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Studio Art

ARS Installation
Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery, Thesis Exhibition, "Unhomely" Catherine Katsafouros, MFA 2015

The Master of Fine Arts at the State University at Stony Brook is a flexible 60 credit three year terminal degree program combining studio practice and critical inquiry. Ideally located halfway between the art centers of New York City and the Hamptons, Stony Brook offers a unique opportunity to study in a quiet and spacious setting while maintaining close contact with the pulse of the art world. Our M.F.A. program limits its residencies to no more than 20 students. Students are provided with individual studio space at the graduate studios at Nassau Hall, a facility that also features large common spaces, shops and computers. Foundry, metals, and wood shops; a ceramics studio; darkrooms and a shooting studio; printmaking studios; and five digital labs and video facilities are located in the Staller Center. A variety of exhibition venues are available on campus. Students are expected to participate in a regular cycle of solo and group shows in the Lawrence Alloway Memorial Gallery, and to contribute work in their final year for the annual M.F.A. exhibition in the Zuccaire Art Gallery.

mfa grad mccurdy
Lawrence Alloway Memorial Gallery, Solo Thesis Exhibition, “Seven Hundred Thirty-Five” Alisha McCurdy, MFA 2012

The Department of Art also offers graduate degrees in art history and criticism with an emphasis on 20th century and contemporary art. M.F.A. candidates are encouraged to enrich their practice and studies by taking courses in art history and criticism, or in some other area of the liberal arts. They may choose to pursue one of a number of graduate certificate programs including Art and Philosophy, Cultural Studies, and Women’s Studies. A written thesis is required for completion of the M.F.A. degree. Students also gain valuable teaching experience first as observers and then as teachers of their own undergraduate level courses for a minimum of two semesters.

ye-seul studio
South Campus, MFA Headquarter, Studio View: Ye-seul Choi, MFA 2016

Application Guidelines: 

The MFA in Studio Art is a three-year, critically engaged, creative practice program, supported by a research university environment, production facilities, and spacious, private art studios, set in beautiful natural surroundings.

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Artist Portfolio Instructions:

In addition to completing theGraduate School application portal), the following application materials for the MFA in Studio Art should be emailed directly to the Department of Art graduate program admissions: GradArt@stonybrook.edu Please include your full name and MFA in Studio Art Application in the email subject line. You can send up to 25 MB in attachments, please ensure that your Artist Portfolio PDF is adequately sized for this inbox limitation. 

Please include the following application materials: 

1. Artist Portfolio: 20 visual images, slides or pages, that represent your best and recent artwork in a presentation format, packaged as a PDF document (max 25 MB). The Artist Portfolio should include image captions stating the artwork title, media/materials, and date of production (no artwork older than 3 years please). Short project descriptions (max 100 words each) can be included within the Artist Portfolio document, or a separate image captions text document may be attached. Video and durational media should be hyperlinked and playable online within a web browser (Website, Google Drive, Vimeo, YouTube, etc.).

2. Statement of Purpose / Artist Statement: (between 500 and 1000 words) artist statement, creative research, current direction, aims in pursuing graduate study.

3. Resume / CV: Curriculum Vitae, including contact information, education, exhibitions, professional experience, awards or recognitions.

(Note: these documents can also be uploaded and submitted with the official Graduate School application portal).

Stony Brook University is an equal opportunity educator/employer. AA/EOE

Graduate Program Director in Studio Art: Isak Berbic

For more info: Graduate School Bulletin

For more details: Contact Us