School of Art and Art History

Where creativity meets expression

Find your voice. Develop your creative skills. Build your knowledge in art.

Why Iowa?

Nestled in the heart of Iowa's beautiful arts campus, on the banks of the Iowa River, generations of artists and art historians have launched their careers and artistic journeys here. Join them.

Study Here

Create a foundation

Study art, art history, and design with leading artists in state-of-the-art spaces.

Create a foundation

Advance your work

Be part of an immersive and transformative arts experience under the guidance of expert faculty.

Advance your work

Monica Correia teaching 3D design in a gallery of work

Learn from experts

For more than 100 years, our faculty have been leaders in their disciplines who exhibit internationally and publish widely.

Learn from experts

You belong here

Be part of a legacy of excellence—and the birthplace of the MFA. Learn from faculty who are leading artists, designers, and scholars. Create and learn in facilities that are architectural masterpieces.

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"During instruction periods you are able to work closely with the faculty, and get really helpful individual critical feedback from your peers because of the small class size. Because of how the classes are set up, not only do you learn a lot but we’re able to foster a really tightly knit community."

- Alexis Williams, 3D Design

Create your story

When you make art at Iowa—or explore the ways that art shapes and reflects culture—you'll blaze a unique artistic journey. Make Iowa your artistic and academic home. Join us.

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Birthplace of the MFA

The first university to accept creative works as graduate theses.

Our program also pioneered the practice of bringing established artists to the faculty.

# 7

National Ranking: Printmaking

U.S. News & World Report, 2020

# 23

National Ranking: Best Fine Arts Programs

U.S. News & World Report, 2020

Events

Student exhibitions

Remember Dust - Olivia Ahrens BFA Exhibition - School of Art and Art History

Tuesday, April 16, 2024 8:00am to 8:00pm

Visual Arts Building

Closing Reception Friday, April 19, 2024 5–7 p.m.

The Handmade Bicycles of Design Build Ride - School of Art and Art History

Monday, May 6, 2024 8:00am to 8:00pm

Visual Arts Building

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Visiting artists and scholars

A workshop on teaching with African art

Wednesday, April 17, 2024 2:00pm to 3:30pm

Stanley Museum of Art

Image credit: Chihongo (male face mask), Chokwe style. Early to mid-20th century. Wood, cotton, bark, raffia. 11 1/2 x 9 x 10 3/4 in. University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art, The Stanley Collection of African Art, X1990.598 SAAH Visiting Scholar Professor Barbaro Martinez-Ruiz will join Professors T.J. Dedeaux-Norris (Associate Professor, SAAH) and Beatrice Mkenda (Associate Professor of Instruction, French and Italian), and Dr. Cory Gundlach (Curator of African Art, SMA) for a workshop on...

Public Lecture: “Made to be Seen: Kongo Graphic Writing as a Basis for Rethinking the Transmission of Knowledge” - Bárbaro Martínez-Ruiz, Visiting Scholar, School of Art and Art History

Wednesday, April 17, 2024 5:30pm

Art Building West

Visiting Scholar Professor Bárbaro Martínez-Ruiz will be giving a public lecture titled “Made to be Seen: Kongo Graphic Writing as a Basis for Rethinking the Transmission of Knowledge.” Professor Martínez-Ruiz is the Tanner-Opperman Chair of African Art History in Honor of Roy Sieber at the Department of Art History at Indiana University. He is also Senior Research Associate in African Art and Its Diaspora at the University of Oxford and Honorary Professor at the University of Cape Town...

Visiting Artist Tommy Kha – Conversation Hour – April 19th 11:30-12:30 – Art Building West Atrium

Friday, April 19, 2024 11:30am to 12:30pm

Art Building West

This time is dedicated to the questions and conversation that are often overlooked in traditional artist talks and academic curriculum. Students are invited to join visiting artist Tommy Kha in an informal conversation about life as an artist—dialogue about maintaining creative stamina, professional problem solving, and building community are welcome. Snacks will be provided and we encourage you to stay for Kha’s 1-4 p.m. Self-Imaging Workshop in the ABW atrium. More about Visting Artist...

