SoVA student exhibition Pushing it to the limit.

Art, B.F.A.

B.F.A. in Art

Inspire us. Grow. Create.Make your art. Make an impact.

Art is essential. A BFA from Penn State is the difference between you knowing that your art matters and the rest of the world knowing it, too.

Our internationally exhibiting and award-winning faculty are devoted to helping you grow your abilities, learn new skills, see in new ways, and find your true voice.

Earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art at Penn State

Are you ready for your next step? Take it with us.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program prepares students to be leaders in the contemporary art world. The degree features an intense, supportive studio culture, and broad access to the unparalleled resources of a Tier 1 university.

Students enrolled in the School of Visual Arts apply to the B.F.A. program between their second and fourth semesters. Entrance is awarded following a successful portfolio review.

Concentrations

With specialized resources and faculty, students will pursue a focused degree from the following concentration areas.

Next Steps

Is the B.F.A. in Art right for you?

Penn State’s Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program prepares students to be leaders in the contemporary art world.

You are a visual thinker who works with your hands, heart, and head. Artists earning this degree are creative makers and critical thinkers who shape our awareness about what is possible and, in doing so, change the way we see, experience, and understand our world. Students who earn this degree pursue careers as art directors, educators, and practicing artists.

Darkened silhouettes of Penn State visual arts students crouched around a foundry crucible pouring red-hot molten metal.

Alumni Spotlight

Headshot of

alumni spotlight

Devan Shimoyama

“While I’m still dreaming bigger and bigger, I always think about the incredible foundation that my Penn State education has provided for me.”

Devan’s award-winning art uses painting, sculpture, and photography to challenge gender stereotypes and confront racial and cultural injustice with a vibrant, modern edge. He has exhibited at the Andy Warhol Museum and in numerous major cities including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Paris.

www.devanshimoyama.com

Considering the B.F.A. in Art? Consider this.

Prepare yourself for a professional career and graduate studies in visual art.

  • Be part of the diverse and vibrant Penn State culture.
  • Exhibit your art in one of the SoVA galleries.
  • Faculty are scholars and visual artists whose work is known nationally and internationally.
  • Enjoy SoVA’s close-knit collaborative community.

Faculty Spotlight

See all Faculty
Headshot of

faculty spotlight

Brian Alfred

Associate Professor of Art

Brian Alfred received a B.F.A. from Penn State in 1997, studied at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Skowhegan, Maine, and received an M.F.A. from Yale University in 1999. He has had numerous solo exhibitions in locations ranging from New York City to Tokyo to London, as well as group exhibitions nationally and internationally. He is the host of the podcast “Sound and Vision,” featuring conversations with contemporary artists, which recently celebrated its 200th episode. His work is in the collections of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Denver Art Museum, and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, among others.

See all Faculty