Studio Art

In its Studio Art major, Wake Forest believes that when a student creates a painting or a photograph or a print or a sculpture, the art shapes, traces and molds the creator-student. In this process, the benefits transcend the satisfaction of a job well done; they engender responsibility, courage and tenacity. They equip graduates to begin a wide variety of career paths.

• As of July 2025, the John P. Anderson Collection of Student Art contains 471 works in its online home.
• Studio Art majors are excelling as an Air Force pilot; an event planner in Hollywood; marketing directors; interior designers; art therapists; finance professionals; attorneys; a national television journalist; doctors; and in a wide variety of other areas.

The Studio Art degree is offered as a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a minor.

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Our model and curriculum educate the whole person and often help students discover interests they had never previously discovered. Students generally take 100-200 level courses during their first year of college, while registering for higher level courses as upperclassmen.

Sample courses that you may take as a Studio Art student include:

* Courses listed above are offered during the current academic year. Course availability and offerings can change at any time. Refer to the Academic Bulletin to view all major requirements.

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The Department of Art offers small class sizes, one-on-one instruction, careful mentoring, interdisciplinary flexibility and a strong commitment to the liberal arts. Studying art at Wake Forest can prepare you for a career that combines the study of art with a wide variety of other interests. Studio Art offers courses and concentrations in drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and digital art.

Example additional opportunities for Art majors include:

• Exhibit work at START Gallery in Reynolda Village, Hanes Art Gallery, or downtown Winston Salem venues.
• Curate exhibitions, exhibit and sell your work, and gain experience in a professional gallery setting at START: WFU Student Art Gallery.
• Seek internships in museums and cultural organizations.
• The Management in the Visual Arts course offers business and art students the opportunity to travel to New York City for an exceptional and privileged look into the inner workings of the “Art World”.
• The Art Department’s Annual Overnight Trip to Washington DC is an immersive art experience.
• Honors in Art History offers the opportunity to develop an original research project and thesis.

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Joining a club or organization is a great way to get involved and do more with your major. Our Studio Art students participate in the following programs:

• START Gallery
• Hanes Art Gallery
• Reynolda House

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Careers that often interest Studio Art majors, and fields our graduates work in, include:

• Advertising Professional
• Architect
• Art Advisor
• Art Dealer
• Art Educator K-12
• Art Historian
• Art Therapist
• Art Writer
• Artist
• Auction House Specialist
• Conservator
• Curator
• Exhibition Design
• Fashion Designer
• Graphic Designer
• Interior Designer
• Marketing
• Marketing Professional
• Medical Illustrator
• Museum Educator
• Preparator
• Professor
• Registrar
• Visual Resources Librarian

Studio Art graduates include an NBA team executive; an executive at SoFi; Google; financial analysts; graphic designers; luxury hotel administrators; doctors; marketing directors; and architects, among others.