Studio Arts & Arts Administration Major
At A Glance
Program Type
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Accreditation
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Experience
100% of art and design students complete an internship in their field before they graduate
Variety
Customize your program by studying sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, print media, ceramics and more
Are you drawn to beauty and are eager to understand your creative side through the context of God as our Creator? Maybe you’ve wondered if a career in the art world was possible. We’re here to tell you that it is!
There are careers to be had in art! The industry is growing across the nation, and our alumni are thriving as professional painters, running educational programs, curating galleries, installing exhibitions, and, best of all, getting paid to do what they love!
Where Can a Career in Art Take You?
Our major prepares you for a wide range of possible career paths in the industry. As a studio arts major, you will:
- Be equipped to develop, manage and direct creative organizations
- Learn the historic, curatorial and business administration skills needed to pursue a career in the leadership and management of arts-related organizations as part of the major's arts administration emphasis
- Get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run an arts organization, facilitate community events, and curate an exhibition through working with George Fox’s galleries and existing art collection, regional nonprofits, and arts institutions
Collaborate with Fellow Creators
Our studio arts major fosters the development of collaborative, resourceful, and creative makers who work in a research-based practice informed by contemporary and historical art and culture.
We work in a variety of two- and three-dimensional media including, but not limited to, sculpture, painting, drawing, photography and lens-based media, print media, and utilitarian ceramics.
Creative Thinking and Technical Precision
We place an emphasis on critical thinking, problem-solving, and risk-taking throughout the program, encouraging you to develop the confidence to experiment and the self-reliance to become a courageous life-long learner.
Instruction in technical competencies and skills of the studio practice is partnered with conceptual strengthening projects and polished off with professional and business practice capstone work to send our emergent practitioners out equipped for a life of successful creating and earning.
Program Distinctives Why Study Studio Arts & Administration at George Fox?
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You’ll learn from professors who are dedicated Christians and be part of a family-oriented community where you will be known, encouraged and heard.
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You’ll have multiple opportunities to create work on commission and sell your art at local First Fridays and other events.
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Our robust mural program and deep ties to the creative industry in our region provides you with multiple touch points to practice your work.
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You will get the opportunity to participate in multiple community-based events, including an art retreat where majors travel to the Oregon Coast to spend a weekend of artmaking, worship and getting to know one another.
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Before graduation, you’ll have the opportunity to showcase your work in a solo or group exhibition. This includes the art and design showcase YLW, an annual event hosted at Wieden & Kennedy connecting industry professionals to students.
Courses / Curriculum What Will I Study?
Our spaces/Where Will I Learn?
Art Annex
We have great news for our future art students! The vibrant and growing art and design program – housing the university’s graphic design, studio art and arts administration, illustration, and cinematic arts majors – will have a new home in the fall of 2025.
The new 6,000-square-foot facility will be located between the Maker Hub and Pennington Hall and will feature a large studio for pottery and ceramics, another space for glass and sculpture, and a partially covered courtyard work area with a ceramics kiln. You could be one of the first classes to use this new space and make your mark on the art program for years to come.
Career Outlook What’s After George Fox
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment as a craft or fine artist is expected to grow 4% between 2022 and 2032, and roles for art directors are growing at a 6% rate.
The Portland metro area is well-known for its thriving arts community, bringing in millions of dollars annually and supporting a significant population of artists. As the world becomes more “visual,” the role of the "traditional artist" has shifted and organizations of all types have been creating opportunities for artists.
Our students have received full-ride scholarships to grad school, and we boast a large number of alumni who are supporting themselves with their practice.
- Lecturer of Art and Design, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
- Arts and Public Programming Director, Chehalem Cultural Center
- K-12 Art Teacher, Black Forest Academy
- Lead Photographer, The Pair Visuals
- Director of University Studio Maker Space, Corban University
- Studio Technician, Pigeon Toe Ceramics
- Program Liaison, Grünewald Guild Art and Faith Community
- Art and Fashion Director, Benjamin Holtrop, Inc.
- Art Teacher, Rock Creek Middle School
100% of art and design students at George Fox complete an internship in their field before they graduate. Here's where some of our student interned during the 2023-24 school year:
- Mackenzie Inc.
- A&E Design
- Amy Troute Inspired Interior Design
- Hill Devine Design
- Lindye Galloway Interiors
- RJ Smith Construction
- Portland Pickles Baseball
- SE Calvary Chapel
- Sign On
- Philadelphia Dream Center
- Blue Trout Gallery
- Kent State University
- Columbia College Chicago
- Oregon State University
- Tyler School of Art at Temple University
- University of Madison, Wisconsin
- University of New Mexico
- Johns Hopkins University
- Oregon College of Art and Craft
- Washington State University
- Lewis and Clark Graduate School of Education (art education)
A Community of Art
George Fox Art and Sesign students recently had the opportunity to partner with Newberg's Rotary Club to create a mural in the heart of town, creating a piece of art that builds on themes of enviromental protection and familial community.
Lehman Pekkola
Visual Artist, Pic-Time LTD
My time at George Fox allowed for transcendence to take place – a transcendence that I hadn’t anticipated would take form, a transcendence that changed my entire perspective toward relationship, toward art, toward faith, toward the world. George Fox’s professors and peers allowed space and opportunities for me to become a better human being, which is something I’ll forever be grateful for.
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