Program Overview
The MFA in Visual Arts, a full- time, low-residency program offered by The Art Institute of Boston (AIB) at Lesley University, provides the ideal solution for artists, teachers, and professionals in related fields who are seeking professional advancement in the field of visual arts. Accredited by both NEASC and NASAD, the MFA program allows students, with the guidance of our internationally known faculty and mentors, to design their own studio and academic plan each semester as they broaden their knowledge of contemporary art and critical theory over 4 semesters, 2 years of concentrated study. The MFA program also benefits from the success of Lesley's low-residency model, which meets the diverse needs of adult learners. The MFA in studio arts is a degree which can advance the careers of artists, teachers, and professionals in other art-related fields.
The interdisciplinary focus of the MFA program encourages students to explore the integration of a variety of visual arts media. The MFA in Visual Arts focuses on developing the tools and expertise to refine individual vision. Students advance their study of art history, culture and critical thinking through the rigorous academic components of the program. Students increase their awareness of how their work relates to worldwide traditions of art making. The MFA program broadens the students' knowledge of visual arts as a profession, including relationships with galleries, grant and proposal preparation, public and private commission, and the ongoing development of media and art making strategies.
Select MFA Highlights
Maggie Holmes, MFA in Visual Arts Student, is a 2013 recipient of a 10,000 USD artist’s initiative grant in photography from the Minnesota State Arts Board.
Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, Artistic Director of dOCUMENTA (13), is Visiting Critic Faculty for the Spring 2013 semester.
Edie Bresler (MFA in Visual Arts ‘10), selected as an Artist in Residence by the Boston Center for the Arts for Spring 2013 is also the recipient of a 2013 recipient of a Berkshire Taconic ART grant.
Liz Deschenes, MFA Visiting Professor Faculty, was included in the Whitney Biennial 2012.
Lauren Cross (MFA '10) is a 2013 recipient of a Fort Worth Weekly Annual Visionary Award
Judith Barry, Director of MFA in Visual Arts Program and Faculty Member Cesare Pietrousti participated in dOCUMENTA (13) as did MFA Mentors Sam Durant, Joan Jonas, and Michael Rakowitz, and MFA in Visual Arts candidate Andrew Yang.
Amanda Nelsen, MFA in Visual Arts ’08, and Alison Williams, MFA in Visual Arts ’09
were awarded Joan Mitchell Foundation Grants in painting and sculpture nationwide in 2008, and in 2009, respectively.
For more highlights, news, and accolades, please visit our Visual Arts Faculty/Student/Alumni Highlights page.
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Faculty Spotlight
Judith Barry
Professor | Director of MFA in Visual Arts Program
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