Department of Art and Art History
Introduction
The Department of Art and Art History at UNC–Chapel Hill fosters exchange among creative endeavor, scholarly investigation, and bold expression, through faculty research, graduate student training, undergraduate programs, and public events. The department aims to be an integral part of the University community dedicated to free inquiry that is pursued through both the arts and sciences and expressed in objects, images and text.
Through an innovative and rigorous curriculum, students learn the critical skills of creative problem solving and self-expression. The undergraduate programs aim to help students articulate their individual perspectives on values and beliefs while discovering their places in a society that is increasingly shaped by visual communications, technology, and globalization. To do so, students develop their creative and scholarly vision and the technical skills to express that vision through their works of art and writing. The highly rated graduate programs in art history and studio art promote these ideals on an advanced level, and have proven their effectiveness through the post-graduate placement and national awards that students receive.
- Mission: Make | Frame | Reveal
- Vision: Thinking and Creating across Boundaries
- Values: The curiosity, empathy, and courage to engage diverse perspectives
As a department, we are committed to working closely with our students and to guiding them in developing an individual voice. We cultivate exchange between studio art and art history and offer maximum flexibility within our individual programs.
Majors and minors in art history become acquainted with the historical significance, cultural diversity, and intellectual richness of human artistic traditions, enabling students to investigate the complex roles played by the arts in a variety of social contexts.
The studio art program offers three different degree programs for majors as well as a minor, and each encourages experimentation, crossing boundaries, and hybrid processes as well as engaging the history and traditions of art. Through directed practice and creative research, faculty work closely with students to stimulate aesthetic and intellectual inquiry, impart portable skills, and motivate self-exploration to help students create outstanding works of art.
Students may choose from a range of studio coursework designed to develop both skills and a personal creative vision. Students develop two critical skills: the means of self-expression and techniques for creative thinking. While the undergraduate program focuses on the fine arts, the course of study nonetheless offers a sound foundation for students to move into art education, design fields, and other art-related careers as well as preparation for further study or careers in the fine arts.
Credit by Examination
Art History
Students who pass the Advanced Placement (AP) examination in art history and earn a score of 3 will receive credit for ARTH 152.
Studio Art
Students who pass the AP portfolio exam for Art 2-D or Art 3-D with a score of 3 receive three hours of ARTS elective credit. An AP score of 4 or 5 on the Art 2-D or Art 3-D receives credit for ARTS 102, and ARTS 103, respectively. Students earning a score of 4 or higher on the IB portfolio receive credit for ARTS 104.
Advanced Placement by Portfolio Review
Art majors who have not pursued AP or IB coursework in high school yet have broad experience in visual art may petition to waive some prerequisites by submitting a portfolio for review. If the review is successful, students receive placement only. Students then substitute any other ARTS coursework to satisfy the total credit hours required in the major. Portfolio requirements are modeled after the College Board Advanced Placement portfolios. These guidelines are available from the director of undergraduate studies in studio art, the student services specialist. Portfolios are reviewed annually in September only. Contact the director of undergraduate studies in studio art at the beginning of the fall semester to make arrangements for submitting a portfolio.
Advising
Two Advisors
All majors and minors have two advisors; a primary academic advisor in the Academic Advising Program and departmental advisors for program-specific planning. Students are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with both advisors and review their Tar Heel Tracker each semester. The undergraduate advisors in art history and studio art work with current and prospective majors and minors by appointment. On request, art history majors may be assigned an individual faculty advisor. Departmental academic advising is particularly important for those majors who are considering honors thesis work or graduate school.
Information, Announcements, and Sessions
If curricular opportunities or changes affect all majors and minors in either programmatic area of the department, students receive an advisory announcement with relevant details via the art and art history majors' listserv. For issues too complex for email communication, general advising sessions are scheduled before registration. Students are strongly encouraged to attend these sessions, as they often address questions of broad relevance.
Additionally, special information sessions are held periodically to provide guidance on awards and scholarship opportunities, study abroad programs, internships, and research opportunities. These include the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF), the Allcott Travel Fellowship, Studio Art Scholarship opportunities, and Pearman grants, among others. Announcements for these sessions are shared via the majors' listserv and posters in the Hanes Art Center and Art Lab. Detailed information and application procedures are available on the department website.
