Department of Art and Design

Welcome

We are learners and teachers dedicated to the creation, interpretation and encouragement of art and design through the study of art education, art history and studio art.

We develop our abilities to appreciate, comprehend and assess the myriad forms of artistic expression in the past, present and future.

Prospective Students

Dates Regarding BFA Portfolio Reviews

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio Art and the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design both require an on-campus, in-person portfolio review for acceptance into the major.

Portfolio review dates for 2024-25 are:

Friday, September 27

Monday, October 14

Friday, November 22

Monday, February 17

Friday, March 21

Friday, April 11

Friday, April 25

To schedule a portfolio review, please contact the department through Alisa Sentz (asentz@messiah.edu).

Other degrees in Studio Art, Art Education, Digital Media, etc. do not require a portfolio review for admission into the program.

As an alternative, accepted BA Studio Art majors may still opt to apply for the BFA degree during their sophomore year review.

BFA Portfolio Requirements

A portfolio should include 10 to 12 pieces representing a range of mediums and projects created in high school or on your own. If showing three-dimensional work that is difficult to travel with, please photograph it and show up to three images of the work. Also, consider the presentation and sequence of the work you are showing (for example, perhaps the work is shown in chronological order of the time you made it). Actual physical works are preferred, including color printouts for any graphic design or digital imaging/illustration work. Additionally, motion/animation work can be shown on a tablet/ipad or laptop.

Art and Design Scholarships

All majors interested in art scholarships must submit a digital portfolio for review. Digital portfolios should be sent to Alisa Sentz (asentz@messiah.edu) through Google Drive or DropBox no later than February 14th.

Scholarships

The Daniel Vollmer Scholarship is for outstanding students in the visual arts. This scholarship is awarded to incoming first year students. The scholarship recognizes students who have shown talent and promise in the visual arts during their high school years.

Student Work

Students in the Department of Art and Design create a wide range of vibrant work in a variety of mediums and media. Our courses focus on developing and refining both technical and conceptual skills, so every student has the opportunity to discover their own artistic voice and stylistic direction. Students create bodies of creative work for public exhibition and professional portfolios.

View Student Work

An art student working on her screen printing project

Curriculum

As a student in the Department of Art and Design, you will study the best of the past and the present in both art history and studio courses. You will learn to make connections between what you are studying in your major and in your liberal arts courses and you will develop the ideas and the skills necessary for a mature work as an artist, educator or historian.

Our Gallery

The Aughinbaugh Gallery features new exhibitions on a monthly basis that are designed to be of interest to the campus and community. The artwork displayed is created by nationally recognized artists, Messiah's art faculty, and our students.

Visit gallery

Facilities

The department is ready to serve the aspiring artist with 11 dedicated studio/ classroom spaces that are well equipped with appropriate tools and technology. Along with these dedicated rooms seniors have studio spaces in The Warehouse, a dedicated studio facility with keyed access to 24/7.

A college student teaching a young child how to make three dimensional sculptures.

Careers

Many Messiah University graduates have careers at galleries, graphic design firms, Internet businesses, product design and publishing companies, while others have become freelance artists. Art Education majors are certified to teach grades K-12 and find employment in a variety of school settings both public and private.

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