about_us
Department of Art and Art History
 

Art History    .    Design  .    Studio Art    .    Visual Art Studies + Art Education

Chair's Welcome

Lee R. Chesney

Lee R. Chesney – Interim Chair

On behalf of the Department of Art and Art History, I would like to welcome you to the departmental website. With a distinguished faculty of over 80 artists, designers, art historians, and art educators; a diverse body of nearly 750 bright and motivated undergraduate and graduate students; and a dedicated and skilled staff, the Department of Art and Art History comprises the four divisions of Studio Art, Design, Art History, and Visual Art Studies / Art Education and a robust Foundations Program. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the department embraces and exemplifies the best practices in the pursuit of its mission to provide the State of Texas, the nation, and the world with well-educated and highly qualified artists, designers, scholars, and art educators.

In 2010, the Department opened its new Visual Arts Center (VAC). The VAC is positioned as a place for the intersection of art education and art evolution, in which members of a diverse art community have the opportunity to conduct ongoing experiments in visual expression. Comprising 25,000 square feet, the VAC is a spectacular solution to the department’s long-unmet need for exhibition, education, and research space. Designed by renowned San Antonio architects Lake | Flato, the VAC features premiere, state-of-the-art exhibition galleries, exciting programming, and a new, more welcoming entrance to the department through the Kayem Arbor.

Our facilities, activities, and programs support a variety of guest artists and guest lecturers. I hope you will regularly visit the Calendar of Events to remain informed of upcoming exhibitions, lectures, symposia, events, and activities. I am very proud to share with you the exciting Undergraduate Programs, Graduate Programs, and Special Programs that make us one of the outstanding art and art history programs in the country.

 

Mission Statements

Core Mission of the Department of Art and Art History

Core Mission of the College of Fine Arts

Core Mission of the University of Texas at Austin