work with lectures, critiques, and readings.

ARTS 3430 PRINTMAKING: SERIGRAPHY (3) STU. 6. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150) and (ARTS 3410 or ARTS 3420). Departmental approval. Introduction to water based screen-printing. Studio work supplemented with lectures, critiques, and reading.

ARTS 3520 SCULPTURE AS OBJECT (3) STU. 6. Pr. (ARTS 2100 or ARTS 2150) and ARTS 1110 and ARTS 1210. Departmental approval. Research into the materials, processes and issues involved in the production of mixed media sculpture. Readings and discussions on recent developments in the field of sculpture.

ARTS 3530 SCULPTURE AS SPACE (3) STU. 6. Pr. (ARTS 2100 or ARTS 2150) and ARTS 1110 and ARTS 1210. Departmental approval. Survey of the methods, technologies (including sound and light), and issues involved in the production of contemporary sculptural installations, environments, and sites. Class discussion of student projects, with readings, presentations, and videos that address current art practice.

ARTS 3540 THEMES IN CONTEMPORARY SCULPTURE (3) STU. 6. Pr. ARTS 3520 and ARTS 3530. Investigation of the themes, theory, and methods of contemporary sculptural practice. Readings and discussion on recent developments in the field of sculpture. Regular individual and group critiques.

ARTS 3630 ART OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST (3) LEC. 3. Pr. ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150. This course examines the visual arts and architecture of the Near East within their social and historical contexts. Departmental Approval needed.

ARTS 3640 ANCIENT GREEK ART (3) LEC. 3. Pr. ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150. This course examines the visual arts and architecture of ancient Greece (Early Bronze Age to Hellenistic Period) in their social and historical contexts. Departmental Approval needed.

ARTS 3650 HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY (3) LEC. 3. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150) or Departmental approval. Introduction to the history and theory of photography from its 19th-century origins to contemporary global practices.

ARTS 3660 EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY ART IN EUROPE (3) LEC. 3. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150) or Departmental approval. Study of the architecture, painting, and sculpture in 18th-century Europe.

ARTS 3670 CONSTRUCTING RACE IN THE VISUAL ARTS (3) LEC. 3. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150) or Departmental approval. Study of the role of visual imagery in inscribing and. challenging racial hierarchies in the history of art.

ARTS 3680 20TH-CENTURY ART II: 1945-2000 (3) LEC. 3. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150). An introduction to the artists, movements, institutions, concepts, and themes of late 20th-century art.

ARTS 3690 ARTS OF AFRICA (3) LEC. 3. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150). Introduction to the art, artists, themes and issues in African art from the pre-colonial period to the contemporary era.

ARTS 3700 ART OF THE UNITED STATES (3) LEC. 3. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150). Study of architecture, painting, and sculpture from colonial to recent times. Selected movements and works are considered in relationship both to European and to indigenous conditions and attitudes.

ARTS 3710 ANCIENT ART OF THE WEST (3) LEC. 3. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150) or Departmental approval. Examination of major art traditions of the ancient world, including for example: Egypt, Near East, Aegean, Greece, and Rome.

ARTS 3720 MEDIEVAL ART OF THE WEST (3) LEC. 3. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150). Study of major art traditions of the West from the fall of Rome to CE 1400, with a selective focus on the major art traditions, including Migration period, Carolingian, Ottonian, Romanesque, Gothic, and Italo-Byzantine.

ARTS 3730 RENAISSANCE ART IN ITALY (3) LEC. 3. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150). Study of the architecture, painting, and sculpture of the 15th and 16th centuries in Italy.

ARTS 3740 SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY ART IN EUROPE (3) LEC. 3. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150) or Departmental approval. Study of the architecture, painting, and sculpture of 17th-century Europe.

ARTS 3750 19TH CENTURY ART (3) LEC. 3. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150). Introduction to major art movements from Neo-Classicism to Post-Impressionism and Art Nouveau.

