MFA Programs in Figurative Sculpture

[ToscaRenee]

I have done extensive research to find a program that meets my needs.

I must say I am disappointed to have found none.

I stumbled upon this site, finding another user who was searching for the same thing- again with no luck. I followed every response to his posting and non panned out.

The closest I've found is the NY Academy of Art , which is only accredited in the state, not nationally.

If any one has any suggestions for programs, I'd appreciate it.

I want to make monumental public art, like Malvina Hoffman or Ray Persinger.

[fritchie]

If you scan various recent threads here, you'll see that the road to public success can take many forms, and doesn't necessarily wind through any MFA program. Extra education certainly does help, and the personal contacts made in art programs may be the most valuable gains there.

Hope you find some of what you want, either in the threads, or hopefully also in further educational suggestions.

[obseq]

Welcome!

One of our very active members, Jason Gillespie, attends the NY Academy of Art,
and I'm sure he can lend some insight into the MFA program.



The closest I've found is the NY Academy of Art , which is only accredited in the state, not nationally.

If any one has any suggestions for programs, I'd appreciate it.

I want to make monumental public art, like Malvina Hoffman or Ray Persinger.

[classicalsculpt]

There is also the path of being taught in the private atelier of a living master. Look very discriminantly for a sculptor whose work you highly admire who lives in your area and ask if he or she will teach you privately. I did so, and am not sorry. It might be a little more expensive, but you won't waste time.

[evaldart]

If you are looking for a mentor, to work with someone whose work you admire, that person may or may not be involved in a university program. If it your goal to get a nationally accredited mfa for future use, find a good art program, there are many, you will get a good education and may pursue any area you choose. You will benefit from a good faculty whether their work resembles what you like or not. Its expensive so make sure that piece of paper counts.

[Merlion]

...The closest I've found is the NY Academy of Art , which is only accredited in the state, not nationally....
Just curious. Is national accreditation important?

[JasonGillespie]

The closest I've found is the NY Academy of Art , which is only accredited in the state, not nationally.

Actually the New York Academy of Art is nationally accredited. It is given accreditation through the Board of Regents and the Commissioner of Education of New York which is recognized by the US Dept of Education as a national accrediting agency.

Merlion,

Just curious. Is national accreditation important?

By my understanding accreditation is important as a check and balance on whether or not you went to (or are planning to attend) an institution that has been determined to meet certain standardized criteria in a number of critical areas. Regional accreditation is actually considered a little better. There are six regional agencies that handle this sort of accreditation, but national is pretty standard. It seems to be a far more important in the US than Europe. (This is what I have read anyway.)

[JasonGillespie]

There is also the path of being taught in the private atelier of a living master. Look very discriminantly for a sculptor whose work you highly admire who lives in your area and ask if he or she will teach you privately. I did so, and am not sorry. It might be a little more expensive, but you won't waste time.

classicalsculpt,

This was a path I was considering for a while but couldn't find anyone I really admired that was taking on students. Who were you able to find and how expensive is expensive? Just curious.

[evaldart]

I had a friend in graduate school who, after already teaching for some years, was forced to go back to grad school to get the "F" of the mfa. He had an MA from a college not properly accredited for his field but in order to move properly forward in his chosen career he ended up spending more money on that "F". the money aside, he didnt seem to mind. He got to engage in some more art raving and picked up a few more big words before he retreated back to the safety of that position he was pursuing.

[Merlion]

Merlion,
By my understanding accreditation is important ..... Regional accreditation is actually considered a little better. There are six regional agencies that handle this sort of accreditation, but national is pretty standard. ..
This is interesting. Outsiders would normally not expect this.

[Keropian]

I believe you limited yourself by bringing up MFA. Many University's only practice free form or abstraced art (i.e. U of P).

Here are three that I highly recommend:

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts:
Certificate, BFA and MFA Program.
Generally the Certificate artists works tend to be better, since all their time is generally spent working, training the eye and study of the figure. I know friends who took their BFA at night then applied for their Masters.

NY Academy: BFA MFA

Lyme Academy in Olde Lyme Connecticut: Now accredited and in the process of establishing a MFA program.

I can only vouch for these schools above for figurative art.

The sad thing is that there are very few, if any apprentiseships available as there was so long ago. I feel this is a tremendous loss to our society as a whole and the student who wishes to learn sculpture from the ground up. You can only learn so much from four years of school, and their should be programs set up with professional sculptors to further one's career.

Alex Hromych- Current PAFA Certificate instructor told me recently that less PAFA students are interested is learning to sculpt the figure, and would rather cast their work in bronze.

Good Luck to You!

Michael Keropian
http://www.keropiansculpture.com

[JasonGillespie]

FYI: New York Academy doesn't have a BFA program. It is only graduate level. A BFA program there would be great though.

[Blake]

I think it wonderful that there are some, although few, places to study figurative sculpture today, when I was doing my BFA I could only find abstract sculpture being taught in Canada (1980)
I had to go to Paris and then I could only find a private teacher. Figurative sculpture has come back somewhat from those days at least you have some choice today.

I have had apprentices and enjoyed teaching them, but they do not fit into the “employment” laws in France very well so they can only be done on a limited type of basis and no payment would be allowed from either party or you open up an ugly can of worms… too bad really. We all lose out. I could really use the help and I enjoy sharing the techniques of my trade.
Good luck with your studies
Blake

[k-morrow]

This will sound like a big surprise for most, but I can't give enough credit to the University of Oklahoma. Their School of Art has a Figurative Sculpture BFA and MFA that is really impressive. Paul Moore (National Sculpture Society inductee) and Sohail Shehada head the program. Both very talented and for being located in Oklahoma, not nearly as expensive as other programs. Their is a lot of support there and many showing opportunities.

[Musicman92130]

Another option you might want to consider is the sculpture program at the Florence Academy of Art. It isn't accredited but you will get a good foundation for doing classical figurative sculpture. I did their Summer program which was awesome, but they also have a 2 year program. Plus it is in Florence, so you can study the masters there also.

Mark