Art Program

The Art of Visual Storytelling

Because God made us in His image, we are designed to create and appreciate beauty as He does. Joining Taylor’s Art Program means not only building artistic skills but also strengthening your understanding of the significance of art and the role it can play in the world beyond studio and classroom.

Art is not limited to beautiful pictures; it tells tales, makes statements, and pursues truth through visual storytelling. By choosing an Art major at Taylor, you will be offered several avenues to pursue your passion for beauty and creative storytelling, whether your interest lies in graphic art, pre-art therapy, studio art, design, art education, photography, or illustration.

BFA Programs

We are pleased to announce five new Bachelor of Fine Arts degree options: Illustration, Design, Photography, Studio Art 2D, and Studio Art 3D. A standard at Art and Design colleges, a BFA provides deep focus on practical studio work for greater technical mastery and aesthetic sensitivity. A BFA offers a competitive edge in the job market, and it’s seen as a gateway degree to a Master of Fine Arts. According to the Wall Street Journal, students who earn a BFA degree have strong job prospects, better income, and high job satisfaction.

Taylor’s BFAs in Art offer:

• 14 more credits of art classes than the Bachelor of Arts
• more immersion, cross-training, and versatility
• no foreign language requirements
• the same 128-hour graduation requirement as most other degrees

Outside the Studio

From study abroad trips to Italy or Northern Ireland to faculty-led trips to New York, Chicago, and artist studios, students in Taylor's Art Program will have many opportunities to explore art in a variety of contexts.

See for Yourself

Listen to Dr. Jonathan Bouw explain what you can expect in studying art at Taylor.

Modelle Metcalf Visual Arts Center

Taylor’s Art department is housed in the 38,000-square-foot Modelle Metcalf Visual Arts Center. Metcalf provides specialized classrooms and workspaces for drawing, painting, printmaking, graphic design, photography, sculpture, ceramics, and jewelry making. It also contains a state-of-the-art Mac lab and audio-visual classrooms, a photography studio, a lecture hall, and ample space for critiquing works displayed in the hallways. Two different gallery spaces showcase student and professional art. Naturally lit classrooms have storage spaces for student artwork with the option of directed spot lighting.

Crafting Your Future

Practicums, Internships, & Residencies

Throughout your time at Taylor, you’ll have opportunities to meet leaders in the art field, and seek out internships, practicums, or residencies at a variety of locations. Here are just a few places our students have gained valuable career experiences in art.

• The Salvation Army
• Zondervan
• Tyndale House Publishers
• Samaritan’s Purse
• Wired Magazine
• Animal Planet
• USA Today
• Fort Wayne Museum of Art
• Harrison Center for the Arts
• South Bend Art Museum
• OneCreate Commercial Photography
• Orb Aerospace
• Indiana Arts Commission
• Tippecanoe Arts Federation
• She Reads Truth
• Esquire Magazine
• The Woodstock Center for Photography
• Kanakuk Kamps
• Green Circle Growers

Career Opportunities in Art

Our students successfully compete with art school graduates for high-profile positions. As a student in this program, you will develop excellent technical and conceptual skills in your area of focus. You will also come away from the program with a professional portfolio of work.

Our Art graduates currently serve as art educators, freelancers, graphic artists, photographers, and studio artists (sculptors, ceramists, painters). Art students have gone to work at companies and publications such as The New Yorker, Tyndale Publishers, and Wired Magazine.

Art Program graduates are regularly sought after by alumni and employers. The Art faculty and the Calling and Career Office also have many connections to assist graduates in finding industry careers. Because art students have a success rate of 99%, you have no reason to worry about finding post-graduation jobs, internships, or graduate school placements. Learn more about Taylor University placement rates.