Art

A focused, rigorous curriculum in the visual arts built on an interdisciplinary, interactive and international broad-based liberal arts experience.

The Muhlenberg Department of Art was founded in 1953 by internationally famous sculptor George Rickey. In the decades since, art at Muhlenberg has expanded with an interdisciplinary, interactive and international focus. Our rigorous visual arts curriculum is built on a foundation made strong by Muhlenberg’s broad-based liberal arts programming.

Students may pursue majors and minors in both studio art and art history, and diverse course offerings offer preparation for not only M.F.A. and Ph.D. programs around the nation and world, but for success in fields as varied as art education, publication editing and design, medical illustration, medicine and law.

Department of Art Anti-Racism and Inclusivity Statement

  • We believe everyone should be treated with integrity and respect. Everyone will be heard, challenged and guided towards a more engaged perspective of humanity and cultural production. We model material process, critical engagement and visual analysis in the classroom.
  • We recognize and challenge the hierarchies of knowledge in the classroom. We promote an environment where open, direct communication allows us to have reflective conversations about that legacy in the visual arts. We welcome the intersectional identities, experiences, perspectives and abilities of students, faculty and staff.
  • We are committed to anti-racist practices. We are dedicated to expanding cultural perspectives and frameworks. In an effort to dismantle white supremacist ideology, we teach a broad range of global art production and a diversity of art historical methodologies.
The Art Department

Majors & Minors

Studio Art

Studio Art

The Studio Art curriculum prepare students to develop independent creative work, research new concepts, and gain in-depth skills in a particular medium.

Teacher and students talking

Art History

The art history curriculum prepares students to analyze and interpret visual art and to understand the fundamental methodological issues of the field.

A look inside the Art Department at Muhlenberg

Art at Muhlenberg

Image for Sculpture Professor Frederick Wright Jones consults with a student in a studio art class. Our faculty exhibit nationwide, and their own experiences provide insight for students who wish to pursue careers in artistic fields.

Sculpture Professor Frederick Wright Jones consults with a student in a studio art class. Our faculty exhibit nationwide, and their own experiences provide insight for students who wish to pursue careers in artistic fields.

Image for Studio major Tongyao Su works on a drawing outside of the Center for the Arts. Students have access to a range of facilities housed in the Center for the Arts. The department’s low faculty-to-student ratio ensures that students receive the best of both worlds—individualized attention with the freedom to take the lead in exploring personal creative interests.

Studio major Tongyao Su works on a drawing outside of the Center for the Arts. Students have access to a range of facilities housed in the Center for the Arts. The department’s low faculty-to-student ratio ensures that students receive the best of both worlds—individualized attention with the freedom to take the lead in exploring personal creative interests.

Image for Students examine prints from the College’s archives as part of an integrative learning course with faculty from Muhlenberg’s History Department. Our curriculum approaches art with an interdisciplinary, interactive and international lens.

Students examine prints from the College’s archives as part of an integrative learning course with faculty from Muhlenberg’s History Department. Our curriculum approaches art with an interdisciplinary, interactive and international lens.

Image for Muhlenberg students view an exhibition by senior studio art majors in our very own Martin Art Gallery. The gallery also shows high quality work by local, national, and international artists. In addition, students have access to dozens of exhibits, lectures, and internships at the nearby Allentown Art Museum and local colleges. The world-class museums and galleries of New York and Philadelphia are within one to two hours.

Muhlenberg students view an exhibition by senior studio art majors in our very own Martin Art Gallery. The gallery also shows high quality work by local, national, and international artists. In addition, students have access to dozens of exhibits, lectures, and internships at the nearby Allentown Art Museum and local colleges. The world-class museums and galleries of New York and Philadelphia are within one to two hours.

Image for Ana Negron exhibits her final thesis in sculpture. Students choose an area of concentration, while receiving a broad foundation in studio arts and art history and by complementing their majors or minors with courses in other disciplines.

Ana Negron exhibits her final thesis in sculpture. Students choose an area of concentration, while receiving a broad foundation in studio arts and art history and by complementing their majors or minors with courses in other disciplines.

Image for Katherine Boll discusses her thesis project with classmates in the Martin Gallery during an exhibition. We believe that our students should have access to as many resources as possible in order to foster their personal, academic, and artistic growth.

Katherine Boll discusses her thesis project with classmates in the Martin Gallery during an exhibition. We believe that our students should have access to as many resources as possible in order to foster their personal, academic, and artistic growth.

NEWS AT MUHLENBERG

  • WATCH: WFMZ Highlights Muhlenberg Research Project

    The College received a grant to explore the founding of the original Allentown Public Library, which opened in 1912. Sophia Framm ’24 and Yuyang (Hector) Chen ’23 worked as research assistants on the project.

  • Center for Ethics Announces Spring 2024 Event Schedule

    The Center for Ethics will continue its theme of "The Ethics of Image" for the 2024 Spring semester, bringing academics to Muhlenberg to discuss the ethics of AI in art, the legacy of selfies in social media and ultraist rhetoric and visuality among extremist groups.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Keely Snook

Administrative Assistant and Studio Technician
Email [email protected] Telephone 484-664-3311
Address Muhlenberg College Art 2400 Chew Street Allentown, PA 18104