Guided by the belief that artists perform an essential role in society, the MFA in Fine Arts program provides a dynamic, challenging environment in which students develop diverse studio-based practices and pursue interdisciplinary scholarship. Students come from many backgrounds and cultures and work in media including painting, drawing, sculpture, video, performance, digital media, installation, and photography.
Explore the MFA Fine Arts community to see what students, faculty, and alumni are doing in NYC and around the world at amt.parsons.edu/finearts. This program is part of Parsons' School of Art, Media, and Technology (AMT).
Modes of Practice
MFA Fine Arts encompasses modes of study and practice ranging from rigorous formal and aesthetic investigations to social and political engagement. The two-year, full-time curriculum includes 27 studio, 12 academic, 6 professional practice, and 15 elective credits. Students
work independently in their own studios and participate in weekly critiques with an internationally acclaimed faculty of art professionals.
Join the Global Discourse
The program curriculum centers on one-on-one studio visits, group critiques, critical theory seminars, personalized classes, and writing and research for studio practice, as well as professional practices seminars. The Transdisciplinary Seminar reaches into the broader New School community and focuses on a range of topics such as art and feminism, art and science, and art and poetry. Academic classes expose students to global contemporary discourse on art and develop their critical abilities. Students interact with visiting artists of varied practices and cultural orientations. Recent visitors include Shirin Neshat, Paul Pfeiffer, Tehching Hsieh, Kara Walker, Fred Wilson, Mark Dion, and Ann Hamilton. Prominent curators guide students preparing for their thesis exhibitions.
Resources for Growth
Parsons’ industry and alumni connections yield abundant opportunities for collaboration and exhibition. Students have recently presented work at the Pulse Art Fair, The Kitchen, and Sydney College of the Arts at the University of Sydney and have held residencies at Skowhegan Institute and Jentel. MFA Fine Arts is housed in Parsons’ School of Art, Media, and Technology (AMT), alongside the Communication Design, Design and Technology, Illustration, and Photography programs. Shared faculty and collaborative projects allow students to explore the connections between art, technology, design, and social critique. Students can also draw on the extensive resources of The New School, a progressive urban university with a tradition of civic engagement and renowned graduate programs in the social sciences, media studies, and urban studies.
Future Opportunities
You graduate prepared for careers in fine art, arts administration, curatorship, museum management, art criticism, and teaching.