The Peck School of the Arts is once again well represented among this year’s Mary L. Nohl Fund Fellowships, with alum Michelle Grabner (BFA 1984; MA 1987) and alum/lecturer Sarah Ballard (MFA 2024, Cinematic Arts) receiving fellowships. The Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Mary L. Nohl Fund Fellowships for Individual Artists program awards funds …
Art, MFA MFA
Take your passion for studio art to the next level. With our program, you are supported in your creative pursuits as you advance your skills and prepare for a professional career in art. And you won’t be alone. We are a strong community of artists.
The MFA in Art is an excellent fit for those seeking to deepen their knowledge and skills in a supportive and collaborative environment. Our program is led by renowned faculty who are active in the art world and committed to helping you achieve your goals. With a low student-to-faculty ratio and dedicated studio space, you’ll receive personalized mentorship and room to create as you grow as an artist and develop your own artistic voice.
Program Type
Master’s
Program Format
On Campus
What it’s like to be a student at Peck School of the Arts
As a graduate student studying art, your artistic home will be the Peck School of the Arts’ 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. See for yourself what it is like to be a student here by scheduling a personalized tour with one of our graduate program coordinators.
Program Details
Our Master of Fine Arts in Art is designed to give you a well-rounded education that combines traditional techniques with innovative approaches to art. You’ll have the opportunity to explore various media and processes while engaging with other disciplines and the local, national and international community. We’re committed to embracing diverse ideas and fostering an experimental attitude, in line with contemporary art practices. Our department encourages and supports engagement beyond traditional boundaries to help you grow as an artist and professional.
View the Art, MFA requirements.
Art & Design Studio Disciplines
Led by expert artist faculty, our Art & 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 & 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.
Alumni Stories in Art & Design
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Two PSOA alums receive 2025 Nohl Fellowships
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Art MFA candidate and WaterMarks grad assistant uses art to amplify the importance of water conservationArt MFA candidate Corrigan Eckert is working alongside UWM partner WaterMarks to further develop the Milwaukee community's understanding of water conservation and environmental activism. This project touches on these important subjects by using art to educate the city.
Careers in Art & Design
- 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
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 follow the link below.
- 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
- Assistant Professor, Design & Visual Communication
- larsenw@uwm.edu
- 817-805-3409
- Kenilworth Square East 545
- Associate Professor, Printmaking & Book Arts
- Graduate Program Representative, Art & Design
- 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, Photography & Imaging
- Co-Chair, Department of Art & Design
- Area Head, Photography & Imaging
- mougel@uwm.edu
- 414-251-6296
- Mitchell Hall B84
- Associate Professor, Painting & Drawing
- Area Head, Painting & Drawing
- piehl@uwm.edu
- Mitchell Hall 329
- Professor, Creative Technologies / Mechanical Engineering
- Director, UWM Startup Challenge
- sternn@uwm.edu
- 414-477-9602
- Lubar Entrepreneurship Center 204
- Associate Professor, Sculpture
- Co-Chair, Department of Art & Design
- Area Head, Sculpture
- williagw@uwm.edu
- 414-229-6862
- Art Building B31
