Studio Art at AU prepares students not only to become artists, but to become thoughtful, curious, adaptable thinkers and makers, people who can imagine new possibilities, engage complexity, collaborate across disciplines, and contribute meaningfully to the world around them.

American University's Studio Art program combines rigorous intellectual inquiry with the physical and material process of making. Led by internationally recognized artists, our faculty create a collaborative environment where students experiment, take risks, embrace failure, and develop ideas through sustained studio practice. Students learn to transform personal experiences, questions, and research into visual forms while developing the technical, conceptual, and critical skills necessary to communicate with intention.

BA Studio Art MFA Studio Art BA Photography

Situated in the 130,000 square foot Katzen Art Center, students have access to state-of-the-art facilities in Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Sculpture, Digital Photography, Video, and Expanded Media, as well as studio space for undergraduate senior capstone students and MFA students. Undergraduate Studio Art Majors and MFA students exhibit their work in the American University Museum, a 44,000 square foot contemporary art and academic museum, as well as the Katzen Rotunda Gallery and Katzen Kreeger Lobby. These exhibition opportunities provide professional practice at the highest standards in the field. 

In addition to our museum, Studio Art at AU is grounded in a century-long tradition of artistic inquiry and engagement with Washington, DC’s vibrant arts community. Established in 1925, the Art Department has a longstanding relationship with the city’s museums and cultural institutions, beginning with C. Law Watkins’ 1942 partnership with The Phillips Collection. This history continues today through collaborations with artists, museums, and organizations throughout the region.