The University will be closed December 19, 2024 to January 5, 2025. If you need assistance during that time, please call 1-855-OWU-1842 and leave a detailed voicemail along with your contact information. One of our colleagues will respond to your call as soon as possible.
If you would like to make a 2024 gift, please make your gift before midnight on December 31.
The Fine Arts Department at Ohio Wesleyan, created in 1864, was one of America's first college art departments. Today, the department honors its distinguished tradition by focusing on the art and world of today. We value exploration and innovation across artistic media, while stressing a solid foundation in the liberal arts.
The pairing of the focused arts education with a robust liberal arts education helps student-artists develop a more confident, personal, informed, and insightful artistic vision.
Fine Arts faculty make sure students learn solid fundamental skills, a historical base, and theoretical framework, but they also encourage all students to discover and develop their unique expression.
Our alumni include successful artists working and exhibiting around the world, as well designers, educators, and entrepreneurs.
This major can be pursued as a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Majors focus on concentration(s) of their choice, including ceramics, computer imaging, drawing, graphic design, metals, painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is for students preparing to become professional artists, art teachers, graphic designers, or to enter any of the related professions. Students can elect to combine various media concentrations when creating their desired programs.
Art History majors study the art of the past in the context of its historical and cultural setting. We offer courses that cover many different periods and cultures.
The Art Education program is designed for students pursuing K-12 certification. This program prepares students for primary and secondary art, as well as art supervisory positions. Students enroll as BFA majors with additional coursework in the Education Department and supervision for student teaching coordinated with both art and education professors.
A minimum of six courses consisting of ART 110 and ART 111, two two-dimensional studio courses including ART 112 or ART 351 or both, ART 113, and one additional three-dimensional studio course. The declaration of minor form will be submitted upon completion of two required courses. Courses taken credit/no entry may not be applied toward the minor.
Six courses consisting of ART 110, ART 111, two additional art history courses, and any two studio courses. The declaration of minor form will be submitted upon completion of two required courses. Courses taken credit/no entry may not be applied toward the minor.
Professor Bogdanov says, "Love the art within yourself, don't love yourself within art." She teaches ceramics, drawing, figure drawing, and 3D design.
Professor Hobbs says, "I enjoy sharing my experiences and perspectives as a practicing artist with students in the classroom, setting up learning situations for them that challenge them to see for themselves, to think visually, and to find ways of giving shape and form to their own experience and intentions."
"My ultimate goal is to enable each student to locate their own voice and then to effectively communicate that voice using the visual language."
A medievalist, Professor Neuman deVegvar also teaches Classical, Renaissance, Baroque, and Islamic art. She has lectured and published internationally on early western medieval art, and she serves as consultant for several museums and collections in England.
Ross Museum Director Erin Fletcher (left) and Assistant Director Tammy Wallace review the 2018 Faculty Art Exhibit.
Professor Nilan displays his photography at the 2020 Faculty Art Exhibit in the Ross Art Museum.
OWU's Richard M. Ross Art Museum enriches the community, the university, and the lives of our students by mounting exhibitions of artists from around the world. The museum has four gallery spaces, and each year it hosts the BA/BFA Senior Exhibition. The museum's programming relates to and enriches the course offerings.
The Werner Student Art Gallery, operated independently by the Student Art Guild, is the showcase for student exhibitions throughout each year.
Professor Quick displays his work at the 2018 Faculty Art Exhibit in the Ross Art Museum.
Professor Bogdanov displays some of her painted ceramic work at the 2020 Faculty Art Exhibit in the Ross Art Museum.
Currently estimated at more than 150,000 images, the slide library supports all areas of visual studies in the department.
Professor Frank Hobbs stands with his work at the 2018 Faculty Art Exhibit.