Ceramics
MFA
Program introduction and alerts
The MFA in Artisanry is an intensive two-to-three-year course of study that emphasizes exploration and mastery within contemporary art making. This program pursues process and material intelligence in a supportive inter-genre studio environment and a curriculum that supports risk and clarity with rigor.
Ceramics
Ceramics is a 60 credit, two- to three-year program of study. The Ceramics program offers the opportunity for concentrated studio work involving both technical and conceptual exploration. Through questioning and experimentation, students work to consolidate materials and processes while developing strong conceptual and expressive ideas.
Program curriculum and details
Graduate students are encouraged to pursue individual areas of interest which may include fabrication of functional or sculptural forms. Your work in the studio is complemented by courses in clay and glaze formulation, kiln construction, technical mastery within ceramics, and other media supporting your ideas.
You will work closely with a faculty advisor to ensure guided exploration to develop maturity. Individual meetings take place on a weekly basis and critiques as needed. Committee members are comprised of 2/3rds faculty from UMass Dartmouth and a guest faculty member if requested. Studies culminate with both a visual and written thesis.
To arrange a tour of our facilities please contact Rebecca Hutchinson, 508-910-6683, or rhutchinson@umassd.edu.
Student success
Graduate ceramics student’s "Enmeshed" (2022) rewarded for innovative work in textile and fiber media by a student artist.
Faculty positions
- Adams State University
- Arizona State University
- Buffalo State University
- Colorado Mountain College
- MassArt
- Northeastern University
- Providence College
- Rhode Island School of Design
- SUNY New Paltz
- Texas State University
- University of Arkansas
- University of Central Arkansas
- University of Florida
- University of Minnesota Morris
- University of Nebraska at Kearney
- University of West Florida
- University of Wisconsin
- Utah Tech University
Other employment
- Archie Bray Foundation, Educational Coordinator
- Artist Assistant, Theaster Gates
- Castle Hill Art Center, Ceramics Area Coordinator
- James Renwick Alliance, Executive Director
- Kennedy Museum of Art, Ohio University, Curator
- Montana Art Mobile, Executive Director
- Northern Clay Center, Educational Outreach Manager
- Sherle Wagner International, Ceramic Production Manager
- The Pottery Workshop Jingdezhen China, Director
- Toy Museum, Executive Director
- Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, Director
Residencies
- Anderson Ranch Arts Center
- Archie Bray Foundation
- Arrowmont for the Arts and Crafts
- Coastal Oregon Artist Residency via Recology
- Centrum Foundation
- Elsewhere Artist Collaborative
- Haystack
- Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency
- Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts
- Mudflat Studios
- Playa
- Pocosin Art Center
- Pottery Northwest
- Red Lodge
- Red Star Studios
- Sacatar Institute
- Sitka Center for Art and Ecology
- Sou'wester Artist Residency
- Vermont Studio Center
- Volland Foundation
- Watershed
Awards
- Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation Grant
- American Craft Council Emerging Artist Award
- Artist Trust Gap Grant
- CERF Craft Emergency Relief Fund
- Commission – Philadelphia International Airport
- Emerging Artist, Fiber Art Now
- Fleisher Wind Challenge Grant, Fleisher Art Memorial
- ISC Outstanding Student Award
- Massachusetts State Fellowship
- Meyer Family Award for Contemporary Art, Mainline Art Center
- Montana State Fellowship
- New York State Fellowship
- Surface Design Association's Outstanding Student Award
- The Boston Globe's art-school stars to watch 2020–2023
- United States Artist Fellow
- Visual Arts Grant, The Kunststiftung North Rhine-Westphalia. Schöppingen, Germany
Pursue your MFA at UMassD
- Assistantships: provide stipends, tuition waivers and fee reductions
- Exhibition opportunities: local, regional, and on campus
- Facilities: labs, equipment, and tools for artistic exploration and production
- Faculty: involved in scholarly, creative, and professional projects
- Individualized attention extended to every student
- Interdisciplinary projects and committees are encouraged
- Location: an hour from Providence, Boston, and Cape Cod
- New Bedford: an active downtown arts community
- University education: access to faculty in other fields
- Visiting artists: enrich your artistic and professional development
- Visual Resources Center: more than 150,000 archived images
- Workspaces: assigned to each graduate student
A limited number of assistantships are available on a competitive basis. This award is subject to the work needs of the position and department, your satisfactory performance of duties, your academic record, and availability of funds, and may be subject to change.