Mike Driscoll, a Peck School of the Arts alum and teacher at Bay View High School, has been named one of five national recipients of the 2025 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. The award includes $100,000 to support Driscoll’s continued impact on students through hands-on learning …
Art, MA MA
Find your creative voice with an art masters program customized for you. Whether you choose a specialization in studio art or design entrepreneurship and innovation, you’ll be supported and inspired to take your creative vision to the next level.
With two areas of specialization, you can tailor your education to your individual goals and interests. And you won’t do it alone. Our faculty are accomplished artists and educators who are dedicated to helping you grow and succeed. You’ll also work alongside a supportive community of peers who will challenge you to push your boundaries, collaborate, and share your ideas. You’ll gain practical, hands-on experience with access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.
Program Type
Master’s
Program Format
On Campus
What it’s like to be an Art MA student at Peck School of the Arts
As a graduate student studying art at UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts, your artistic home will be the Kenilworth Square East (KSE) building, a research facility approximately one mile from campus. Graduate student studios are located in the Kenilworth Square East building, which means you can have a dedicated space to do your thing. Plus, you’ll find a full schedule of exhibitions, workshops, and special lectures for endless inspiration throughout the year.
But don’t take our word for it. Experience for yourself what it is like to be a student here by scheduling a personalized tour with one of our graduate program coordinators.
Art MA Program Details
In our Master of Arts in Art program, you’ll experience a challenging and rewarding journey of artistic growth and exploration. You’ll engage in lively discussions, critiques, and presentations with faculty and peers, and can exhibit your work in our galleries. Our program is designed to help you develop your own artistic voice and style, while gaining the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a professional artist. Full-time students typically complete the Art MA within four semesters.
Art & Design Studio Disciplines
Led by expert artist faculty, our art and design studio disciplines are content areas that provide focus to your creative research, practice and degree. We offer the following studio disciplines: Ceramics, Creative Technologies, Design, Digital Fabrication, Fibers, Jewelry & Metalsmithing, Painting & Drawing, Photography & Imaging, Printmaking & Book Arts and Sculpture.
Scholarships & Aid
UW-Milwaukee and Peck School of the Arts offers a variety of cost-saving opportunities, including scholarships, grants, fellowships and residency-based tuition rates. Learn more about scholarship and aid opportunities available to you.
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate students may be eligible to receive a Teaching or Project Assistantship, which includes full tuition remission, annual stipend, and affordable state health coverage through the University.
Artists Now! Guest Lecture Series
Throughout the fall and spring semesters, the Artists Now! Guest Lecture Series welcomes a diverse group of nationally and internationally recognized artists working across traditional, hybrid and emergent disciplines. Join us to explore and expand boundaries of creative visual practices alongside others with an interest in contemporary visual art.
Galleries & Exhibitions
Our art and design programs host many galleries and exhibitions both on campus and throughout the community. Our campus is home to four permanent art galleries, each with its own unique mission. All of them are free, open to the public and accessible for everyone to enjoy.
Milwaukee is also home to dozens of galleries and museums. All students in an art and design degree program receive a free annual membership to the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM). That means you can visit MAM and its events, including the popular MAM After Dark series, free of charge while you are a student.
Internships & Opportunities
Students work and intern professionally with Milwaukee’s leading art museums and galleries, creative agencies, corporations and nonprofits. They also find internships across the country and beyond. Discover where your education can take you. Learn more about internships and opportunities.
Student Organizations & Clubs
Meet like-minded people in a wide variety of student organizations and clubs who inspire creativity and will support your aspirations. Collaborate and create, network with professional artists, and deepen your connection with faculty, mentors and fellow students outside of the classroom.
Study Abroad
We believe that a complete education in the arts should take you beyond the classroom and the local community. By studying abroad, you’ll gain more than a change of scenery. You’ll embark on a transformative educational experience and bring a global perspective to your field of study. Explore upcoming trips offered in partnership with the Center for International Education.
