With 24-hour access to studio space, small classes with robust supplies, rewarding internship and hands-on learning opportunities, and our unique interdisciplinary connections to the Wells Book Arts Center as well as other departments and campus resources, the visual arts program offers unique and engaging opportunities for anyone with a passion for creating art. Our liberal arts curriculum, culminating in a bachelor of arts degree, provides a broad base of ideas you can draw from, positioning you for success in diverse career paths. As a visual arts major at Wells, you’ll also enjoy the connected, collaborative learning environment of a small college while having access to a vast network of resources and opportunities in the surrounding New York art community and beyond. Visual arts majors can focus studies in art history, studio art, and book arts.
Learn about different cultures and epochs of the past while gaining a deeper understanding of today's world through the study of art history. In addition to the required art history courses in the major, you should take two courses from history and/or religion. Art History is available as a concentration within the Visual Arts major or as a minor.
Produce your own work and receive individualized instruction in painting, drawing, two- and three-dimensional design, sculpture, photography, ceramics, new media and other areas of creative expression in the studio art concentration. As a graduating senior, you’ll work in a close cohort to develop and mount your thesis exhibition in the String Room Gallery as the capstone to your undergraduate work. Studio art is available as a concentration within the Visual Arts major or as a standalone minor.
Learn first-hand the traditions and history of the book through courses in printing, bookbinding, calligraphy, and other topics. In the Book Arts concentration, you'll work with skilled instructors on campus and through internships at prestigious institutions, preparing you for graduate programs in book arts and conservation. As a graduating senior, you'll work in a close cohort to develop and mount your thesis as a print edition or exhibition in the String Room Gallery as the capstone to your undergraduate work. Book Arts is available as a concentration within the Visual Arts major or as a minor. Learn more about the Book Arts Center at Wells.
Our visual arts program emphasizes flexibility and self-discovery, supported by a level of individual attention and one-on-one mentorship you won't find at many universities. We're a small college with small classes, but you won't have to wait for studio time or equipment. Wells is also centrally located to the major art capitals of the eastern United States, with a strong regional culture of art production in and around Aurora, N.Y. We travel often to look at art and work in the field, and bring visiting artists and critics to campus as well in partnership with the String Room Gallery.
As a visual arts major, you'll have a variety of opportunities to interact with working artists and develop your craft through responsive coursework, internships and many forms of experiential learning. You'll work towards the design and execution of your own senior thesis art exhibition, preparing you for experiences and careers beyond undergraduate study.
Learn how to curate and install an exhibition for the public, and hold an opening reception as a student assistant with the String Room Gallery. Create a cohesive body of work and plan your own senior thesis exhibition. Interact closely with working artists through internship programs as well as our partnerships with galleries, museums, and archives in the local New York region and beyond. As a visual arts major at Wells, you’ll have abundant opportunities for hands-on learning to prepare you for real-world endeavors.
These are just a few of the internships in the field of visual arts held by Wells students in recent years:
Paint from a rooftop in Florence as you study Renaissance art at its roots. Or pursue your artistic vision in Japan, England or Germany. Visual Arts majors can pursue programs around the world. Learn more about study abroad programs at Wells.
Visual arts majors can enhance their work in the studio and classroom by participating in student life—especially cultural activities. Here are a few opportunities that might catch your interest:
A bachelor’s degree in visual arts from Wells College will prepare you for a variety of careers and professional opportunities. Graduates of our program work in museums, art galleries, and art studios, as well as fields such as art therapy, communications and media. Others have gone on to prestigious graduate school programs to pursue further study in the arts. A visual arts major can also lead to jobs with educational nonprofits, historical societies, marketing, libraries and a variety of other settings.
Take the first step toward earning your bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts at Wells College. Apply now.
Ready to learn more about Wells College and our Visual Arts Bachelor of Arts program? Request more information.
