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.
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!
Design Movement Spotlight: Art Deco
Era: 1920s - 1940s
Key Characteristics:
Geometry & Symmetry: Bold geometric shapes, zigzags, and sweeping curves.
Luxurious Materials: Use of lavish materials like marble, gold, and glass.
Technological Influence: A fascination with modern machinery and industrial progress.
Global Influence: Incorporates elements from ancient Egypt, Africa, and East Asia.
Historical Context:
Art Deco emerged post-World War I, reflecting a desire for luxury, glamour, and modernity. It was influenced by the technological advancements and the cultural shifts of the Roaring Twenties. The movement spanned various domains, from architecture and fashion to interior design and graphic arts.
Legacy:
Art Deco remains a significant influence in contemporary design, often seen in modern fashion, interior decor, and even digital design, continuing its legacy of combining functionality with elegance.
Fresco is a technique where pigments are applied to wet plaster, allowing the paint to bond as the plaster dries. The word "fresco" comes from the Italian "fresh," referring to the wet surface.
Used since ancient times, frescoes are iconic in churches and palaces, with Michelangelo's "Sistine Chapel" being a prime example.
Frescoes are durable and become part of the architecture, blending art with the building itself.
#Fresco #ArtTechnique #SistineChapel #Michelangelo #MuralArt #HistoricalArt #RenaissanceArt #ArtHistory #ArchitecturalArt #Painting #ArtLovers
Artist of the Day: Max Kahn (1902 – 2005)
Today, we're honoring the life and work of Max Kahn, a trailblazing American printmaker, painter, and lithographer born on 1902. Known for his masterful use of color and texture, Kahn's contributions to the art world spanned several decades, leaving a lasting impact on printmaking and lithography.
Early Life & Education: Max Kahn was born in Podolia, now part of Ukraine, and emigrated to the United States at a young age. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, where he later became a revered teacher.
Artistic Style & Legacy: Kahn's works are characterized by their bold use of color and abstract forms. He was particularly known for his innovative approaches to lithography, often blending traditional techniques with experimental methods. His dedication to the craft helped elevate printmaking as a respected art form.
Teaching & Influence: Kahn's impact extended beyond his artwork. He was a beloved instructor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he inspired generations of artists. His teaching emphasized the importance of technical skill, creativity, and artistic integrity.
Notable Achievements:
Kahn was a key figure in the Chicago art scene, contributing significantly to its development.
His works have been exhibited in major museums and galleries, reflecting his stature in the art community.
Kahn was a recipient of several prestigious awards, recognizing his contributions to the field of printmaking.
#MaxKahn #ArtistOfTheDay #Printmaking #ArtHistory #DesignInspiration #Lithography #ArtInstituteOfChicago #ChicagoArtScene #AbstractArt
You are invited to an HAD Faculty Conversations by Mary D. Edwards , "Demigods, Dragons, and Griffons in some 14th-century Italian Frescoes by Altichiero."
* This event is for Pratt community.
Date: Wednesday, April 30th, 2025
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Venue: Zoom
About the Speaker: Mary D. Edwards has taught at Pratt since 1985. She was trained at Columbia University in Twentieth Century art, late medieval Italian art, and Non-Western art. Her courses include Native American Art and Pictorial Narrative. Her research focuses on iconography, the gesamtkunstwerk and text-and-image issues. She has published on Nicola Pisano; Duccio, Giotto, Simone Martini; Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Altichiero, Picasso and Norval Morrisseau in the SAH Journal; Studies in Iconography; Source; Zeitschrift für Kunstgeschichte, and elsewhere. She co-edited Gravity in Art … (2012) with Elizabeth Bailey and solo-edited Doppelgangers, Alter Egos and Mirror Images in Art … (2020)
About the Project: In my presentation I will discuss the impact of Greco-Roman art on the Italian artist, Altichiero, who painted frescoes in the late 14th century in Padua. Though Altichiero was painting the lives of Christian Saints, he included in his Paduan murals images of a griffon, Mithras and the Bull, Perseus and the Dragon, and Hercules, imbuing most of them with Christian meaning. I will support my interpretations of the artist’s classical images with texts by biblical, Roman, early Christian, and medieval writers, such as Justin Martyr, Ovid and Dante. The presentation will be illustrated with color slides.
Happy World Art Day!
Today, we celebrate the power of art—a universal language that transcends time, culture, and geography. From the earliest cave paintings to the cutting-edge designs of today, art has always been a vital part of the human experience, expressing our deepest emotions, stories, and dreams.
Art connects us across generations, continents, and mediums. Whether it's a masterpiece in a museum, a mural in your neighborhood, or a digital design on your screen, art brings beauty, challenges perspectives, and sparks conversations.
Fun Fact: World Art Day is celebrated on April 15, the birthday of Leonardo da Vinci, one of history’s greatest artists and inventors. His genius continues to inspire us to explore the endless possibilities of creativity.
#WorldArtDay #ArtHistory #CelebrateArt #CreativeExpression #ArtForAll #ArtLovers
"The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls."
— Pablo Picasso
Art has a unique way of transforming our perspective. It’s more than just an expression of creativity—it’s a means of escape and a way to reconnect with our deeper selves. As Picasso beautifully put it, 'The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.' In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we often forget to pause and reflect. Art offers us that moment of clarity, allowing us to lose ourselves in beauty, and in doing so, find ourselves again. Whether it’s through painting, sculpture, or any form of creative expression, art has the power to refresh our spirits and reignite our passions. So, take a moment today to let art speak to you, cleanse your mind, and inspire your soul.
#ArtInspiration #CreativeExpression #Picasso #ArtQuotes #SoulfulArt #FindingYourself
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.
