Visual Arts

Contact Information

Chair: Michelle Carpenter
Office: CU Denver Building, 815N
Visual Arts Office: CU Building, Suite 800
Telephone: 303-315-1500

Faculty

Full Professors:
Joann Brennan, MFA, Massachusetts College of Art
Carol Golemboski, MFA, Virginia Commonwealth University
Rian Kerrane, MFA, University of New Orleans

Associate Professors:
Maria Elena Buszek, PhD, University of Kansas
Michelle Carpenter, MFA, University of Colorado Boulder
Brian DeLevie, MFA, University of Houston
Melissa Furness, MFA, University of Iowa
Quintin Gonzalez, MFA, Yale University
Bryan Leister, MFA, George Mason University
Jeffrey Schrader, PhD, New York University, MA, Oberlin College
Travis Vermilye, MFA, University of Michigan

Assistant Professor:
Yang Wang, PhD, The Ohio State University

Assistant Professor Clinical Teaching Track:
Howard Cook, MFA DC, National University

Senior Instructors:
Michael Brohman, MA, University of Colorado Denver
Vivian George, MFA, Yale University

Instructors:
William Adams, MA and MFA, University of New Mexico
Stephen Baker, MFA, National University California
Jeremy Brown, BA, Hampshire College
Paul Conner, BA, Art Institute of Colorado
Rebecca Heavner, MLA, University of Colorado Denver
Elizabeth Pugliano, PhD, Boston University
Stephen Schaf, MFA, Academy of Art University, San Francisco

Department Overview

The Department of Visual Arts offers professional instruction in six interrelated areas: art history, art practices, 3D animation, digital design, illustration, and photography.

Visual Arts provides a vital educational environment where future artists, designers and art historians explore the horizons of their own talents in an atmosphere of critical dialogue and professional art and design practice. Students learn and experience various media of animation, digital design, drawing, illustration, painting, photography and transmedia sculpture, all within the rich context of a research university. Learning is predicated on both an understanding of art and media theory, and on the practical knowledge of methods and materials used in making art and design today. Art history studies focus on historical knowledge integrated with critical writing and analysis.

The department prides itself on fostering an appreciation for diverse approaches to visual culture and to reaching out to the larger art history, arts and design communities. Internships are available.

Graduating seniors receiving the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree are required to participate in the BFA thesis exhibition during their last semester of study. This exhibition is scheduled for each spring term only.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Emphases:

3D Graphics and Animation

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Emphasis:

Art History

Visual Arts Minors:

Many of the above options require FINE 2600 Art History Survey I and/or FINE 2610 Art History Survey II. Either course may also count toward Core Humanities (as part of the General Education requirements). Contact the College of Arts & Media at CAM@ucdenver.edu for details.