Yale School of Art
Encyclopedia
The Yale School of Art is one of twelve constituent schools of Yale University
. It is a professional art school
, granting only Masters of Fine Arts
degrees to those completing studies in graphic design, painting/printmaking, photography, or sculpture.
According to a 2003 survey "of deans and department chairs, one per school, at 213 master of fine arts programs" conducted by U.S. News & World Report
, the School shares a number one ranking with the Rhode Island School of Design
and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for Masters of Fine Arts programs. Any student applying to the school must have an exceptional undergraduate record as well as a complete body of work for presentation. This is further followed by an essay and recommendations. The complete process for an applicant requires great preparation and the process must be completed in accordance with strict guidelines established by the school. The Yale Daily News
reported on Thursday, February 1, 2007 that 1215 applicants for its class of 2009 sought admission to fifty-five places. The Yale Alumni Magazine reported in its November/December 2008 issue that the School admitted sixty-five from among 1142 applicants for its class of 2010, and that fifty-six of them enrolled.
in 1832. The Gallery was founded
by patriot-artist Colonel John Trumbull
, one-time aide-de-camp to General Washington
, with the help of Professor Benjamin Silliman
, the celebrated scientist.
Augustus Russell Street donated funds for the establishment of an art school in 1864. The program was placed under an art council, one of whose members was the painter-inventor Samuel F. B. Morse, a graduate of Yale College
. Yale alumnus Andrew Dickson White
was petitioned by the school's faculty to become the first dean, but instead opted to be the first president of Cornell University
. When the School opened in 1869, it was the first of its kind affiliated with a tertiary institution in America. Classes in drawing, painting, sculpture, and art history were inaugurated.
Architectural instruction was begun in 1908 and was established as a department in 1916 with Everett Victor Meeks at its head. Drama, under the direction of George Pierce Baker and with its own separate building, was added in 1925 and continued to function as a department of the School until it became an independent school
in 1955.
The department of graphic design (initially called graphic arts) was begun in 1951 under the direction of Alvin Eisenman
. It was the first graduate program in graphic design in the United States.
In 1959 the School of Art and Architecture was made a fully graduate professional school. Four years later the Art and Architecture Building
was opened to much controversy. Designed by Paul Rudolph
, it falls under the category of brutalism in modernist architecture.
In 1972 two separate schools, the School of Art and the School of Architecture
, were established. They continued to share the Art and Architecture building until 2000. In 2000, the art school opened a new building at 1156 Chapel Street, near the Rudolph building. It is called Green Hall and houses BFA and MFA students in photography and graphic design. The painting MFAs have their own building behind Green Hall; sculpture MFAs, who used to be in Hammond Hall across campus (since demolished), are now in a new sculpture building at 36 Edgewood, designed by Kiernan Timberlake and Associates.
The School of Art offers professional instruction in four interrelated areas of study: graphic design, painting/printmaking, photography, and sculpture.
The graduate student’s primary educational experience is centered on studio activity. Supporting this are structured courses such as drawing, filmmaking, and the relativity of color.
Among the list of notables artists who have graduated from Yale are painters Jennifer Bartlett
, Emery Bopp
, Chuck Close
, John Currin
and Rackstraw Downes
; photographers Gregory Crewdson
and Philip-Lorca diCorcia
; sculptors Richard Serra
, Eva Hesse
and Nancy Graves
; and installation artist Matthew Barney
.
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. It is a professional art school
Art school
Art school is a general term for any educational institution with a primary focus on the visual arts, especially illustration, painting, photography, sculpture, and graphic design. The term applies to institutions with elementary, secondary, post-secondary or undergraduate, or graduate or...
, granting only Masters of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
degrees to those completing studies in graphic design, painting/printmaking, photography, or sculpture.
According to a 2003 survey "of deans and department chairs, one per school, at 213 master of fine arts programs" conducted by U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
, the School shares a number one ranking with the Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for Masters of Fine Arts programs. Any student applying to the school must have an exceptional undergraduate record as well as a complete body of work for presentation. This is further followed by an essay and recommendations. The complete process for an applicant requires great preparation and the process must be completed in accordance with strict guidelines established by the school. The Yale Daily News
Yale Daily News
The Yale Daily News is an independent student newspaper published by Yale University students in New Haven, Connecticut since January 28, 1878...
reported on Thursday, February 1, 2007 that 1215 applicants for its class of 2009 sought admission to fifty-five places. The Yale Alumni Magazine reported in its November/December 2008 issue that the School admitted sixty-five from among 1142 applicants for its class of 2010, and that fifty-six of them enrolled.
History
The study of the visual arts at Yale began with the opening of the Trumbull GalleryYale University Art Gallery
The Yale University Art Gallery houses a significant and encyclopedic collection of art in several buildings on the campus of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Although it embraces all cultures and periods, the Gallery possesses especially renowned collections of early Italian painting,...
in 1832. The Gallery was founded
by patriot-artist Colonel John Trumbull
John Trumbull
John Trumbull was an American artist during the period of the American Revolutionary War and was notable for his historical paintings...
, one-time aide-de-camp to General Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, with the help of Professor Benjamin Silliman
Benjamin Silliman
Benjamin Silliman was an American chemist, one of the first American professors of science , and the first to distill petroleum.-Early life:...
, the celebrated scientist.