ARTS 3760 20TH CENTURY ART I 1900–1945 (3) LEC. 3. Pr. ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150. Study of major developments in painting, sculpture, and architecture in Europe and the United States from 1900 to 1945. Departmental Approval.

ARTS 3770 ANCIENT AMERICAN ART (3) LEC. 3. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150). Study of major art traditions of Central and South America, from Mexico to the Andes, from the beginnings to CE 1550.

ARTS 3790 ARTS OF ASIA (3) LEC. 3. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150). Introduction to major art traditions of Asia from the beginnings to the present.

ARTS 3800 ISSUES AND CRITICISM IN CONTEMPORARY ART (3) LEC. 3. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150). and one 3000-level art history class or Departmental approval. Readings and discussions about contemporary art.

ARTS 3810 GENDER AND THE VISUAL ARTS (3) LEC. 3. Pr. (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150) or Departmental approval. Introduction to gender issues in the visual arts in historical and contemporary contexts. Examines the cultural notions of both masculine and feminine gender roles at play in works of art and explores key issues that have affected women's production of works of art in the past and present.

ARTS 3820 INTRODUCTION TO WHEEL-THROWN CERAMICS (3) STU. 6. Pr. (ARTS 2100 or ARTS 2150) and ARTS 1110 and ARTS 1210. Departmental approval. Introduction to wheel-thrown pottery. Presentation of historical and contemporary contexts for fine arts ceramics. Work with glazes and firing.

ARTS 3840 INTRODUCTION TO HAND-BUILT CERAMICS (3) STU. 6. Pr. (ARTS 2100 or ARTS 2150) and ARTS 1110 and ARTS 1210. Departmental approval. Introduction to handforming methods for sculpture and vessel forms in clay. Work with glazes and firing.

ARTS 3850 INTERMEDIATE CERAMICS (3) STU. 6. Pr. ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150 and ARTS 3840. Departmental approval. Individual approaches to ceramic sculpture and vessel forms, with emphasis on stylistic and conceptual concerns.

ARTS 3920 INTERNSHIP IN STUDIO ART/ART HISTORY (3) AAB/PRA. 15. SU. Junior standing and 3.0 GPA in major and completion of at least two 3000-level courses in ARTF, ARTH, or ATLA major. Internships appropriate to the major with a departmental-approved sponsor providing hands-on, practical learning experiences in a professional setting.

ARTS 3930 STUDIO ART ABROAD (3) LEC. 6. Studio art taught on site in foreign destination.

ARTS 3940 ART HISTORY ABROAD (3) LEC. 3. Art History taught on site in foreign destination.

ARTS 4100 SEMINAR IN PRE-MODERN ART HISTORY (3) SEM. 3. 6 hours of 3000-level art history courses. Or departmental approval. Examination of varying topics in art history from the ancient era until 1750 CE. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

ARTS 4140 ADVANCED ANIMATION (3) STU. 6. Pr. ARTS 3130. An advanced investigation of theory, history, contemporary practice, and techniques through research and studio practice. Emphasis on mature creative expression and production as an animator. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

ARTS 4150 SEMINAR IN MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART HISTORY (3) SEM. 3. 6 hours of 3000-level art history courses. Or departmental approval. Examination of varying topics in modern and contemporary art history, 1750 CE-present. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

ARTS 4240 ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHY (3) STU. 6. Pr. ARTS 3220 and ARTS 3230 and (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150). Advanced investigations of theory, history, and methods to inform photographic practice. Emphasis on production of mature work and individual artistic identity. Frequent individual and group critiques. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 9 credit hours.

ARTS 4340 PAINTING IV (3) STU. 6. Pr. ARTS 3330 and (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150). Advanced painting with medium and subject idea determined by student with approval of the instructor. Emphasis on strengthening the student's awareness and technical skills as a maturing painter. Nude models may be used. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 9 credit hours.

