Painting

Overview

Every canvas is a new beginning.

Painting at UF helps you develop a deeply personal visual language through strong technical foundations and conceptual depth. From figure painting and experimental techniques to independent work in senior studios, you’ll be challenged to think like a painter—and supported in building a bold, expressive practice rooted in contemporary ideas and lifelong exploration.

Undergraduate degrees

As a painting major, you’ll build technical skills and creative insight across a structured progression of studio experiences. You’ll explore both classical and experimental approaches, while developing a painterly vocabulary that reflects your individual perspective.

In the 2000-level courses, you’ll focus on:

Foundational painting concepts like color theory, figure-ground and chiaroscuro
Balancing structured assignments with self-directed work

At the 3000-level, you’ll broaden your practice through:

Figure painting from live models
Experimental and conceptual approaches
Serial development of individually defined projects

In your senior year, you’ll move into dedicated painting studios and focus on:

Advancing your conceptual and critical skills
Realizing a cohesive body of personal work
Honing a disciplined, professional studio practice

Painting alumni pursue careers as professional artists, designers, and educators. They’ve worked for renowned artists such as James Turrell, Jeff Koons and Takashi Murakami, and many have earned scholarships and fellowships to top MFA programs.

graduate degrees

MFA in Art

The MFA in Painting and Drawing supports your growth as an artist through focused studio practice, conceptual research and professional development. As a graduate student in painting, you’ll deepen your aesthetic, technical and critical skills while developing work that is informed, ambitious and uniquely your own.

Over three years, you’ll:

Participate in graduate-level studio courses, seminars and independent research
Study theory, criticism and methods of research for the studio artist
Receive individualized instruction through tutorials and group critiques
Engage in a community of interdisciplinary exchange across the school and university

The program offers access to international study programs, gallery and museum tours, and collaborative opportunities through initiatives like the UF Genetics Institute and the Science and Art Collaboration Program.

Graduates go on to successful careers as artists, educators, designers and curators—and regularly earn fellowships, public art commissions and residencies across the country and abroad.