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Have you always had a passion for art? Are you great at expressing ideas visually? Are you driven, creative, and innovative? If the answer to all these questions is “yes,” you might be a perfect candidate for Buffalo State College’s art program.
Former Buffalo State art major Matthew Tyree created sculptures that reflected the lives of firefighters and emergency workers, having been one himself. His sculptures and paintings were included in an ArtSpace Buffalo exhibit in 2013 while he was a student. “It seems like there has been a resurgence of art in Buffalo,” he said. “If I can be part of that, great. That is where I want to be.”
Justin Dahl, ‘06, a lecturer, remembered painting a mural at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in a service-learning course he took at Buffalo State. In 2016, students in Dahl’s mural painting course created seven masterpieces that celebrate both the history of Ellicott Creek Park and the unique use of its island as a dog park. “I wanted to do this course as a service-learning course because it adds an element to the class that shows students something about public art,” Dahl said.
Art majors have a passion for art and want to explore either their own talent or the talent of others through the critical and historical study of art. The bachelor of arts degree in art provides students with the opportunity to study a wide variety of visual arts media. Together, with basic instruction in drawing, design, and art history, students select 24 credit hours in electives in fine arts and/or design. Our art program is unlike any other. Here’s why:
Professional artists are creative problem-solvers. They create logos and packaging for brands; animate films and video games; illustrate books and magazine articles; and preserve artworks of the past for generations to come. Some require graduate study following the bachelor’s degree. Here are some of the most common art-related careers:
As you can see, art careers are very diverse and exciting. However, the arts fields are also notoriously very competitive. Students are highly encouraged to participate in opportunities and experiences during their time at Buffalo State that will help them stand out, make connections, and network upon graduation. Most importantly, since art students are primarily hired for their portfolios, it is important that students practice their chosen skill as much as possible. Campus opportunities available to art students include:
Art students can participate in undergraduate research, a student-faculty collaboration to examine, create, and share knowledge or works in ways commensurate with practices in the discipline. Because undergraduate research is considered by many to be one of the most powerful ways for students to learn, the process is just as important as the outcome. Undergraduate research is an opportunity to apply what you have learned in class to solve real-world problems, as well as to learn things that you might not typically cover in class.
