Call for applications 2022: MFA in Art and six full scholarships at SMU Meadows School of the Arts

MFA students create a considerable body of work and comprehend the key settings in which artists and their works function. The program is designed to be a concentrated period of study that culminates in the MFA qualifying exhibition at SMU’s Pollock Gallery.

MFA students are supported in their exploration of a diverse range of materials, mediums, processes, and histories as part of the wider urban research university. Graduate students at SMU have access to individual studio spaces as well as facilities and faculty expertise in ceramics, drawing, installation, new media, painting, performance, photography, printing, sculpture, sound, and time-based media. The Division of Art values and honors human diversity in all of its manifestations, including race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression.

SMU’s Division of Art provides an ongoing series of lectures, debates, and studio visits by artists, critics, and curators, in addition to faculty actively involved in exhibition and research at the highest levels. This series of events is an important aspect of the graduate and undergraduate curricula because it allows graduate students and the Dallas community at large to connect with modern art.

SMU’s policies and procedures related to Covid-19 can be seen here.

Scholarships

Each year, SMU grants up to six full scholarships that cover full tuition and all related costs, as well as teaching assistantships. Additional funds are available for students’ creative research materials and travel.

Selected past visiting artists
Glenn Adamson, William Bailey, Ute Meta Bauer, Jake Berthot, Walead Beshty, Mel Bochner, Tania Bruguera, Suzanna Coffey, Tony Cruz, David Diao, Nicole Eisenman, Theaster Gates, Surabhi Ghosh, Renée Green, K8 Hardy, Dave Hickey, Ann Van Hoey, Denzil Hurley, Jessica Jackson Hutchins, Alfredo Jaar, Guillermo Kuitca, Barbara Kruger, Pablo Leon de La Barra, Jacob Lawrence, An Te Liu, Melissa Miller, Simonetta Moro, Ron Nagle, Thomas Nozkowski, Robyn O’Neil, Mariko Paterson, Signé Pierce, R.H. Quaytman, Walid Raad, Jock Reynolds, Susan Rothenberg, Robert Rauschenberg, Richard Ryan, Franklin Sirmans, Nyugen Smith, Jenni Sorkin, Wendy Steiner, Maiko Sugano, Holly Walker, Neil Welliver, Betty Woodman and Akira Yamaguchi.

Dallas Arts District

Dallas continues to develop in the country’s largest arts district, which is just minutes from campus and in which the Meadows School is playing an increasingly important role. The Division of Art is looking for artists for graduate studies who want to be a part of the many arts opportunities in Dallas-Fort Worth and the surrounding North Texas region. See list of DFW art spaces, organizations, institutions here.

Apply here: MFA Art admission instructions / Meadows Graduate application. See profiles of current MFA graduate students, Art faculty and Art History faculty.