Pratt’s an exceptional place to study art and design history. From our landmarked campus you’ll have access to NYC’s premier international private collections, libraries, museums, studios, and galleries, as well as leading artists, designers, historians, and theorists.
Join us in New York City, the art capital of the United States, for an immersive education in the history of art and design. Specialized foundational, art and design history, and liberal arts courses prepare you to conduct research, critically analyze and describe works of art, and place them in their social context. Studios and electives in your chosen concentration provide an in-depth program of study and experiential learning opportunities to practice traditional and new visual arts techniques.
The Experience
Taking specially designed foundation and survey courses, students in the BFA program will engage with a range of liberal arts disciplines including philosophy, literature, and criticism of the history of art and design, as well as studio courses. You’ll collaborate closely with your team, faculty, and community partners to learn the skills needed to create strategies and systems that meet real-world challenges.
Electives and Seminars
You’ll have the opportunity to take electives in film and design, architecture, non-Western, pre-Renaissance, Renaissance to Rococo, and 19th-, 20th-, or 21st-century art, theory and methodology, and chemistry of art. Major-specific seminars are available from your first through senior years, on topics that include the role of New York as a cultural capital, critical and theoretical models, and art and social justice.
Study Abroad
Immersing yourself in another culture is an incredible experience that can extend the boundaries of creativity. Study abroad programs are an integral part of the college experience, and Pratt has deep connections with university partners around the world. Study in Paris with the Pratt in Paris summer program. We also recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of Pratt in Venice, which is a 6-week program that occurs each June and July. For more information on Study Abroad, visit Pratt’s Study Abroad page.
Learning Resources
We develop disciplinary fluency in our program of study and we celebrate the interdisciplinary nature of design critical to address the plurality and complexity of the environments in which we operate. Learn about resources.
Our Faculty
Pratt’s distinguished faculty of outstanding creative professionals and scholars share a common desire to develop each student’s potential and creativity to the fullest. Bringing different views, methods, and perspectives, they provide a rigorous educational model in which students make and learn. See all History of Art and Design faculty and administrators.
Our Alumni
Pratt’s distinguished alumni are leading diverse and thriving careers, addressing critical challenges and creating innovative work that reimagines our world.
Join us at Pratt. Learn more about admissions requirements, plan your visit, talk to a counselor, and start your application. Take the next step.
You’ll find yourself at home at Pratt. Learn more about our residence halls, student organizations, athletics, gallery exhibitions, events, the amazing City of New York and our Brooklyn neighborhood communities. Check us out.
As the Spring 2025 semester draws to a close, we celebrate the insight, creativity, and dedication of our History of Art and Design community. From in-depth research to critical discussions and final presentations, your work continues to shape the understanding of art, design, and their histories.
Wishing all our students, faculty, and staff a restorative and inspiring summer! 🌿
#EndOfSemester #PrattInstitute #Spring2025 #HistoryOfArtAndDesign #ArtHistory #DesignHistory #CreativeCommunity
Design History Spotlight: The Tulip Chair by Eero Saarinen
Designed by Eero Saarinen in 1955, the Tulip Chair is a hallmark of mid-century modern design, combining sleek elegance with functional innovation. Saarinen, known for his ability to blend form and function, created this iconic chair as part of his Pedestal Collection for Knoll.
Key Features:
The chair’s single pedestal base was revolutionary for its time, eliminating the traditional four legs and offering a smooth, clean silhouette that made it visually striking and highly functional.
Made from fiberglass and vinyl, the Tulip Chair was designed to be lightweight yet durable, perfectly suited for the modern living environment of the 1950s.
Its organic, fluid shape was inspired by the natural forms of flowers, making it an ideal fusion of biomorphic design with contemporary materials.
Fun Fact: Saarinen’s aim was to eliminate the “slum of legs” that often cluttered furniture designs, creating a chair that was both elegant and practical. The Tulip Chair has since become an enduring symbol of mid-century modern style.
#EeroSaarinen #TulipChair #MidCenturyModern #DesignHistory #FurnitureDesign #Modernism
Art History 101: Unt 5 - Modernism and Abstract Art
The Modernist Movement
The early 20th century saw the rise of Modernism, characterized by a break from tradition and exploration of new artistic expressions.
Example: "The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dalí (1931)
Cubism Revolutionizes Art
Pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, Cubism shattered conventional perspectives by depicting subjects from multiple viewpoints simultaneously.
