Studio Art Concentrations
Choose Your Path to Success
The Studio Art program at UNC Asheville offers six distinct concentrations that allow students to explore and deepen their creative practice in a chosen medium. Students can focus on ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture—each providing a strong foundation in both technical skill and conceptual development. These concentrations encourage personal expression, critical thinking, and hands-on experience, preparing students for careers in the arts or further study in graduate programs. Students interested in teaching can also pursue K–12 art licensure through a coordinated pathway with the Education Department. In just four years, you can graduate with both a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art and a teaching license—making you marketable in two areas.
Ceramics
The Ceramics concentration at UNC Asheville immerses students in a rich, hands‑on exploration of clay as both functional craft and sculptural medium. You’ll engage deeply with ceramic materials and firing techniques—including electric, gas, wood, raku, and vapor kilns—while mastering traditional processes like hand‑building, wheel‑throwing, and mold‑making. Alongside building technical proficiency, you’ll also develop your artistic voice through conceptual and contemporary forming practices. The program is supported by a dedicated faculty and a well‑equipped studio featuring fourteen pottery wheels and a range of kilns, fostering both technical skill and creative innovation
Drawing
All studio art majors begin their practice with drawing, the heart of the visual arts, in which the strength of our foundations program is emphasized through traditional observational studies that explore materials, mark making, sighting techniques, and formal concepts – all vital for mastery in the medium. Upper levels of drawing emphasize the development of conceptual ideas through extensive research, exploration, and alternative processes focused on the understanding of drawing as it relates to contemporary practice and its expanding boundaries. Students within the drawing concentration graduate with sophistication towards the medium and the ability to professionally articulate concepts through writing, public speaking, and imagery.
Painting
Painting at UNC Asheville emphasizes learning through inquiry, blending traditional techniques with cross-disciplinary exploration. Students build skills in acrylic, oil, and mixed media, supported by a strong foundation in drawing, color, and design. Advanced courses focus on independent work and contemporary practices, culminating in a senior exhibition and research paper. Student projects range from large-scale narrative paintings to experimental works incorporating animation, fabric, and mixed materials.
Photography
Students are introduced to photography in their first-year Applied Media program. The first course in the photography sequence is Introduction to Photography, where students learn black-and-white photography skills through the exploration of early photographic techniques, camera use, and basic darkroom techniques. The Intermediate level is a continuation of the introductory class with shared emphasis on 20th-century photographic trends and mastering advanced black-and-white darkroom techniques and alternative processes. Upper-level courses, utilizing both black-and-white and color digital photography, allow students to explore the nature of photography as a social and cultural recording as well as a means of self-expression and exploration, culminating in the development of personal style and idea in a cohesive body of work.
Printmaking
The printmaking department supports students who want to use intaglio, stone lithography, photo lithography, relief and/or monotypes as the vehicle for their creative expression. Exposure to traditional techniques is given while freedom of contemporary exploration is fostered. The combination of the concentrations two full-time faculty and visiting artists provide students critical individual and group critiques to aid in the development of mature and sophisticated bodies of work.
Sculpture
The sculpture concentration at UNC Asheville embraces both traditional craftsmanship and contemporary innovation. Students gain hands-on experience with processes like forging, casting, and metal or wood fabrication, while also exploring experimental approaches involving sound, light, video, performance, installation, and social engagement. Emphasizing strong design and material understanding, the program encourages students to push boundaries and develop a personal sculptural practice that reflects both historical foundations and evolving artistic contexts.
Teacher Licensure in Art
Interested in becoming an art teacher? You can pair UNC Asheville's art program with our K-12 teaching licensure program. Through courses from both the art and education departments, you can hone your craft while also preparing for a rewarding career as an art teacher. After graduation, you are equipped for state licensure exams.
Ready for what's next?
Discover your true potential in UNC Asheville’s art programs as you delve into one of our six dynamic concentrations tailored to ignite your creative spark and deepen your knowledge of history, critique, and craft. Whether you want to hone your fine skills, prepare for graduate school, or enter the field of education, our major can help you achieve your goals.