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.
Art of the week: Exploring Transnational Feminism Through Art History
Art transcends borders, languages, and time, and it's a powerful lens through which we can view the global struggle for gender equality. Join me on a journey through the rich tapestry of transnational feminism in art history, illuminated by incredible artworks.
1️⃣ Frida Kahlo's "The Two Fridas" (1939): This iconic painting speaks to the dualities faced by women, reflecting Kahlo's own personal and cultural struggles. Her art embodied her experiences as a Mexican woman, transcending geographical boundaries.
2️⃣ Shirin Neshat's "Women of Allah" series (1993-1997): Neshat's powerful photographs and videos explore the complexities of Iranian women's identities and their resistance against oppressive norms. Her work bridges the gap between Iran and the Western world.
3️⃣ Zanele Muholi's "Faces and Phases" (2006-present): Muholi's photography project documents the lives of Black lesbian and transgender individuals in South Africa.
Their work shines a light on the unique struggles faced by this community, fostering global empathy. Art history reminds us that feminism knows no borders. These artists, among many others, have harnessed the power of creativity to break down barriers, challenge norms, and inspire change.
#ArtoftheWeek #hadpratt #hadprattpostoftheweek #HistoryofArtandDesign #TransnationalFeminism #ArtHistory #GenderEquality #FemaleArtists #EmpowermentThroughArt #EqualityThroughCreativity #InspireChange #ArtActivism #Intersectionality #FeminismInArt
Image credits:
Frida Kahlo. https://www.fridakahlo.org/images/paintings/the-two-fridas.jpg
Smarthistory. https://smarthistory.org/shirin-neshat-rebellious-silence-women-of-allah-series/
The Image Centre. https://theimagecentre.ca/exhibition/zanele-muholi-faces-and-phases/
We are delighted to announce that professor Marsha Morton has published a new co-edited anthology, “Visual Culture and Pandemic Disease since 1750: Capturing Contagion”.
Visit the HAD website in the bio to read more about the publication.
Art of the week
It’s the Barbenheimer Week!
This week we are going to introduce the collaborations of Barbie and famous artists. Mattel has collaborated with famous artists and designers to create limited-edition Barbies with unique designs inspired by art movements and iconic figures. These collaborations bridge the gap between the world of toys and high art, showcasing Barbie as a canvas for artistic expression.
The limited edition Jean-Michel Basquiat x Barbie doll merges art and beauty to pay tribute to the legacy of the American artist. The doll features beautiful dark skin and dreadlocks in the shape of an "X", as well as a crown on her head that resembles Basquiat's signature seal from some of his pieces. Her costumes also pay homage to street art, reminiscent of some of the artist's works.
Courtesy: Mattel
#Barbie #Basquiat #ArtoftheWeek #hadpratt
Art of the week: Thangka
Thangkas are intricate and delicately hand-painted scrolls that originated in the Himalayan region, particularly in Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan. These exquisite artworks are typically made on cotton or silk canvas, reflecting the devotion and craftsmanship of the artists. Steeped in religious symbolism, Thangkas offer us glimpses into the spiritual world. They depict Buddhas, bodhisattvas, deities, and mandalas with meticulous attention to detail. These divine portrayals serve as objects of meditation and veneration for practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism.
#artoftheweek #Thangka #hadpratt #TheWheelofExistence
Image reference
Title: The Wheel of Existence (Proper)
Medium: appliqué and embroidery on silk
Dimensions: 111 1/2 x 80 in. (283.2 x 203.2 cm)
Work type: thangka
Retreived from: https://www.artsbma.org/collection/the-wheel-of-existence/
Art of the week:
Georgia O’Keeffe
O'Keeffe (1887-1986) was famous for her flower paintings, but she also created impressive series of works in different mediums. Throughout her career, O'Keeffe transformed the same themes, creating motifs that were a blend of observation and abstraction. During a period of experimentation from 1915 to 1918, she produced many works on paper, including bold lines, organic landscapes, frank nudes, and abstract charcoals she called "specials". This was as many works as O'Keeffe produced in the next four decades.
O’Keeffe created the From the Lake in 1924. In this artwork, Georgia O'Keeffe creates abstract designs inspired by the landscapes of stormy Lake George country. Her compositions mark the continuation of her abstract vision in the 1920s, while also moving toward more representational views of the world around her.
