Low Residency MFA Programs
A low residency Master of Fine Arts program is designed for modern students who lead busy lives. Program designers consider the direction of 21st-century artists. As a result, this is reflected in the curriculum’s programming, which is far more flexible.
Three-Year Master of Fine Arts
This flexibly structured curriculum is open to artists, educators, curators, and historians. It combines elements from art history, poetry, philosophy, and studio work. Students are brought together over three six-week summer residencies and participate in symposia.
During the spring and fall semesters, students complete online coursework. In addition, pupils can do their studio work at home during these sessions.
Three Distinct Focal Topics
Low residency MFA programs focus on three main topics:
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Students learn to use sensory details to construct objects that mesmerize viewers.
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They must develop the creative process using thoughts, feelings, moods, and actions.
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They explore the history of perception, including the object-viewer relationship.
Summer Seminars
Summer coursework consists of weekly seminars and studio visits. During these sessions, visiting artists teach concepts on artmaking, distribution, and interpretation. These topics focus on developing professionally relevant skills in students.
Visiting Artists and Scholars
Over each summer semester, visiting artists attend the school, serving as models. They present their work at a Graduate Studio Seminar, and they also do individual visits. Often, these visitors have come to the school before, and they are welcome to visit again in the future.
Contact the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to learn more about their MFA programs.
