Art (Studio Art)
If you feel called to create, studio art is the major for you. As an Alverno art student, you’ll explore a wide variety of art-making techniques and media, like drawing, painting, ceramics, metalwork, fused glass, fibers, digital photography, sculpture, book arts and papermaking.
Our program will help you perfect the technical skills of your personal expressive practice and show you how you can use art to make a dramatic impact on our community. We’ll also provide you with a rich foundation in art history and introduce you to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) principles and greener studios.
In the classroom
You’ll thrive in small classes led by dedicated faculty mentors who have deep experience in art. You will begin studio art courses during your first year. Our light-filled classrooms are not only designed to help you explore different media, but also to be as green as possible so you can embrace sustainable art practices.
In courses that are co-taught by art and science faculty, you can approach your work through a STEAM lens that merges science and art. And you’ll have access to working artists — every semester, you’ll work with fellow students and a visiting art professional to develop a community art assessment, which gives you practice planning collaborative group art projects.
Beyond the classroom
You'll put your classroom skills to work through an internship. There are many opportunities to apply what you’re learning thanks to Milwaukee’s dynamic, active arts culture. You’ll intern for at least one semester, giving you a valuable opportunity to build your resume while getting hands-on experience. Alverno’s Career Studio can help you find the right internship for you.
In addition to internships, our students embrace opportunities to share their art with the college and broader community. You can participate in our annual juried art competition, display work in our campus-wide display venues, learn gallery management skills, work with the campus gallery director to design your senior exhibition, apply for work-study job opportunities to learn behind-the-scenes aspects of managing visual art exhibition spaces or work as a studio assistant to develop an advanced understanding of materials and classroom management. Our well-connected faculty can also help you network, invite you to participate in collaborative public art projects and explore ways to exhibit your work off campus.
Art Quick Links
— Felonee, studio art majorNot only do faculty help prepare the artist to identify their primary medium, but they also prepare you with research and presentation skills as well as how you can get involved in your community.
Art + The Alverno Difference
At Alverno, we are small by design. We know your name, your career aspirations, your personal challenges and your strengths. We curate learning to meet your individual needs, connect you with people in the field and help you set personal goals. You are not just a student to us — you are a lifetime member of our community.
Instead of letter grades, we focus on your personal development and real-world skills — ensuring art majors graduate with stellar communication, leadership, media and problem-solving skills. Our learning approach is centered around the 8 Abilities, which will set you apart from the crowd.
Art Minor
The studio art minor allows students from a variety of backgrounds to maximize their creativity for personal enrichment or to expand career skills in design, cultural awareness, problem-solving and visual literacy. You'll explore broader questions of creativity, human meaning, wellness and physical properties of media while working side-by-side with peers in interactive art studios.
