Visual Arts (MFA)
The Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts focuses on the practice and production of studio art and its contextualization within contemporary practices and critical discourse.
The Master of Fine Arts offers the following areas of concentration:
- Ceramics
- Drawing
- Painting
- Photo-based media
- Printmaking
- Sculpture
Students can also opt to work between these areas.
The Department of Visual Arts consists of artists and art historians with national and international reputations. Faculty have studios on campus, facilitating student access to their instructors’ professional art practices. The department is also complemented by faculty from the First Nations University of Canada, Luther College and by other members of the Faculty of Media, Art, and Performance.
The MFA program is intentionally small (a maximum of five students are accepted each year) in order to allow for intensive interaction between students and faculty.
Graduates are skilled artists, highly educated about contemporary art, and have developed research and writing skills in the field of Visual Arts. Many of our graduates are self-employed as artists and have received significant recognition as practicing visual artists.
The MFA is a terminal degree in the field of Visual Arts. Our graduates are fully qualified to teach at the University level and many go on to careers as professors. Others enter a range of professions within the field of visual arts and culture such as museum and gallery directors, curators, and educators.
The Department of Visual Arts, originally the Regina School of Art, dates back to 1914 when the newly established Regina College introduced an art program.
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Why Study Visual Arts at the University of Regina?
MFA students are provided with 24-hour access to shared studio spaces.
The MFA program is enriched by visiting artists who share ideas and concepts of their art through workshops and lectures and by local galleries and community cultural events.
On-one-on studio courses with faculty are complimented by small weekly seminars that allow students to discuss art theory and criticism and to develop and clarify their individual research projects.
Facilities
MFA students have access to all department equipment and facilities including the Fifth Parallel Gallery, a fully equipped wood shop, and equipment in each of the studio areas.
Ceramics
- Multiple electric kilns
- Four gas kilns, including soda kiln and car kiln
- 2 large capacity outdoor wood kilns: wood and wood-soda
- 18 Brent pottery wheels
- Three slab rollers including 36" hydraulic slab roller
- Extruders including hydraulic extruder
- Two clay mixers, pug mill, slip mixer, plaster room
Drawing and Painting
- Access to spray booth and solvent dispensers
Sculpture
- Complete bronze casting facilities
- Plaster room
- Full welding area
- Walk-in spray booth
Photo-based media
- Flatbed scanner
- Cyanotype facilities
- Support for chemical processes
- 48” w Epson printer
Printmaking
- Three etching presses including a motorized Charles Brand
- Three litho presses
- Large selection of litho stones up to 26x35 inches
- Screen printing stations and full water-based UV setup with 48”w Magnum Curing unit
- Four typography presses including a Chandler & Price 8x12 platen letterpress
- Approximately 100 drawers of lead type and vintage cuts
- Large darkroom with two Olec 5K lights and vacuum exposure units for Silkscreen
- Photo-etching, Photo-polymer (letterpress), and Photo-litho,
- iMac computer with Adobe Creative software and Epson Expression Scanner
- 24”w Epson printer for positive and negative transparencies
A range of media production and playback equipment may be borrowed from the Faculty of Media, Art, and Performance.
The Dr. John Archer Library houses more than 30,000 Visual Arts volumes and numerous periodicals.Professional placement
The Professional placement course offers a practical opportunity for experiential research or case study investigation. Students work on-site at arts and culture organizations, such as galleries, cinematheques, theatres, and government offices.
Some of our students have incorporated an Artist’s Residency into their program, while others have spent time as a visiting student at other institutions.Expert professors
The Department of Visual Arts consists of artists and art historians with national and international reputations. Studio faculty members share their expertise in ceramics, drawing, intermedia and expanded media, painting, printmaking, photo-based media, and sculpture through teaching and their own artistic practices. Art history faculty members investigate fields such as cultural studies, gender, curatorial studies, Indigenous art, contemporary art, history of photography, history of collecting, and curation. All visual arts professors are well-versed in contemporary Canadian and International art, and visual arts faculty members engage in a range of practices and activities.Research opportunities
Students may have the opportunity to work as a research assistant for faculty members.Visual Arts Frequently Asked Questions
Applicants for the MFA program must hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree or equivalent. Applicants must submit a portfolio, artist statement, letter of intent, transcripts, references, and language proficiency (if applicable.)
For more information about portfolio requirements, please refer to supplementary material required for admission.
For more information about admission requirements, refer to the graduate calendar.
ART 820AA-ZZ Intermedia
Studio course in areas including installation, performance, audio, video, book works and electronic media.
ART 830AA-ZZ Drawing
Studio course in the area of drawing.
ART 840AA-ZZ Painting
Studio course in the area of painting.
ART 850AA-ZZ Sculpture
Studio course in the area of sculpture.
ART 860AA-ZZ Ceramics
Studio course in the area of ceramics.
ART 870AA-ZZ Printmaking
Studio course in the area of printmaking.
ART 884AA-ZZ Selected Topics in Photo-based Imaging
Studio course in the area of photo based imaging.
Studio courses are chosen by students in consultation with their supervisor.
Yes! Once you have been accepted as a fully-qualified graduate student with no conditions or holds on your admission, then you are eligible to apply for our scholarships, awards, graduate teaching assistant positions, or research assistantships.
Visual Arts Scholarship
- The Donald Stuart Richan Research Award
Apply for this scholarship and more by visiting our Graduate Awards Portal (GAP), the U of R online graduate scholarship application system.
All Graduate Funding Opportunities
Visit our Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research website to learn about all graduate funding opportunities including:
- National Scholarships (including Tri Council funding)
- Awards to Study Abroad
- FGSR Funding/Special Awards
- Funding for Indigenous Students
- Funding for International Students
- Other Awards and Scholarships
- External Scholarship Opportunities
- External Student and Faculty Awards
- Visual Arts Student Association (VASA)
- 5th Parallel Gallery (exhibition, gallery management, and curating opportunities)
- University of Regina Ceramics Student Society (URCSS)
- MAP Presentation Series
- DRS Doctoral Research Showcase
- Art for Lunch - Visiting Artist Lecture and Residency Committee (VALARC)
- Living Skies Student Film Festival
- Theatre Productions
- Music Clubs
- Humanities Research Institute events, seminars and conferences
- Living Heritage Speaking Series
- Conferences and symposia on contemporary themes organized regularly by faculty
What Can You Do With a Visual Arts Degree?
Upon successfully completing your MFA in visual arts, you will be ready for the next step of your career. Some of our graduates have participated in international artist residencies. Our graduates have also found employment at the MacKenzie Art Gallery, Neutral Ground Artist Run Centre, Art Gallery of Regina, the Dunlop Art Gallery, SK Arts, and the University of Regina.
- Practicing professional artist
- University professor
- Gallery or museum director
- Curator
- Visual arts educator
- Cultural policy maker
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