Bachelor of Fine Arts - Art Practice

Portland State University

Art practice is the exploration of studio art experiences and processes with an emphasis on developing creative vision. Portland State University's (PSU) Art Practice program goes beyond the physical activities of making to include idea generation, influences, materials, tools and methods. Students offer an interdisciplinary approach with an emphasis on current trends in contemporary art.

PSU's Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art Practice provides students with the knowledge and skills designed to prepare them for a fulfilling career as a practicing artist. It’s a flexible degree that allows students to design an individual path of study based on their interests and goals. PSU strives to acquaint students with fundamental concepts while nurturing their own unique vision.

Students will start off in their innovative Core program, which offers them the foundational toolkit they'll need to succeed. Core courses foster community and excitement for the diverse ways artists engage in creative life and provides learning situations that open up those possibilities.

PSU faculty, who are all active makers as well as educators, will mentor students along their path in small classes with frequent one-on-one instruction. As students progress as an art practice major, they will experience a variety of traditional media including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, and textiles. But students might also be intrigued by time-based arts that have a durational dimension, such as film, video, sound, and performance art.

PSU are leaders in the pioneering field of Art + Social Practice. Instead of making art as objects, this field focuses on collaborative experiences and interaction between the artist and cultural systems through activism and social engagement.