Combine the benefits of an MFA and a visual arts residency in one program. Fit your arts education into your life with an MFA Visual Studies Low Residency program.
Master of Fine Arts
Graduate
60
3 Years
PNCA Campus
Alumni of the low-residency MFA program in visual studies have gone on to be successful artists, designers, educators, and curators. Because the program taught them how to maintain a creative practice alongside daily life, our low-res graduates are prepared for their careers. Learn more about their impact on the art world.
Awarded the MFA Grant Award from the Joan Mitchell Foundation upon graduation, Samantha Wall has received the Arlene Schnitzer Prize and been a semi-finalist for the Contemporary Northwest Art Awards; her work, represented by Russo Lee Gallery, has been featured in solo and group exhibitions regionally and nationally, including The Loving Festival in New Orleans and A Likeness at The Archer Gallery in Vancouver, WA.
Joe Bun Keo is a Khmer (Cambodian) American artist working and residing in Connecticut. In 2023 he received the Real Art Award and a solo exhibition at Real Art Ways in Hartford. He is also a recipient of the Artist Fellowship Emerging Recognition from the Connecticut Office of Arts. Joe’s work focuses on unpacking intergenerational trauma through the scope of neomaterialism, the most recent iteration the Duchampian school of thought on readymades and found objects.
Our faculty members have received recognition from their peers in the art world and the general public. They have created impactful work and are engaged with their communities. Connect one-on-one to receive guidance on your creative journey. Learn from PNCA faculty and art professionals in the Portland community and beyond.
Ryan Pierce offers students exceptional mentorship and teaching in professional practices. Known for his evocative paintings and prints that explore ecological resilience amidst climate chaos, he brings a rich background of international exhibitions, prestigious grants, and extensive teaching experience.
Dr. Brigitte Salami, Associate Professor of Art History at PNCA, offers students a rich exploration of World Art with a specialization in African Art. With extensive field research in Nigeria and a foundation in postcolonial theory, she brings a global and contemporary perspective to her teaching.
In this mentor-based program, you will complete work under the guidance of a professional artist throughout the year. During the summer residency program, students participate in seminars, visiting artist talks, and studio practice. This curriculum is designed to help students develop a self-directed studio practice.
Our program thoughtfully pairs each student with an experienced professional artist who acts as a mentor. This one-on-one relationship fosters a highly customized educational experience.
Take advantage of tools, equipment, workstations, and production areas at our Portland campus and at our Glass Building. Learn more about the facilities available to students in the program.
The Low Residency MFA in Visual Studies program includes a blend of Graduate Studio courses, Critique Seminars, and Contemporary Art Seminars. Students engage with the Visiting Artist Lecture Series, and participate in Mentor Guided Independent Studies, Library Research, and Winter Reviews. Critical Studies, Art History, and Professional Practice are also integral to the program. The program culminates in Thesis Writing and a final Graduate Studio course dedicated to their thesis.
Hallie Ford School of Graduate Studies offers renewable Merit Scholarships to students who demonstrate aptitude in their areas of creative practice. Merit scholarships are assessed based on the strength of the student’s application. In awarding merit scholarships we consider each student’s portfolio (if applying to a studio-based program), personal history of scholastic achievement, as well as their contributions to culture and community. Consideration is also given to traditionally underrepresented students and those who demonstrate financial need. No separate application is required to be considered for merit scholarships.
Willamette University