Example: "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" by Pablo Picasso (1907)
Abstract Expressionism Emerges
Artists like Mark Rothko emphasized emotional expression through abstract forms and colors, focusing on viewer experience rather than representational accuracy.
Example: "No. 61 (Rust and Blue)" by Mark Rothko (1953)
Op Art Phenomenon
Op Art emerged in the mid-20th century, using optical illusions to create dynamic visual effects that challenged perception—Bridget Riley was a key figure here.
Example: "Movement in Squares" by Bridget Riley (1961)
Weekly Art Spotlight: The Hall of the Kings, Alhambra – Muqarnas Ceiling
The Hall of the Kings in the Alhambra, Granada, is known for its stunning muqarnas ceiling, an extraordinary example of Islamic architecture. This intricate ceiling design combines geometric elegance with spiritual symbolism.
Key Features of the Muqarnas Ceiling:
The muqarnas are a form of stalactite-like ornamentation that creates a visually striking 3D pattern. These small, niche-like structures are arranged in tiers, creating a honeycomb or star-shaped appearance.
The ceiling’s layered structure gives the illusion of depth and complexity, symbolizing the infinite nature of the universe. It reflects the Islamic belief that the divine cannot be fully understood but is hinted at through beauty and complexity in nature.
In the Hall of the Kings, the muqarnas design is more than just decoration; it serves as an architectural and symbolic link between earth and heaven, offering a celestial, ethereal effect. The play of light and shadow in the recesses of the muqarnas emphasizes a spiritual connection.
Fun Fact: The muqarnas ceiling not only enhances the aesthetics of the space but also serves practical purposes, improving acoustics in the hall.
#IslamicArt #Muqarnas #Alhambra #ArtHistory #Architecture #GeometricArt #WeeklyArtSpotlight
Time melts away in Salvador Dalí’s surreal masterpiece, The Persistence of Memory (1931)
This iconic painting challenges our perception of time, reality, and the subconscious. What do you think the melting clocks symbolize?
#Surrealism #SalvadorDali #ArtAnalysis #IconicArt #ThePersistenceOfMemory #ArtHistory
Did You Know?
The Impressionist Movement was named after a single painting!
In 1874, Claude Monet exhibited a work titled Impression, Sunrise (Impression, Soleil Levant) in Paris. While critics mocked the loose brushwork and "unfinished" look, the term "Impressionism" was coined from this very painting, originally as an insult!
Far from a failure, Impressionism went on to revolutionize the art world with its focus on light, color, and capturing the fleeting beauty of everyday life.
Weekly Art Inspiration: Zhang Daqian's "Panorama of Mount Lu" (1981–83)
Zhang Daqian’s "Panorama of Mount Lu" blends traditional Chinese ink painting with modern techniques. His splashed-ink method and vibrant colors bring the grandeur of Mount Lu to life, showcasing nature's beauty through innovation. Let this masterpiece inspire you to merge tradition with modern creativity! 🌄🎨
#ArtInspiration #ZhangDaqian #ChineseArt #NatureArt #CreativeFusion
You are warmly invited to the HAD Student Symposium, featuring presentations by students from the Senior Seminar and HAD Graduate Thesis programs.
*This event is open for public.
Date: Friday, May 9, 2025
Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: Alumni Reading Room
Please RSVP and save the date! The morning session (10:00–11:45am) will showcase research presentations by Senior Seminar students, followed by graduate thesis presentations from 1:00–3:00pm. Lunch will be served during the break. Family and friends are welcome!
The BFA program affords a grounding in the philosophy, literature, and criticism of the history of art and design. Students will take specially designed foundation courses and the survey classes. They will continue with additional credits in liberal arts (English, humanities, sciences, social sciences, and foreign language), studio, and electives. Majors will take upper-level electives in film and design, architecture, non-Western, pre-Renaissance, Renaissance to Rococo, and 19th-, 20th-, or 21st-century art. Theory and Methodology, Chemistry of Art, and a Senior Seminar are requirements for completion of the degree.
Undergraduates are competent in a broad range of knowledge in the history of cultures and their art.
Undergraduates understand that the meaning of works of art is tied to changes in social, political, and economic contexts through time.
Undergraduates will be able to demonstrate the necessary writing skills to analytically observe and describe works of art and the research skills to place art in its social context.
Undergraduates in the B.F.A. degree with studio training and experience learn traditional and innovative techniques in the manipulation of materials that generate artistic expression.
