Master of Fine Arts in Studio
Photography saic.edu/photo
help articulate and pursue their unique and personal artistic visions.
Renowned as one of the most formidable programs in the country, our Photography program stands out for its unwavering commitment to exploring, comprehending, and pushing the boundaries of traditional and experimental forms of image making, while nurturing students as emergent artists, intellectuals, and professionals.
Intellectually rigorous
Beyond imagery In addition to the exploration of imagery, the faculty exhibit an exceptional range of diversity in their artistic practices. This enables them to provide extensive support for a wide spectrum of experimentation and investigation, accommodating interests spanning the full gamut of photography. Students are encouraged to embrace conceptual challenges and push the limits of their technical skills and boundaries, tapping into the expertise available both within and outside the department to
The program places a strong emphasis on critical thinking skills as students engage in meaningful critiques with their peers. Students augment their photographic projects with extensive research, delving into both historical and contemporary cultural contexts to enrich their personal artistic pursuits. The department offers various opportunities to ensure students emerge as competent practitioners. Students refine their practice by delivering two public lectures, honing their critical writing skills and the ability to effectively articulate their ideas. They are guaranteed teaching assistantships for each semester of the program.
Facilitating artistic growth Students are provided with private studios and have access to up-to-date facilities and equipment. By engaging in the Parlor Room Lecture Series and the SAIC Visiting Artist Lecture Program, students interact closely with visiting artists, art historians, critics, and curators who engage in critiques and studio visits. In addition, students collaborate with a curator on the creation of a departmental catalog showcasing their work, further contributing to their professional development.
For more information on requirements, please visit:
saic.edu/photo
Jenny Rafalson Unconscious returning
Parlor Room Lecture Series This series offers students the opportunity to select, recruit, and work closely with visiting artists, critics, and curators, who participate in critiques, roundtable discussions and studio visits with graduate students.
Facilities Photography students have access to a wide range of equipment and facilities, including: • Individual graduate studios with dedicated critique space • 2,000+ square foot fully equipped digital facilities, including more than 38 editing workstations and colorcalibrated monitors, Imacon copy-stand and flatbed scanners, 20 professional digital printers with output up to 42” wide, and calibrated print viewing stations • Two Advanced Checkout Centers. The Photo facilities window supports our lab facilities. The 280 Media Center checks out photo equipment for off-campus use, including digital full-frame mirrorless and medium-format cameras; analog 35mm, medium-format, and view cameras up to 8”x10”, and a large selection of lenses and accessories • Black and white darkroom with 13 enlarger stations • Film processing room with up to 4 processing stations • Dedicated alternative process darkroom that supports a wide range of activities, including historic and current alternative processes and digitally enlarged negatives • 3-bay professional shooting studio outfitted with dedicated strobe systems, backdrops, and a tethered 100 megapixel digital studio camera system
Curriculum Requirements Studio MFA 6009 Graduate Projects, Seminars and/or a maximum of 12 credits of 3000 level and above studios
39
Art History ARTHI 5002 Graduate Survey of Modern and Contemporary Art or ARTHI 5120 Survey of Modern and Contemporary Architecture and Design
3
Art History Courses at the 4000 level or above
9
Electives Any course in any area at 3000 level or above
9
Participation in four graduate critiques Participation in the graduate exhibition or equivalent Total Credit Hours
60
Application Process Submit: › Online application › Application fee › Official college transcripts › Statement of purpose › Letters of recommendation › ePortfolio › Résumé
Olivia Mikolai Ridge, Casting Crime: Who Do You Want To Play?, 2022
• SAIC Service Bureau with 62 inch inkjet printer, wideformat latex printer, pre-press quality laser output, book binding capabilities, and a wide variety of printing media
Faculty AIMÉE BEAUBIEN JONAS BECKER ROBERT CLARKE-DAVIS ALAN LABB DAWIT L. PETROS OLIVER SANN JAN TICHY For complete faculty listing visit: saic.edu/photo
Application Deadline: January 10 Arda Asena, hold
Micah Sykes Sincerity, 2023
Arda Asena, Audience to My Unknown
Graduate Admissions 36 South Wabash Avenue, suite 1201 Chicago, IL 60603 Phone 312.629.6100 / 800.232.7242 gradmiss@saic.edu
For application requirements, visit saic.edu/photo