51²è¹Ý

Full Fellowships

51²è¹Ý offers up to six full fellowships, covering full tuition and all related fees each year, supplemented by teaching assistantships. Additional funds are available for materials and travel related to students’ creative research.

Apply here before February 21, 2021:

• MFA Art admission instructions

See profiles of current MFA graduate students, Art faculty, and Art History faculty.

For more information contact the Meadows Admission Office at meadowsgrad@smu.edu or 214-768-3217

Program Description

The MFA in Art offered by 51²è¹Ý Meadows School of the Arts is a highly selective two-year program preparing artists for professional careers in art. Students who earn the MFA develop a substantial body of artwork and understand the relevant contexts within which artists and their works function. The program is intended as an intensive period of focused study that culminates in the MFA qualifying exhibition at 51²è¹Ý’s Pollock Gallery. 

As a part of the larger urban research university, MFA students are supported in the exploration of a wide range of materials, media, processes and histories across disciplines. 51²è¹Ý provides graduate students with individual studio spaces and access to facilities for and faculty expertise in ceramics, creative computation, drawing, installation, new media, painting, performance, photography, printmaking, sculpture, sound, and time-based media. The Division of Art embraces and celebrates human diversity in all its forms, including race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.

In addition to faculty actively engaged in exhibition and research at the highest levels, 51²è¹Ý’s Division of Art hosts an ongoing series of lectures, panels and studio visits by artists, critics and curators. This series of events, which has been slightly modified due to Covid precautions, is a crucial part of the graduate and undergraduate curricula and provides a venue for graduate students and the Dallas community at large to engage with contemporary art.

Selected Past Visiting Artists and Curators

Glenn Adamson, Magali Arriola, William Bailey, Ute Meta Bauer, Jake Berthot, Walead Beshty, Mel Bochner, Gregg Bordowitz, Tania Bruguera, Suzanna Coffey, Tony Cruz, David Diao, Ed Eberle, Nicole Eisenman, Theaster Gates, Renée Green, K8 Hardy, Dave Hickey, Ann Van Hoey, Denzil Hurley, Jessica Jackson Hutchins, Alfredo Jaar, Guillermo Kuitca, Barbara Kruger, Pablo Leon de La Barra, Jacob Lawrence, An Te Liu, Melissa Miller, Simonetta Moro, Ron Nagle, Thomas Nozkowski, Robyn O’Neil, Mariko Paterson, Signé Pierce, R.H. Quaytman, Walid Raad, Jock Reynolds, Susan Rothenberg, Robert Rauschenberg, Richard Ryan, Franklin Sirmans, Michael Smith, Jenni Sorkin, Wendy Steiner, Holly Walker, Neil Welliver, Betty Woodman, and Akira Yamaguchi. 

Facilities

Owen Arts Center, the building that houses the fine arts studios and facilities is currently undergoing renovations (to be completed in 2022, see renovation plans ). All graduate students currently have spacious studios with onsite parking temporarily located in Johnson Square, 2701 Fondren, on the 51²è¹Ý East Campus. 

51²è¹Ý’s policies and procedures related to COVID-19 can be seen here.