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California Institute of the Arts

MFA: Art

School of Art

A person dressed in dark clothing looks at an art exhibition of colorful abstract sculptures and a large drawing

Expand your practice

With its emphasis on individualized instruction and mentoring, CalArts’ two-year MFA in Art program provides artists the flexibility to design a specialized course of study to suit each person’s practice and ambitions. As a CalArts graduate student, you’ll join a vibrant community of artists with an unparalleled legacy centered in Los Angeles and making waves around the world, building a strong foundation for independent work in the studio, community, and beyond.   

Two people at a makeshift bar in a small art studio passing a beverage

MFA Open Studios 2024.

Consider, critique, and shape the world through your work

... and influence the political and social fields you inhabit.

MFA Art

Our MFA program in Art challenges every artist to develop a critical self-awareness about their work, and to better understand the aesthetic, social, and intellectual contexts that inform artmaking in today’s globalized world. 

Connect with us

The curriculum in the MFA Art encourages graduate students to explore and expand your practice beyond the confines of specific genres, techniques, or media. Each MFA Art student is assigned an individual studio, where you’ll work with accomplished faculty as collaborators and mentors to cultivate your own areas of interest and develop the research trajectories and critical thinking necessary for informed artmaking. In critiques, seminars, individualized studio practice, independent studies, and deeply engaging social environments, MFA students hone skills and abilities that provide a framework for a meaningful, lifelong practice.

To earn the MFA Art degree, candidates must pass two faculty reviews of their overall artistic and academic progress, once at mid-residence and again prior to graduation. Students are expected to present a project or exhibition during the first year, and required to do so by the end of the second. 

Interested in the program?

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

Start your application

Admission requirements

To be considered for the MFA Art program, you must complete an application and all program-specific requirements, including a portfolio, an artist statement, and letters of recommendation. Applicants who pass the preliminary selection process will be contacted to visit CalArts for an interview. Before applying, please familiarize yourself with the detailed application requirements and resources available to assist you in this important process. 

View application requirements

Degree requirements

Each CalArts MFA Art and Advanced Certificate of Fine Arts student develops a course of study in consultation with their faculty mentor, and produces a significant project or exhibition during both the first and second year.  

View MFA Art academic requirements

Interdisciplinary opportunities

In addition to CalArts’ naturally collaborative atmosphere, the Institute provides several programs of study that can be pursued concurrently with a student’s chosen metier, such as a concentration in Arts Education or Integrated Media.

Learn more about MFA concentrations

Courses you might take

What courses would you take as an MFAArt student? Browse the courses offered in the School of Art, including opportunities to work in painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, digital imaging, sculpture, installation, video, film, writing, performance, and much more.

Explore the School of Art course catalog

Meet the faculty

At CalArts, faculty and students are collaborators, teaching, learning, and working together as members of our community of artists. 

All Art faculty

Gallery

What will you make?

The Art School Project Archive, launched in May 2021, offers a window into the diverse and vital work our students are producing at CalArts.

orange peels hanging art exhibit

Amanda Teixeira, how to peel an orange or invisible acts of care, 2024. 98 orange peels, golden thread, wood, 3 × 8 × 12 ft.

Some of our alumni

More School of Art alumni

Want to learn more?

We got you. Our Admissions team is all about providing the information you need to decide if CalArts is right for you. We’re excited to connect with you for a tour of our legendary campus, a virtual info session, or at one of our admissions events across the country or around the world. Take the next step—we’re here to help.