Art & Design Alumni Stories
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Art education alum recognized nationally for impact in skilled trades education
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TikTok creator and UWM alum Geo Rutherford reconnects with her alma mater for Artists Now! lectureGeo Rutherford (MFA 2021, Art) is an artist, author, and TikTok creator with more than 1.8 million followers. She’s best known for her viral series Spooky Lake Month and for using her platform to share stories about the Great Lakes and environmental sustainability. On October 15, Rutherford will engage with …
Art & Design Careers
- 3D Animator / Modeler
- Advertising Director
- Animator
- App Developer
- Art Critic / Writer
- Art Dealer
- Art Director
- Art Gallery Owner
- Art Historian
- Art Therapist
- Artisan Solutionist
- Artist in Residence
- Artists’ Agent
- Arts Administrator
- Augmented Reality Designer
- Blacksmith
- Ceramicist
- Commercial Artist
- Community Artist
- Community Organizer
- Consultant
- Costume Designer
- Creative Services Manager
- Curator
- Design Manager
- Designer
- Director of Community Engagement
- Educator
- Entrepreneur
- Exhibit Designer
- Fabricator
- Fashion Designer
- Fine Artist
- Floral Designer
- Font Designer
- Freelance Artist
- Furniture Designer / Restorer
- Game Designer
- Graphic Designer
- Graphic Artist
- Illustrator
- Industrial Designer
- Interactive Designer
- Interior Designer
- Jewelry Designer / Maker
- Lighting Designer
- Makeup Artist
- Marketing & Sales Director
- Metalsmith
- Mixed Media Artist
- Muralist
- Museum Director
- Packaging Designer
- Painter
- Photographer
- Photographic Stylist
- Photographic Technician
- Printmaker
- Product Designer
- Production Artist
- Program Director / Coordinator
- Prop Maker
- Public Artist
- Public Relations Director
- Sculptor
- Set Designer
- Sketch Artist
- Stylist
- Technical Designer, Apparel
- Textile Designer
- Toy Maker
- User Experience / User Interface Designer
- Visual Merchandiser
- Visual / Special Effects Artist
- Web Designer / Developer
Art MA Program Faculty
Which faculty you have within this program is dependent upon your chosen courses or interests. For a list of all Art & Design faculty and staff please click the button below.
- Professor, Fibers
- Graduate Program Representative, Art & Design
- Area Head, Fibers
- cho@uwm.edu
- Art Building 478B
- Associate Professor, Design & Visual Communication
- Co-Area Head, Design & Visual Communication
- grame@uwm.edu
- 414-229-4258
- Art Building 430B
- Associate Professor, Digital Fabrication & Design
- Associate Professor, Design & Visual Communication
- Area Head, Digital Fabrication & Design
- hawk@uwm.edu
- Art Building 430B
- Professor, Jewelry & Metalsmithing
- Area Head, Jewelry & Metalsmithing
- yk@uwm.edu
- Art Building 358
- Assistant Professor, Design & Visual Communication
- larsenw@uwm.edu
- 817-805-3409
- Kenilworth Square East 545
- Associate Professor (on sabbatical 2025-26), Printmaking & Book Arts
- Area Head, Printmaking & Book Arts
- meuninck@uwm.edu
- 414-229-3753
- Art Building 319
- Professor, Design & Visual Communication
- Co-Area Head, Design & Visual Communication
- lmoline@uwm.edu
- Art Building 417
- Associate Professor (on sabbatical 2025-26), Photography & Imaging
- Area Head, Photography & Imaging
- mougel@uwm.edu
- 414-251-6296
- Mitchell Hall B84
- Associate Professor (on sabbatical fall 2025), Painting & Drawing
- Co-Chair, Department of Art & Design
- Area Head, Painting & Drawing
- piehl@uwm.edu
- Mitchell Hall 329
- Professor, Creative Technologies / Mechanical Engineering
- Co-Chair, Department of Art & Design
- Director, UWM Startup Challenge
- sternn@uwm.edu
- 414-477-9602
- Lubar Entrepreneurship Center 204
- Associate Professor, Sculpture
- Area Head, Sculpture
- williagw@uwm.edu
- 414-229-6862
- Art Building B31
