MFA in Art

Six full scholarships available. Fall 2027 application deadline: February 1, 2027. Apply here: MFA Art admission instructions / Meadows Graduate application.

See profiles of current MFA graduate students, Art faculty and Art History faculty. See happenings in the Division of Art on Instagram.

Upcoming virtual events
- November 5 (Thursday): MFA Art Close-Up, 6–7:30pm (CST)
Register here*
*Applicants who register for and attend this virtual MFA Art Close-Up will receive an application fee waiver.

- November 15 (Sunday): National Portfolio Day, 11am–3pm (CST)
Register here

For more information contact: Meadows Graduate Admissions, meadowsgrad@smu.edu / T 214-768-3217.

Program
A highly selective two-year program, the MFA in Art by SMU Meadows School of the Arts in Dallas, Texas prepares artists for professional careers in art. MFA students develop a substantial body of artwork and gain an understanding of the relevant contexts within which artists and their works function. The program is intended as an intensive period of focused study that culminates in the MFA. qualifying exhibition at SMU’s Pollock Gallery.

As a part of the larger urban R1 research university, MFA students are supported in the exploration of a wide range of materials, media, processes and histories across disciplines. SMU provides graduate students with studio spaces, access to facilities, and faculty expertise in ceramics, drawing, installation, new media, painting, performance, photography, printmaking, sculpture, sound and time-based media. The Division of Art embraces and celebrates human diversity in all its forms, including race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.

In addition to faculty actively engaged in exhibition and research at the highest levels, the Division of Art hosts an ongoing series of lectures, exhibitions, and studio visits by artists, critics, and curators, which are a crucial part of the graduate and undergraduate curricula.

Scholarships and insurance
SMU offers up to six full scholarships, covering full tuition and related fees, supplemented by teaching/graduate assistantships. The program also covers the individual premium for the SMU Student Health Insurance Plan. Additional funds are available for materials and travel related to students’ creative research at the Division, School, and University levels.

Recent visiting artists
Ifeanyi Anene, Stefan Chinov, Jovencio De La Paz, Hiroyuki Hamada, Tamiko Kawata, Aitor Lajarin-Encina, David MacDonald, Yuko Nishikawa, Signé Pierce, Alice Shintani, Nyugen Smith, Raychael Stine, Maiko Sugano, Grace Sachi Troxell, Marc Trujillo, Akira Yamaguchi.

The Division of Art also welcomes artists from the Corsicana Artist and Writer Residency.

Dallas Arts District
Dallas continues to invest in the largest arts district in the country, located a few minutes from campus, in which the Meadows School plays a growing role. The Division of Art seeks artists who wish to participate in the diverse arts opportunities available throughout Dallas-Fort Worth and the North Texas region. Some of the new initiatives for MFA students in DFW are: DC NTX Graduate Student Program and CADD MFA Showcase. See list of DFW art spaces, organizations, and institutions here.