ARTS 4440 ADVANCED PRINTMAKING (3) STU. 6. Pr. ARTS 2410 and ARTS 3420 and ARTS 3430 and (ARTS 2100 and ARTS 2150). Individual research in printmaking. Students focus on conceptual and technical development through continued research in relief, intaglio, or screen-printing. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 9 credit hours.

ARTS 4540 ADVANCED SCULPTURE (3) STU. 6. Pr. ARTS 3540. Advanced investigation of the history, theory and methods of sculptural practice. Individual instruction and supervision of research and reading. Frequent individual and group critiques. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 9 credit hours.

ARTS 4700 SENIOR CAPSTONE: ART HISTORY (3) SEM. 3. Declared ARTH major or minor and completion of 18 hours of 3000-level art history courses. Capstone course for ARTH majors.

ARTS 4840 ADVANCED CERAMICS (3) STU. 6. Pr. ARTS 3850 and ARTS 3820. Advanced study of ceramic techniques and concepts. Student will create an independently-designed, instructor-approved body of work. Individual instruction and supervision of material exploration, research and reading. Frequent individual and group critiques. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

ARTS 4850 PROFESSIONAL STUDIO PRACTICES (3) LEC. 3. Instruction in portfolio preparation, professional practices, and information on studio art careers and graduate study. Must have completed nine credit hours in one concentration; taken concurrently with 4000-level studio in same concentration and prior to ARTS 4980 Senior Project in Studio Arts.

ARTS 4860 BFA CRITIQUE SEMINAR (1) LEC. 1. SU. Rigorous group critiques of artwork produced in media concentration courses, discussions and writing about art, art documentation, and exhibition practices. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 3 credit hours.

ARTS 4930 DIRECTED STUDIES (2-3) IND. Pr., Open only to ARTS students who have shown ability, initiative, and industry. Departmental approval and 3.0 minimum GPA in 3000-level ARTS courses in area of directed study. Directed studies are offered in painting, printmaking, sculpture, art history, photography, and ceramics. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

ARTS 4950 BA STUDIO ART CAPSTONE (1) LEC. 1. SU. Students must have Senior Standing and have completed a minimum of 39 hours in the Major. Professional skills development and career strategies for BA Studio Art Majors.

ARTS 4967 HONORS SPECIAL PROBLEMS (1-3) LEC. Pr. Honors College. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 3 credit hours.

ARTS 4970 SPECIAL TOPICS IN STUDIO ART AND ART HISTORY (3) ST1/STU. 3. Topics in studio art and art history. Focus will vary according to the instructor. Departmental approval needed. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

ARTS 4980 SENIOR PROJECT FOR STUDIO ARTS (3) STU. 6. Pr. (ARTS 2210 and ARTS 2310) or (ARTS 2210 and ARTS 2410) or (ARTS 2310 and ARTS 2410) and ARTS 2510 and (ARTS 2810 or ARTS 3820). And three additional courses in a single studio art concentration. Must be taken in the student's final semester. Directed terminal studio project with faculty-approved choice of content and medium. Project will be exhibited.

ARTS 4997 HONORS RESEARCH AND THESIS (1-3) IND. Pr. Honors College. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

Art and Art History

  • BREUER, NOAH, Assistant Professor
  • BURNS, EMILY, Associate Professor
  • CAMPBELL, ANNIE, Associate Professor
  • DE VRIES, JOYCE, Professor
  • DESCHENE, WENDY, Professor
  • ESQUIVIA ZAPATA, DANIEL, Assistant Professor
  • FLOYD, KATHRYN, Associate Professor
  • GEVURTZ, SARAH, Assistant Professor
  • HEMARD, CHUCK, Associate Professor
  • KOCH, ZACH, Assistant Professor
  • ODENS, SARA, Assistant Professor
  • PHAM, MILLIAN GIANG, Assistant Professor
  • SONIK, KAREN, Associate Professor
  • TORDELLA-WILLIAMS, KRISTEN, Associate Professor
  • WOODS, LAUREN, Assistant Professor