Visiting Artist Tommy Kha – Self-Imaging Workshop – April 19th 1-4PM – Art Building West Atrium

Friday, April 19, 2024 1:00pm to 4:00pm

Art Building West

Hosted by visiting artist Tommy Kha, this workshop will explore the complex dynamics of self-imaging and autobiography as material in contemporary art. In Kha’s words, “Through the framework of the self-portrait, I constantly navigate between self and otherness in my photography. Themes of likeness and representation are at the forefront of my picture making. I shift between comedy and tragedy, familiarity and foreignness, performer and camera operator. … my work is about the self in self...

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MFA virtual exhibitions

Gracie Baer - MFA Exhibition (Sculpture and Intermedia)
April 8, 2024 - April 12, 2024

Braden Dexter - MFA Exhibition (Graphic Design)
April 8, 2024 - April 12, 2024

Agnes. Harry Mills - MFA Exhibition (Jewlery and Metal Arts)
April 8, 20024 - April 12, 2024

Kyle Agnew - MFA Exhibtion (Photography)
April 1, 2024 - April 5, 2024

Sofia Echeverri - MFA Exhibition (Painting and Drawing)
April 1, 2024 - April 5, 2024

Na'ah Gordon - MFA Exhibition (Painting and Drawing)
April 1, 2024 - April 5, 2024

Jordan Ramsey Ismaiel - MFA Exhibition (Painting and Drawing)
March 25, 2024 - March 29, 2024

Lauren Krukowski - MFA Exhibition (Printmaking)
March 25, 2024 - March 29, 2024

Jake Willliams - MFA Exhibition (3D Design)
March 25, 2024 - March 29, 2024

David Hurlin - MFA Exhibition (Sculpture)
March 18, 2024 - March 22, 2024

Molly Sandweiss - MFA Exhibition (Jewelry and Metal Arts)
March 18, 2024 - March 22, 2024

Jamie Weinfurter - MFA Exhibition (Sculpture)
March 18, 2024 - March 22, 2024

Stevie Haley Delgado MFA Exhibition (Sculpture)
March 4, 2024 - March 8, 2024

Annie Klein MFA Exhibition (Printmaking)
March 4, 2024 - March 8, 2024

Amelia Rosenberg MFA Exhibition (Ceramics)
march 4, 2024 - March 8, 2024

Abe Irshaidat MFA Exhibition (Graphic Design)
February 26, 2024 - March 1, 2024

Abbey Peters MFA Exhibition (Ceramics)
February 26, 2024 - March 1, 2024

Lauren Coghlan MFA Exhibtion (Graphic Design)
February 19, 2024 - February 23, 2024

Katrice Kelly MFA Exhibition (Painting and Drawing)
February 19, 2024 - February 23, 2024

Suleyman L Aslan MFA Exhibition (3D Design)
August 7, 2023 - August 11, 2023

Katie Kiesewetter MFA Exhibition (Graphic Design)
April 10, 2023 - April 14, 2023

Kayla Rumpp MFA Exhibition (Painting and Drawing)
April 10, 2023 - April 14, 2023

Liv Stark MFA Exhibition (Graphic Design)
April 10, 2023 - April 14, 2023

Nathan Sears MFA Exhibition (3D Design)
April 3, 2023 - April 7, 2023

Sean Tyler MFA Exhibition (Painting and Drawing)
April 3, 2023 - April 7, 2023

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Where creativity meets expression

Why Iowa?

Create a foundation

Advance your work

Learn from experts

You belong here

Create your story

Birthplace of the MFA

# 7

# 23

Events

Student exhibitions

Remember Dust - Olivia Ahrens BFA Exhibition - School of Art and Art History

The Handmade Bicycles of Design Build Ride - School of Art and Art History

Visiting artists and scholars

A workshop on teaching with African art

Public Lecture: “Made to be Seen: Kongo Graphic Writing as a Basis for Rethinking the Transmission of Knowledge” - Bárbaro Martínez-Ruiz, Visiting Scholar, School of Art and Art History

Visiting Artist Tommy Kha – Conversation Hour – April 19th 11:30-12:30 – Art Building West Atrium

Visiting Artist Tommy Kha – Self-Imaging Workshop – April 19th 1-4PM – Art Building West Atrium

MFA virtual exhibitions

News and announcements

Memorial Dedication being held April 12 for Harold W. Bradley, Jr.

School of Art and Art History April 2024 Newsletter

School of Art and Art History March 2024 Newsletter