Course Enrollment and Audit Policies
Studio Art
During the fall and spring registration periods, enrollment in studio art (ARTS) courses is temporarily restricted to declared studio art majors and minors to ensure they can complete their degree requirements on time. Students outside the studio art program may enroll only after the restriction period ends — no exceptions. To check restriction dates, refer to the “Notes” section in ConnectCarolina under ARTS course listings.
Enrollment restrictions do not apply to the following ARTS courses:
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Honors courses
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First-Year Seminars
Auditing Policy
Due to the participatory nature of studio courses, limited classroom space, and potential safety hazards, auditing ARTS courses by current students or community members is not permitted. However, prospective auditors are encouraged to consider art history courses, which may be audited with instructor consent.
Facilities
Classrooms and Studios
The department offers exceptional facilities for both art history and studio art in the Hanes Art Center. It includes state-of-the-art image projection equipment for art history courses and specialized classrooms for various art practices. Large studios are available for painting, drawing, and mixed media, with a dedicated space for installation projects.
The John C. Henry Printmaking Studio is a spacious 3,325-square-foot lab that supports various printmaking processes. Photography studios include both a darkroom for black-and-white photography and a digital photography studio, along with a dedicated shooting studio. The digital laboratories at UNC-Chapel Hill are Mac-based, equipped with the latest software for photography (including large-scale output), video, and digital/electronic media. UNC provides students with access to the entire Adobe Creative Suite. Students enrolled in studio art classes have 24-hour access to these labs.
Additionally, the Art Lab — a 17,686-square-foot facility located 1.8 miles north of the Hanes Art Center at 108 Airport Drive — houses the department's sculpture and ceramics facilities.
The Hanes Art Center is also home to one of UNC’s BeAM (Be A Maker) makerspaces, offering a variety of hand tools and high-tech machines, including a vinyl cutter, 3-D printers, laser cutter, and CNC router. All equipment is available to students at no charge.
Libraries
Department of Art and Art History resources also include the Joseph C. Sloane Art Library with its collection of 100,000 volumes, which is supplemented by the University’s academic affairs libraries, with holdings of more than six million volumes. The Sloane Art Library also houses a unique collection of Artist's Books. The department also has a Visual Resources Library, which oversees almost 300,000 slides and digital images for use in teaching and research.
Exhibition Spaces
The John and June Allcott Galleries in the Hanes Art Center host numerous exhibitions throughout the year. The main gallery features 12 to 15 shows annually, showcasing work by professional artists, faculty, and students. The John and June Allcott Undergraduate Gallery is specifically designed to showcase work created or selected by undergraduate students.
The SAMple Gallery, located within the Hanes Art Center, is operated by the Studio Art Majors Association (SAMA) to display work by SAMA members.
The Alumni Sculpture Garden surrounds the Hanes Art Center and features temporary sculpture exhibitions commissioned by the department, displayed for a two-year period. A special class is organized each year to create collaborative works for the Sculpture Garden.
Adjacent to the Hanes Art Center is the Ackland Art Museum, which regularly offers programming that enhances the educational experience for the University community.
Majors
Minors
Graduate Programs
- Master of Art in Art History, M.A.
- Master of Fine Arts in Art, M.F.A.
- Doctor of Philosophy in Art History, Ph.D.
Courses
Professors
Christoph Brachmann, Maggie Cao, Beth Grabowski, Jim Hirschfield, Annette Lawrence, Cary Levine, Carol Magee, Yun-Dong Nam, Victoria Rovine, Daniel J. Sherman, Hong-An Truong, Lien Truong.
Associate Professors
John Bowles, Eduardo Douglas, Mario Marzán, Roxana Pérez-Méndez, Tatiana String.
Assistant Professors
Kathryn Desplanque, Sherrill Roland, Martín Wannam, Meng Zhao.
Teaching Assistant Professors
Adrian Martinez Chavez, Jennifer J. Bauer.
Adjunct Professor
Bob Goldstein (Biology).
Adjunct Associate Professor
Hérica Valladares (Classics).
Adjunct Assistant Professors
Carolyn Allmendinger (Ackland Art Museum), Dana Cowen (Ackland Art Museum), Timothy Shea (Classics).
Adjunct Professor of the Practice
Elizabeth Manekin (Ackland Art Museum).
Professors Emeriti
Jaroslav T. Folda, Joy Cox, Sabine Gruffat, Arthur Marks, Jerry Noe, Mary Pardo, Marvin Saltzman, elin o'Hara slavick, Mary C. Sturgeon, Dorothy Verkerk, Lyneise Williams.
Chair
Annette Lawrence
