Art and Art History

At UConn we regard the portfolio review process as the beginning of a conversation with you. The portfolio lets us get to know you as an artist – what your strengths and weaknesses are, what your art experiences have been, where your passions and interests lie.

What happens during a portfolio review?
The faculty member will look at your work and ask you to talk about it (for example, the process of making the work, the subject matter, what you were thinking about, whether you see the work as successful). We may also ask you about your art experiences in high school, your vision of the future, and your goals as an artist.

The portfolio review also enables you to get to know us. All of our portfolio reviews are conducted by full-time faculty who are committed to seeing students grow and flourish. It is an opportunity for you to ask questions about our program, the University, and careers in the arts.

What is the worst that can happen? What if we say “no”?
We believe in artists – and we believe in prospective students who want to be artists. If your portfolio reveals that you are not ready for our Foundations classes, we will recommend that you enter the university through ACES (the Academic Center for Exploring Students). This will give you the opportunity to begin studio art and art history classes more slowly and build a portfolio for mid-year or end-of-year review in freshman year. It doesn’t mean taking extra time for the degree, because you can focus on taking more General Education courses that first year.

Please keep in mind that all applicants to the program must be admitted to the University academically — a successful portfolio review does not constitute admission to the University. And remember, even if you participate in an in-person review you must still upload a digital portfolio via SlideRoom. This is to ensure that all portfolios are on file and viewable throughout the application process, which includes consideration for financial awards for incoming students. We look forward to the opportunity to meet you and discuss your work!

A successful portfolio review is required for admission to the Department of Art and Art History as a BFA in Art Major (The BA in Art requires an essay submission rather than a portfolio). All BFA prospective students will upload a portfolio to SlideRoom. Applicants may also have a live portfolio review with UConn faculty (see schedule below.) Even if an applicant is attending a live portfolio review, a portfolio must still be submitted through SlideRoom. This is to ensure that all portfolios are on file and viewable throughout the application process, which includes consideration for financial awards for incoming students.

A portfolio of 15-20 pieces should represent your best work while demonstrating independent thinking and the diversity of your experiences in the visual arts. Your strongest area of work should make up the largest portion of your portfolio. If Drawing is the focus of your portfolio you should include at least 10 drawings from direct observation. The portfolio can include finished pieces, works in progress, and sketch books. It is not necessary to mat or frame your two-dimensional work. Applicants submitting digital photographs must also submit examples of other forms of image-making. The portfolio may include works in:

Drawing
This includes traditional drawing techniques on paper as well as digital drawings and drawings done on alternative surfaces including sidewalks, cardboard, or walls. Images must reflect a basic understanding of observational drawing. Renderings of action heroes and/or anime characters are discouraged, unless you plan on pursing a degree Concentration in Illustration/Animation, and the characters you present are of your own original design.

Artist Books
All types and sizes.

Sketch Books
All types and sizes.

Painting
This includes traditional stretched canvas as well as painting on a variety of surfaces including murals, interior and exterior walls, wood panels and all types of paper.

Photography
This includes both digital photography and black-and-white photographs produced in the darkroom. Photographs are evaluated on composition, subject matter, and image quality. Photographs should convey your sense of observation and creative vision –over-reliance on filters or Photoshop techniques may obscure our evaluation of your portfolio. Again, applicants submitting digital photographs must also submit examples of other forms of image-making.

Graphic Design
(also, Communication Design or Visual Communication) This can be physical or virtual, and may include images, words, or graphic forms designed to convey ideas or information to an audience.

Video and Animation
This may include short narrative films, animation, documentary, and experimental work. Upload videos to SlideRoom or include a link to the video.

Digital Media
In selecting your digital work, keep in mind that we regard digital technologies as a tool for creative practice – the technology itself is not the end result. Digital images (including digital paintings and drawings) will be evaluated based on composition, creativity, design, subject matter, and image quality.

Multi-Dimensional Art
This includes traditional and non-traditional sculptural work in any material, as well as found object assemblage, sculptural installation, environmental art, performance art or wearable art. This may also include functional objects in any traditional and non-traditional craft medium

Prints
This includes images created using various traditional and non-traditional printmaking techniques.

Mixed Media
This includes collage and installation work.
Please note: at an in-person portfolio review, both digital imagery and video can be shown on a laptop. When you submit these items via SlideRoom, include stills from motion pieces in your SlideRoom portfolio and note them as such in the area provided for you to describe images.

How do I schedule a tour of the department?
Please sign up for a 60-minute School of Fine Arts walking tour here

Who should submit portfolios to Slideroom?
Only students applying to the BFA in Art (a portfolio of images), the BA in Art (an essay), or the BA in Art or Art History (an essay). SlideRoom is not set up to document extracurricular arts activity for students applying to other UConn Schools or Colleges. We have no way of sharing this information or forwarding it to other departments.