Augustus Russell Street donated funds for the establishment of an art school in 1864. The program was placed under an art council, one of whose members was the painter-inventor Samuel F. B. Morse, a graduate of Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
. Yale alumnus Andrew Dickson White
Andrew Dickson White
Andrew Dickson White was a U.S. diplomat, historian, and educator, who was the co-founder of Cornell University.-Family and personal life:...
was petitioned by the school's faculty to become the first dean, but instead opted to be the first president of Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. When the School opened in 1869, it was the first of its kind affiliated with a tertiary institution in America. Classes in drawing, painting, sculpture, and art history were inaugurated.
Architectural instruction was begun in 1908 and was established as a department in 1916 with Everett Victor Meeks at its head. Drama, under the direction of George Pierce Baker and with its own separate building, was added in 1925 and continued to function as a department of the School until it became an independent school
Yale School of Drama
The Yale School of Drama is a graduate professional school of Yale University providing training in every discipline of the theatre: acting, design , directing, dramaturgy and dramatic criticism, playwriting, stage management, sound design, technical design and production, and theater...
in 1955.
The department of graphic design (initially called graphic arts) was begun in 1951 under the direction of Alvin Eisenman
Alvin Eisenman
Alvin Eisenman was an influential American graphic designer and educator throughout the last half of the 20th century. He is most notable for founding and heading Yale University's graduate program in graphic design beginning in 1951 — the first graduate program in graphic design in the United States...
. It was the first graduate program in graphic design in the United States.
In 1959 the School of Art and Architecture was made a fully graduate professional school. Four years later the Art and Architecture Building
Yale Art & Architecture Building
The Yale Art and Architecture Building is one of the earliest and best known examples of Brutalist architecture in the United States...
was opened to much controversy. Designed by Paul Rudolph
Paul Rudolph (architect)
Paul Marvin Rudolph was an American architect and the dean of the Yale School of Architecture for six years, known for use of concrete and highly complex floor plans...
, it falls under the category of brutalism in modernist architecture.
In 1972 two separate schools, the School of Art and the School of Architecture
Yale School of Architecture
The Yale School of Architecture is one of the constituent professional schools of Yale University. It is generally considered to be one of the most prestigious architecture schools in the world.- History :...
, were established. They continued to share the Art and Architecture building until 2000. In 2000, the art school opened a new building at 1156 Chapel Street, near the Rudolph building. It is called Green Hall and houses BFA and MFA students in photography and graphic design. The painting MFAs have their own building behind Green Hall; sculpture MFAs, who used to be in Hammond Hall across campus (since demolished), are now in a new sculpture building at 36 Edgewood, designed by Kiernan Timberlake and Associates.
Study
The degree of Master of Fine Arts is the only degree offered by the School of Art. It is conferred upon recommendation of the faculty after successful completion of all course work in residence and after a faculty-approved thesis presentation. The minimum residence requirement is two years. All candidates’ work is reviewed by faculty at the end of each term.The School of Art offers professional instruction in four interrelated areas of study: graphic design, painting/printmaking, photography, and sculpture.
The graduate student’s primary educational experience is centered on studio activity. Supporting this are structured courses such as drawing, filmmaking, and the relativity of color.
Among the list of notables artists who have graduated from Yale are painters Jennifer Bartlett
Jennifer Bartlett
Jennifer Losch Bartlett is an American artist. She is best-known for paintings combining abstract and representational styles.-Education:...
, Emery Bopp
Emery Bopp
Emery Bopp was an artist and long-time chairman of the Division of Art, Bob Jones University.-Early life and education:...
, Chuck Close
Chuck Close
Charles Thomas "Chuck" Close is an American painter and photographer who achieved fame as a photorealist, through his massive-scale portraits...
, John Currin
John Currin
John Currin is an American painter. He is best known for satirical figurative paintings which deal with provocative sexual and social themes in a technically skillful manner. His work shows a wide range of influences, including sources as diverse as the Renaissance, popular culture magazines, and...
and Rackstraw Downes
Rackstraw Downes
Rackstraw Downes is a British-born realist painter and author. His oil paintings are notable for their meticulous detail accumulated during months of plein-air sessions, depictions of industry and the environment, and elongated compositions with complex perspective.-Education:Born Rodney Harry...
; photographers Gregory Crewdson
Gregory Crewdson
Gregory Crewdson is an American photographer who is best known for elaborately staged scenes of American homes and neighborhoods.-Life and career:Crewdson was born in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY...
and Philip-Lorca diCorcia
Philip-Lorca diCorcia
Philip-Lorca diCorcia is an American photographer. He studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Afterwards diCorcia attended Yale University where he received a Master of Fine Arts in Photography in 1979. He now lives and works in New York, and teaches at Yale University in New...
; sculptors Richard Serra
Richard Serra
Richard Serra is an American minimalist sculptor and video artist known for working with large-scale assemblies of sheet metal. Serra was involved in the Process Art Movement.-Early life and education:...
, Eva Hesse
Eva Hesse
Eva Hesse , was a German-born American sculptor, known for her pioneering work in materials such as latex, fiberglass, and plastics. -Early life:Hesse was born into a family of observant Jews in Hamburg, Germany...
and Nancy Graves
Nancy Graves
Nancy Graves was an American sculptor, painter, printmaker, and sometime-filmmaker known for her focus on natural phenomena like camels or maps of the moon...
; and installation artist Matthew Barney
Matthew Barney
Matthew Barney is an American artist who works in sculpture, photography, drawing and film. His early works were sculptural installations combined with performance and video...
.