Fine Arts
Catalyst for cultural change.
Critical thinking, painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, and new media are the backbone of our renowned Fine Arts program.
“Onigami”
Eric Wang ’20
Discover the power of expression in this BFA program.
Have you been searching for the right college for fine arts? Ringling College of Art and Design’s Fine Arts BFA degree is an intimate program with limited enrollment, providing individual attention that fosters a tight-knit community of artists. Critical thinking, painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, and technology make up the backbone of the Fine Arts curriculum. Students learn technical and conceptual skills, explore innovative modes of expression, and develop an awareness of the historical and contemporary context of their work.
Our program prepares students for success in the 67-billion-dollar international art industry. We provide students with their own studio spaces, state-of-the-art facilities, and a multitude of exhibition opportunities. Graduates of the program go on to become critically acclaimed artists, industry creatives, and entrepreneurs.
Explore Our Major
Hands-on Experience: Crossley Gallery
Hands-on Experience:
Crossley Gallery
Crossley Gallery, is the Fine Art Department’s white cube gallery space and is administered by our Fine Arts students in collaboration with the Galleries and Exhibitions Department. Students develop gallery programming, curate professional exhibitions, and have the opportunity to exhibit throughout the year.
Crossley Gallery provides students first-hand experience in working within a professional gallery system.
Our Facilities
Studios North and the Glen Fine Arts Building
Studios North and the Glen Fine Arts Building are the creative hubs exclusive to the Fine Arts students. The facilities provide students with studio spaces, a common area, and special projects exhibition space.
Printmaking
The Printmaking Studio is located in the Richard and Barbara Basch Visual Arts Center. This new space allows for both traditional and cutting-edge printmaking processes, including etching, screenprinting, and lithography, as well as various forms of digital and technology-based printmaking.
Sculpture
The Fine Arts sculpture facility allows access to metal fabrication, welding, various kinds of mold making and casting, wood fabrication, and ceramics as well as digital fabrication.
Wood Shop
The Daniel E. Offutt III Wood Shop is a fully equipped, open-access shop available to all Ringling students. The Wood Shop has all the equipment needed to make anything from stretcher bars to fine furniture and a helpful staff to answer your questions and offer assistance using all the tools.
Glass Studio
The Glass Studio houses a state-of-the-art hot shop for glassblowing and a cold shop for cutting, grinding, and polishing glass. Fine Arts students have exclusive access to courses in this Studio.
Digital Fabrication Studio and Digital Labs
The Digital Fabrication Studio facilitates the realization of digital designs into physical objects through a variety of processes, both 2D and 3D. Students have access to multiple state-of-the-art computer labs across campus, including PC, Mac, and Cintiq stations. Students can use the latest software and technology to further explore their content and push the boundaries of their mediums.
Opportunities for students
Residency and Study Abroad Programs
Fine Arts students have the exciting opportunity to study abroad and can apply for a semester or quarter at the The New School, Parsons Paris, the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam, Holland, and the Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan, County Clare, Ireland and Bard, Berlin. Additionally, every year, students from the Fine Arts program have a chance to participate in the Yale/Norfolk Summer School of Art in western Connecticut as well as the Pilchuck Summer Glass School in Seattle, Washington. The department supports rising seniors the opportunity for Summer residencies and programs.
Visiting Artists
Visiting artists play an important role within the Fine Arts program and are an invaluable resource for our students. Visiting artists promote a greater understanding of contemporary art and culture through lectures, one-on-one and group critiques, demonstrations, and on campus educational exhibitions providing students with direct access to world-renowned creatives, working across many disciplines.
INDEX
INDEX – Industry Experience at Ringling College – is our promise to provide every student the opportunity to have hands-on industry experience before graduation by offering real-world projects with real-world clients. This experiential education initiative allows students to learn how to turn passion into profession. INDEX opportunities are abundant and available through experiential learning in the classroom, the Design Center, Studio Labs, ART Network, the Makerspace, as client competitions and immersive experiences, volunteerism, internships, and elective courses.
Sarasota Art Museum
Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design is the region’s first museum dedicated to contemporary art. The Museum offers Fine Arts students the opportunity to directly engage with today’s leading and emerging artists through exhibitions, artist lectures, workshops, and internships.
