The Major
The art and the history of art major is organized into two distinct programs: The History of Art and The Practice of Art.
Learn MoreWe offer introductory to advanced courses in art history and studio practice that enable our students to develop artistic awareness, historical understanding, critical faculties and practice in the visual arts.
Department Highlights
Eli Marsh Gallery
Our gallery displays a variety of student and visiting artist exhibitions throughout the academic year.
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Artist Studios
Our students share large, light-filled studio spaces for painting, printmaking, sculpting, photography, video and design.
Arts at Amherst
Together, Amherst’s dynamic arts programs foster a lively environment for the multidisciplinary study, creation and presentation of the arts.
Learn MoreArt & the History of Art Courses
Current Courses
ARHA 138
Visual Arts and Orature in Africa
Description
Explore new perspectives in the critical analysis of African verbal and visual arts, and examine the epistemological process of understanding cultural symbols, visualizing narratives, and verbalizing sculptures or designs.
ARHA 259
Utopia: Visionary Architecture, Art and Theory
Description
Examine utopian plans in architecture and art while considering the philosophical constructs of utopia in architectural drawings, buildings, and plans in relation to film, painting, sculpture, and the decorative arts.
ARHA 335
Experiments in 16mm Film
Description
Survey creative 16mm film production by making cameraless projects through drawing, painting and scratching directly onto the film strip before further exploring the fundamentals of 16mm technology.
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