#artoftheweek #GeorgiaOKeeffe #hadpratt
Image reference
From the Lake by Georgia O'Keeffe
Date: 1924
Style: Precisionism
Genre: abstract
Retreived from: https://www.wikiart.org/en/georgia-o-keeffe/from-the-lake/
Art of the week:
Bauhaus Design Movement
Bauhaus, founded in 1919 by Walter Gropius, aimed to unite fine arts, crafts, and technology. With a focus on simplicity, practicality, and geometric forms, Bauhaus design transformed the way we perceive architecture, interior design, and everyday objects. From sleek furniture to avant-garde buildings, the movement's impact is undeniable. 🖼️✍️
“Our guiding principle was that design is neither an intellectual nor a material affair, but simply and integral part of the stuff of life, necessary for everyone in a civilized society”, said Walter Groupius.
At the core of Bauhaus lies the belief that design should serve a purpose beyond aesthetics. Every form, every line, and every material used served a functional role, with no element deemed unnecessary. The movement's philosophy championed the idea of creating practical yet visually appealing objects that seamlessly integrated into daily life. 💎🔍
Bauhaus embraced the advancements of the industrial age, exploring the possibilities of new materials and manufacturing techniques. It celebrated the marriage of art and technology, allowing for innovative designs that were not limited by traditional constraints. The movement's interdisciplinary approach fostered collaborations and pushed the boundaries of creative expression. 🚀🎨
Even a century later, the Bauhaus movement continues to inspire countless artists, designers, and architects worldwide. Its clean lines, bold colors, and emphasis on functionality can be seen in modern furniture, architecture, graphic design, and more. Bauhaus remains a testament to the enduring power of design that transcends time. 🌈🔝
#artoftheweek #bauhaus #hadpratt #BauhausDesignMovement #HistoryofArtandDesign #ArtMeetsTechnology
Image: Club Chair (Model B3) | The Wassily Chair
Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wassily_Chair#/media/File:Bauhaus_Chair_Breuer.png
Art of the week:
Vincent Van Gogh’s Wheat Field with Cypresses
Van Gogh became interested in incorporating cypresses into his work in June 1889, and decided to create a series of paintings featuring the majestic trees. He painted on-the-spot studies of the cypresses, including a close-up vertical view and a majestic horizontal composition illustrated in reed-pen drawings. The piece in question was one of Van Gogh's favourite summer landscapes, and he was inspired to create two studio renditions of it in September: one on the same scale, which is now in the National Gallery in London, and a smaller replica for his mother and sister, which is held in a private collection. Van Gogh's cypress paintings are known for their distinctive use of rich impasto.
The exhibition focusing on Van Gogh’s cypresses is now on view in the Met Museum thru August 27, 2023.
#artoftheweek #vangogh #hadpratt #Impressionism #VanGoghCypresses
Image reference
Title: Wheat Field with Cypresses
Artist: Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, Zundert 1853–1890 Auvers-sur-Oise)
Date: June 1889
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 28 7/8 × 36 3/4 in. (73.2 × 93.4 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Purchase, The Annenberg Foundation Gift, 1993
Accession Number: 1993.132
Retrieved from: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436535
The Renaissance reached its peak (known as the High Renaissance) in the short period from about 1500–1530 in the work of Michelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael. The Renaissance style then underwent a myriad of successive transformations in Mannerism, Baroque, Rococo, neoclassicism, and the Romantic movement.
The work of Raphael may be seen as representing the purest form of the Renaissance style and he was held up as a prime model in the art academies until the mid-nineteenth century when artists turned their back on this classically governed approach. The revolt can be seen in movements such as the Pre-Raphaelites (who drew inspiration from medieval art), realism, naturalism and impressionism.
Image Reference
The Creation of Adam
Michelangelo
Original Title: Creazione di Adamo
Date: 1508 - 1512
Style: High Renaissance
Series: Sistine Chapel Paintings
Genre: mythological painting
Media: fresco
Location: Sistine Chapel, Vatican
Dimensions: 280 x 570 cm
Content Reference
Tate. (n.d.). Renaissance. Tate. https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/r/renaissance
It is almost the end of Spring Semester!
The HAD Department wishes you all the best of luck in your finals and congratulations to our graduating class of 2023! You are almost there!
#pratt #prattinstitute #historyofartsanddesign #hadpratt #classof2023 #graduation #springsemester #spring #finals
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.