Do art history students need to upload a portfolio to Slideroom?
Art History students do not upload portfolios of artwork; however, they do upload an essay about their interests and experiences in the arts and art history. The Common Application will prompt art history students to enter SlideRoom to write the essay. The essay helps us to get to know you better and respond appropriately and individually to your application. The School of Fine Arts is a professional arts school, so all prospective students complete an additional admissions component of some kind (essay, portfolio review, audition, etc.)  SlideRoom is simply the program we use to collect and process the essays – you don’t actually upload images as a prospective art history student. The deadline is January 15, the same as the Common App deadline.

What is Slideroom and how do I begin uploading my portfolio?
Slideroom is an online tool that allows you to upload images of your artwork for review. It is accessed through the Common Application, and requires that a small supplemental fee be paid. Once you enter Slideroom, the program will prompt you through the steps to upload images. Even if you attend an in-person portfolio review, you must upload your portfolio to Slideroom.

Why do I only see the MFA program in Studio Art as an option for uploading a portfolio?
You are only seeing the MFA program because you have entered SlideRoom directly through the MFA program website, not through the Common Application. Undergraduate applicants must enter SlideRoom through the Common Application; graduate students apply through SlideRoom’s own website. We have no way to move a portfolio from the MFA pool to the BFA pool, so it’s important to upload the images to the right place.

How many pieces do I need for my portfolio?
We require 15-20 images in the portfolio.

May I have an in-person portfolio review?
An in-person portfolio review does give you an opportunity to discuss your work directly with a faculty member, however, only Slideroom portfolios will be considered for admissions.

Is there an advantage to attending in-person portfolio review?
The in-person review allows you to receive feedback and have a conversation with a faculty member. It also enables us to get to know you better, which can help if there are any difficulties with your application, or if you need mentoring through the college decision process. Even if an applicant is attending an in-person portfolio review, a portfolio must still be submitted through SlideRoom. This is to ensure that all portfolios are on file and viewable throughout the application process, which includes consideration for financial awards for incoming students.

Is it ok to come to an in-person portfolio review as a junior, to get feedback and advice?
Of course! We’re happy to review junior (or even sophomore) portfolios. We can discuss your work, and give advice on the best way to assemble the portfolio to showcase your work.

What concentrations are available in studio art?
All students complete the Studio Foundations program and then choose a concentration in Graphic Design, Illustration/Animation, Painting/Drawing, Photography/Video, Printmaking, Industrial Design or Sculpture/Ceramics.

Can I minor in art or art history?
Yes. We offer minors in studio art and art history.

How many students are in the department?
There are approximately 200 students in the Studio Art degree and 30 students in the Art History degree. Our programs are small enough that students get to know each other and feel like a community, but large enough to be diverse.

Are there internship opportunities for students?
Yes, many Studio Art and Art History students pursue internships, either during the semester or during the summer. Studio students have worked for illustration or design studios, as artists’ studio assistants, and for large and small animation firms. Art History students often pursue museum internships, and our students have interned at the Wadsworth Atheneum, Real Art Ways, the Florence Griswold Museum, and other institutions in and out of state.

Do undergraduates have an opportunity to exhibit work?
Yes. We strongly encourage all students to participate in the yearly Scholarship Exhibition, which is professionally juried and helps determine the distribution of prizes and scholarships. Students frequently have the opportunity to exhibit in small shows organized by faculty or fellow students in the Art Building and Student Union. The BFA degree culminates in the Senior Show. It is one of the highlights of our year.

What is the deadline for submitting the common application to UConn?
1 December, in order to be considered for merit based financial aid opportunities. The final Common App and Slideroom Portfolio deadline is 15 January.

Is there early admission at UConn?
No, there is no early admission at UConn. However, applications received by 1 December are ensured to be eligible for all university-wide merit based financial aid opportunities.

Are there any scholarships for freshmen?
Yes. If you apply by 1 December, you will be considered for merit scholarships available to UConn students. The Art and Art History Department has a small number of merit scholarships available for first-year students. Continuing Studio Art and Art History students (sophomores and above) are eligible for scholarships and awards each year through their participation in the Scholarship Show.

If I receive an AAH scholarship, when do I need to accept my scholarship?
We ask that prospective students accept or reject their scholarship offer by 15 April.

Can I start my BFA in Art, BA in Art or my BA in Art History at a regional campus?
Art courses are available at the Stamford regional campus every semester. However, all Art students must come to the Storrs campus to complete their degrees. Art History students can fulfill General Education requirements at regional campuses and sometimes take a survey course in Art History, but must attend Storrs.

Where can I find information about the university, student outcomes, financial aid, and other practical concerns?
UConn has created the Student Consumer Information page as a place to gather this information. We recommend that prospective and current students visit this site frequently.