Students work through ideas and make them visual in the intimate, mentor-based BFA in Fine Arts program at Otis College.
In our intimate, mentor-based BFA program, students work in group studios and one-on-one—artist-to-artist—with a renowned faculty of working professionals to build skills and push boundaries. Whether you want to show your work professionally or advance to the master’s level, we prepare you for the next step. You will be prepared to pursue a wide range of careers in the art world while also having the opportunity to experiment and continually develop your practice.
What You’ll Learn
Through our Fine Arts program, students choose from three concentrations (Painting, Photography, or Sculpture/New Genres) but maintain an interdisciplinary mindset. Students can also take a structured set of special-topic electives in Drawing, Editorial Photography, Film and Video, Performance, Contemporary Clay, and Art Theory and Criticism.
Fine Arts Areas of Emphasis
A Fine Arts student can major in one of three areas of emphasis: Painting, Photography, and Sculpture / New Genres. The curriculum and requirements to graduate vary for each emphasis. Explore the respective areas for course descriptions and graduation requirements, along with student work. You can also find examples of Fine Arts electives available to students in all three program areas.
Samantha Morales
Bowl of Fruit
Painting
Learn the basic principles, techniques, and concepts of painting and drawing while translating your ideas into compelling works of art.
Bennett Brizes
You Never Kept a Single Promise You Made
Photography
Gain the technical and conceptual skills needed to analyze and make photographic works of art using different technologies and formats.
Ander Sanborn, Sonic Vibration Chamber, 2023
Sculpture / New Genres
Learn to make three-dimensional and time-based works of art, from traditional forms of sculpture to the contemporary genres of installation, performance, sound, video, film, and art and social practice.
Wilderness Class, Sun Tunnels
Electives
Expand your area of emphasis with classes in Drawing, Editorial Photography, Film and Video, Performance, Contemporary Clay, or Art Theory and Criticism.
Flourish at Otis College
Events and Lectures
Otis Fine Arts students hear from authoritative art-world speakers during Visiting Artist Lectures, the Einstein Lecture Series, and in-class lectures.
Labs and Shops
Our campus offers students full access to large painting, sculpture, and lighting studios; state-of-the-art, professionally staffed wood, metal, and model shops; photography, video, film, printmaking, and ceramics labs; and the Millard Sheets Library.
Career Possibilities
Our multidisciplinary Fine Arts curriculum helps students transform their passions into professions and lifelong practices. Otis alumni pursue a wide range of roles as studio artists, designers, performers, entrepreneurs, gallerists, and more. Some of our alumni go on to pursue graduate work at Otis College or study in the most prestigious MFA programs in the world.
Recent Graduate Careers
- Artist
- Photographer
- Videographer
- Curator
- Gallerist
- Art or Museum Educator
- Artist Assistant
- Preparator
- Muralist or Public/Community Artist
- Art/Sculpture Fabricator
- Printing/Photo Lab Technician
- Photography/Videography Assistant
- Video Editor
- Designer
- Entrepreneur
- Musician
- Performer
- Web Developer
- Archivist
- Writer
- Location Scout
- Film/Video Production Assistant
- Stylist
- Makeup Artist
- Furniture Designer/Fabricator
Fine Arts Faculty
Otis College faculty are nurturing mentors and respected creative professionals who practice across a wide range of mediums.
Department Chair, Fine Arts Assistant Chair / Associate Professor
Meg Cranston
Alex Slade
Keep Exploring
Otis prepares artists and designers for successful careers, empowering you to make a living—and make an impact—across established and emerging creative fields. Take the next stept to create your future at Otis College of Art and Design.
Explore upcoming admission deadlines as well as next steps to submitting a successful application and portfolio.
Financial aid opportunities at Otis include academic scholarships, need-based grants, loans, and work study opportunities.
Follow your talents to a satisfying career with an education from Otis College of Art and Design.