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Chatham prides itself on its close relationship with Pittsburgh art institutions and museum and gallery professionals. The opportunities this provides for our students are immeasurable and include direct access to important works of art, events, internships, and other pre-professional prospects.
—ELISABETH ROARK, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Art
As part of Chatham's liberal arts focus, the Visual Arts and Art History program embraces innovation and a student-centered approach. This results in a flexible, interdisciplinary program that integrates new technology and practical experience with history, theory, and self-exploration. Click the button below to explore sample courses and curriculum.
Explore Visual Arts & Art History Curriculum : Checkerboard 1 - Courses & Curriculum
Every visual arts and art history student participates in a capstone seminar, where they channel knowledge and skills into a discipline-specific project related to their field of interest. Experienced faculty mentors provide guidance, fostering critical thinking and preparing students for future careers or studies. We also provide smart classrooms for art history classes, and subscribe to the ArtStor Digital Image Library for use in class and student research.
We also offer a joint program with Carnegie Mellon University, through which students can earn a bachelor's and Master's degree in Arts Management in as few as five years.
If one word could best sum up Chatham's faculty, it would be engaged. Professors bring their experiences to relate the course lessons to real-world situations. Meet the visual arts and art history faculty by clicking the button below.
Meet the Faculty : Checkerboard 4 - Program Faculty
Students have had internships and gained employment at institutions including The Carnegie Museum of Art, The Frick Art Museum, The Andy Warhol Museum, Peggy Guggenheim Collection (Venice, Italy), Children’s Museum, Mattress Factory, Walt Disney Company, Westmoreland Museum of American Art, and Google. Others have entered graduate school in art history, museum studies, museum education, and archives and library science.
The Susan Bergman Gurrentz ’56 Art Gallery exhibits artwork by students and by international, national, and local artists, providing students with a chance to work up close and in-person with renowned pieces of art and historical artifacts. Chatham is also within walking distance to many of Pittsburgh’s best-loved arts institutions and organizations, including the Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Music Hall, and Frick Fine Arts Museum.
View Gallery Website : Checkerboard 6 - On-Campus & Off-Campus Art
The Chatham University Collection of African Art provides students with hands-on experience, with over 800 works of African Art that include sculpture, masks, fabric beading, weaving, and domestic objects. Chatham also has an eclectic collection of paintings, sculptures, photography, and prints to which students have hands-on access and the opportunity to produce original scholarship. Works of art in the collection by locally- and nationally-known artists date from the late eighteenth century to the present day.
The museum studies minor provides students with the skills, experiences, and specific professional knowledge necessary to work in the museum field. The minor balances history and theory with practical experience designing and installing exhibitions and preparing educational programming. Students interact with museum and gallery professionals through frequent field trips to local and regional museums.
Explore the Chatham Catalog : Checkerboard 8 - Museum Studies Minor
