ABOUT ART PRACTICES

Art Practices provides a comprehensive education in visual art practices, which includes creative influences, ideas, materials, tools and skills, as well as theory and art history, with an emphasis on current trends in contemporary art. Art Practices is designed for students whose creative ideas move across media and who are looking for a more comprehensive critical approach to developing their art practice. The program provides students with focused professional skills in two self-selected areas of studio art to develop a fully formed and thoughtful body of work with conceptual impact.

The work of contemporary artists is a dynamic combination of materials, methods, concepts, and subjects that challenges traditional assumptions and definitions. Contemporary artists give voice to the varied and changing landscapes of identity, values, and beliefs in the increasingly global culture of our diverse and technologically advancing world. Artists today explore ideas, concepts, questions, and practices that examine the past, describe the present, and imagine the future. This program is designed to address the needs of students looking to become successful emerging artists with the skills to become active individuals in the art world through multiple outlets— both exhibition/sales routes as well as arts education and business employment.

Primary And Secondary Areas Of Concentration

Students may choose from two areas for their primary emphasis: Painting & Drawing OR Transmedia Sculpture. They then select a secondary emphasis. 

Wondering how to decide on which combination of areas to choose for Art Practices concentrations? First think about the type of work that you create or wish to create. Expand each section to learn more about the types of art focused on through each primary and secondary area of concentration. 

PAINTING & DRAWING W/ ILLUSTRATION OR PHOTOGRAPHY

Refined 2D flat work that can be marketed in multiple venues and professions—both gallery and commercial.

TRANSMEDIA SCULPTURE W/ ILLUSTRATION OR PHOTOGRAPHY

Refined 3D object-based work that can be marketed in multiple venues and professions—both gallery and commercial.

or

Work that is 4D (works of video, performance art, installation art, sound art, and other time-based, technology-driven and/or interactive works.

TRANSMEDIA SCULPTURE W/ PAINTING & DRAWING

Spatial mixed media and object work.

PAINTING & DRAWING W/ TRANSMEDIA SCULPTURE

Painterly work that considers space and environment.

 

Where Do Art Practices Graduates Find Careers?

Graduates exhibit work in galleries and museums, produce commissioned work, operate businesses in the arts, create public art and performance art, and collaborate within national arts collectives. Visual Arts alums own galleries such Foolproof Contemporary Art, are fabricators at Swanson Stone, collaborate with Meow Wolf, and chair major arts programs.

 

Class Of 2020 Student Work

Art Practices combines the work of illustration, painting and drawing, photography, transmedia sculpture. Check out the amazing work of the Class of 2020.

 

For more information about the Art History emphasis, contact the College of Arts & Media at CAMinfo@ucdenver.edu or call 303-315-7487.

For full information about degree requirements and curriculum visit the program page on the CU Denver catalog.