MFA in Studio Art

The TCU School of Art invites applications to its fully funded MFA in Studio Art. Over the course of three years, the MFA program prioritizes individual studio practice, dedicated mentorship from faculty, and interdisciplinary seminars designed to help artists develop sustainable and impactful artistic practices. All MFA students automatically receive full tuition funding, regardless of background or citizenship status. The application deadline for fall 2024 enrollment is February 12, 2024.

About the MFA program: The TCU MFA is a three-year, fulltime, residency program and culminates in a Master of Fine Arts degree, with optional concentrations in painting, printmaking, photography, new media, or sculpture. The program is highly selective with an annual cohort of no more than four students. Every enrolled student receives a full tuition waiver, competitive stipend, and 75% health insurance coverage.

The program’s focus is studio work, with emphasis on critical thinking about the creative process and the role of the artist in the world. Students attend graduate seminars each semester exploring various topics, such as the present and historical functions of art criticism and theory, contemporary art history, and artist professionalization. Years two and three include opportunities for teaching and teaching-assistantship, and in the second summer, MFA students receive funding for a three-week summer residency led by faculty in Italy.

MFA students enjoy their own private studio and 24-hour access to the School of Art’s J. M. Moudy Building, an architectural landmark designed by Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo & Associates. Workspace facilities include painting studios with natural north light; print shop supporting intaglio, lithography, silkscreen; sculpture workshops for wood, metal, as well as digital fabrication; foundry for bronze and aluminum casting; ceramics studio with gas and electric kilns and dedicated raku firing area; new media lab containing high-end computing stations, electronics prototyping tools, and robotics fabrication workspaces; and a photography suite that includes wet darkroom, lighting studio, two digital labs, and state of the art equipment from Imacon scanners to large-format Epson printers. To enrich their academic experience, graduate students are encouraged to apprentice in area galleries and museums, including the Art Galleries at TCU.

TCU is a secular, private university, and a major institution of higher education in Texas. The School of Art is a part of TCU’s College of Fine Arts, which includes other creative disciplines in the School of Music, School for Classical & Contemporary Dance, and the Department of Theatre.

Art and Dallas-Fort Worth: Located in Fort Worth, the TCU School of Art enjoys close relationships with artists and arts organizations throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Fort Worth boasts internationally renowned museums such as the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, the Kimbell Art Museum, and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. Students can also expect to engage artist communities located throughout North Texas, especially Dallas which is home to several contemporary art venues such as the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and the annual Dallas Art Fair. DFW International Airport is a 30-minute drive to campus and provides nonstop flights to major national and international destinations.

Visiting artists, critics, curators, and scholars frequently join the School of Art for colloquia, special lectures, and studio visits. Past visitors have included: Christina Fernandez, Joanna Szupinska, María Elena Ortiz, Jessica Fuentes, Maggie Adler, Mark Bradford, Amelia Jones, Jeremy Strick, Lovie Olivia, Keer Tanchak, Megan Solis, Lava Thomas, Jules Balincourt, Sandow Birk, Valerie Hegarty, Maya Ruznic, Josh Hagler, Wendy White, and Riva Lehrer.

The TCU School of Art is accepting MFA applications for fall 2024 enrollment through February 12, 2024. For more information visit the School of Art website. Further information and application instructions can be found here.