Welcome to the School of Art

• 100%

  working artists & designers

  100% working artists & designers

  on the School of Art faculty

• 8:1

  student-faculty ratio

  8:1 student-faculty ratio

  in the School of Art

• #5

  best art school

  #5 best art school

  US News & World Report Best Graduate Fine Art Schools ranking

True to CalArts’ founding ethos, our community of artists—students and faculty alike—works across metiers in dialogue with one another. Here, art students collaborate across disciplines and investiate hybrid art forms—not only within the School of Art, but throughout the Institute. 

Explore the School of Art

• Faculty and Staff
• Visiting Faculty
• Facilities
• Events
• News
• Alumni
• Visiting Artists Lecture Series
• Opportunities and Study Abroad
• Courses
• Practicum
• Beyond the Classroom

Connect with us!

With offerings at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, each distinct program offers specific courses of study and yet none is isolated from the others. This accumulation of diverse expertise creates a rich environment for experimentation, exploration and innovation, in which students sharpen their skills, refine their vision, and create the foundations for a sustainable, independent practice as they expand the definitions of contemporary art-making.

BFA programs

With small class sizes, dedicated mentorship, and an open-ended, experience-based pedagogy, all of our undergraduate programs provide the inspiration and support you need to unleash your creative potential on day one.

• Explore all CalArts BFA programs

• BFA Art

  • Explore this program

  

• BFA Graphic Design

  • Explore this program

  

• BFA Photography and Media

  • Explore this program

  

MFA programs

Rigorous critique, fluent discourse, and cross-genre collaboration are hallmarks of CalArts’ graduate programs, where you’ll build the creative network and individual practice to sustain your life’s work. 

• Explore all CalArts MFA programs

• MFA: Art

  • Explore this program

  

• MFA Graphic Design

  • Explore this program

  

• MFA Photography and Media

  • Explore this program

  

• MFA: Art and Technology

  • Explore this program

  

Studios, labs, and exhibition spaces

The spaces where the work gets made … and shown

All School of Art students have 24/7 access to shared or individual studios, plus many program- and media-specific labs, shops, and specialized studios to support your art-making. And our eight on-campus galleries ensure regular opportunities to exhibit your work.

• Visit School of Art spaces and facilities

East of Borneo

Dedicated to exploring and documenting West Coast art, East of Borneo is a collaborative platform founded by former Dean Tom Lawson. The journal offers a rich platform of essays, interviews, and a multimedia archive focused on the visual culture of Los Angeles. With exhibitions, talks, screenings, and workshops, East of Borneo strengthens CalArts’ connections with the art world, fostering dialogue and exploration within the region’s creative network.

• Read East of Borneo

Interested in applying to the School of Art?

View our step-by-step application guide to learn more.

Start your application