Director’s Message

The MFA & PhD programs in Visual Art offer candidates the context in which to develop a well-articulated and informed body of work and to enhance their theoretical knowledge. In addition, lasting friendships and professional connections are forged in this diverse and tightly-knit artistic community. Some graduates may have the opportunity to teach in our undergraduate studio art and art history program—which is a great experience if you are considering a career in academia.

Graduates of our program have an established history of contributing to the contemporary Canadian art scene. Our students are recipients of numerous awards including the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, the Canadian Graduate Scholarship, the CIBC Fine Arts Graduate Award, and the Samuel Sarick Purchase Award. A significant number of alumni continue to achieve national and international success as artists, curators, and educators.

Working closely with our studio and art history faculty who serve on supervisory committees, grads will be engaging with, reflecting upon, and enriching their practice-based research. Our graduate programs are part of a vibrant intellectual and creative faculty of AMPD |Arts, Media, Performance and Design and the larger university that leads to a unique and creative dialogue between disciplines. Throughout the year, we organize an exciting program of guest lectures and studio visits with artists and curators from the GTA art community, and beyond.

The Graduate Seminar, Methods in Practice-Based Research, two theory courses and the annual Goldfarb Summer Institute form the core of the first-year curriculum. In addition, some students can take courses in the joint MBA / MFA program, drawing upon combined resources of the Schulich School of Business and the Visual Art Graduate Program. Second-year MFA and Doctoral programs culminate in thesis and doctoral exhibitions on campus and elsewhere, which are always the highlight of our program.

While continuing your art practice and undertaking the required coursework, we offer graduates a private studio, and 24-7 access to studio facilities including state-of-the-art photography, print media, and sculpture production areas.

Please visit our website to read more about us, our students, faculty and special events. Also, check out our exhibition website vaahartspaces.com

I am available to any of your questions about our program or book a tour of our amazing facilities!

Nina Levitt
Graduate Program Director

_{A photo of Professor Nina Levitt}