Here you can carry out art historical and design research; apply the theories and practice of information science; design and curate digital libraries, archives, and exhibitions; and communicate arts content and design effectively across diverse cultures and societies.
Pratt students at the Morgan Library Reading Room (courtesy Polly Cancro, History of Art and Design / Library and Information Science '18)
History of Art and Design / Library and Information Science at Pratt
The MSLIS/MA History of Art and Design dual-degree program prepares you for careers in art and design, museum, and academic libraries. In this program, you will become an expert on the intersection of art and design and information, going deep into art, design, and historical archives, art and design collections, and more. With fellowship opportunities at NYC’s leading museums, libraries, and archives, such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Frick Art Reference Library, and MoMA, the dual-degree program offers unique experiential learning opportunities.
Students in the dual-degree MSLIS/MA History of Art and Design program get to experience all Pratt has to offer by taking half of their program (30 credits) at the School of Information based in Manhattan, and the other half in the Department of History of Art and Design on the Brooklyn campus (30 credits). The first two years students take courses in both departments, with much of the thesis work taking place in the third year. With class sizes of just 8-12, you’ll collaborate closely with your cohort and faculty and be learning at the nexus of NYC arts and culture communities.
Internships
Internships at museums, libraries, nonprofit art organizations, and galleries provide professional opportunities in your area of interest and prepare you for future careers. Recent students have interned at prestigious institutions such as the New York Public Library, Franklin Furnace, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Study Abroad
We are pleased to offer study abroad options for dual-degree students, including a new course offered for the first time during spring break 2024: “Artist Archives: Rome/New York”. 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, see where you can go.
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. Learning 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 and School of Information 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.
Where They Work
Librarian, Photographs and Prints Division, New York Public Library
Archivist, Center for Brooklyn History at Brooklyn Public Library
IT Project Manager, J. Paul Getty Trust
Head, Reference & Reader Services, Teachers College, Columbia University
Web Collection Librarian, Columbia University Libraries
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.
School of Information students make field trips this spring semester around NYC, including the NY Auto Show, Center for Book Arts, and Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum. Read all about it in this new Pratt.edu news article; link available in our bio.
Profs. Craig MacDonald and Shruthi Chivukula unwind from their organizing and judging duties at the @amazonmusic Product Design Challenge. Read all about the challenge and the winning projects via the link available in our bio.
In the 100 years since @newyorkermag began publication, four School of Information alums have been featured in the New Yorker. Can you guess who they are? Answer in this Pratt news article; link available in our bio.
It's the School of Information April '25 newsletter with the winners of the annual Amazon Music Product Design Challenge, outcomes of the full-time faculty searches, and much more news; link available in our bio.
We are pleased to be offering a number of new special topics courses this summer and fall '25 semesters - checkout the flyers here! Graduate registrations begins April 7th! Link in our bio for full-size versions.
More snapshots from @prattischool’s Artists’ Archives: Rome/New York course! #ArtistsArchives #RomeNewYork #ArtPreservation #PrattiSchoolinRome #PrattInstitute
The MSLIS/MA History of Art and Design dual-degree program prepares students for careers in art, museum, and academic libraries. With fellowship opportunities taking place at NYC’s leading museums, libraries, and archives, such as the Brooklyn Museum, the Guggenheim Museum, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the dual-degree program offers unique opportunities for experiential learning.
This program consists of 30 credits at the School of Information and 30 credits at the Department of History of Art and Design for a total of 60 credits, which must be completed with a B average or higher. Students in the dual-degree program generally take one or two classes in each program per semester (3–4 courses, 9–12 credits).
Students in the dual-degree MSLIS/MA History of Art and Design satisfy the learning outcomes of each of the respective degrees.
MS Library and Information Science
Throughout the LIS program, students will create a digital portfolio to highlight the work they have completed and demonstrate they have met the program’s five student learning outcomes:
Foundations of Library and Information studies – Apply core concepts and theories to information collection, organization and access in multiple environments.
User-centered services – Students can meet information needs of diverse user communities across multiple communication formats (e.g. oral, written, visual, interactive).
Technology – Students can select and apply tools and technologies used in the field to improve information functions.
Research – Investigate information environments and users’ needs, behaviors, and experiences through appropriate research methods and analysis.
Ethical/Creative/Critical practice – Apply core ethical principles to professional practice and understand the broad impact of information on society. Students can raise critical questions about information, its production, dissemination, storage and preservation.
MA History of Art and Design
Graduates are able to articulate the mutually constitutive nature of historical changes in social, political and economic conditions in the fields of art, design, and cultural production.
Graduates are able to describe, research and analyze the forms of cultural artifacts and monuments.
Graduates demonstrate a critical engagement with the discipline’s tools and methods.
Graduates have the skills to craft lines of inquiry and perform in-depth research, including the use of relevant languages, that results in original analysis and interpretation.
