Unleash your creativity through innovation, experimentation and exploration in a wide range of specialty areas.

Students gain hands-on experience with artistic technologies as they complete independent and collaborative artistic research and projects.

The broad-based curriculum includes study of art forms from around the world, women in art, and explorations in drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture and ceramics. The art program culminates in a presentation of an original body of work in gallery, lecture and portfolio formats as a senior capstone.

“I feel pretty strongly about a liberal arts education. I think the opportunity it provides you to become a critical thinker, and the opportunity it provides you to gain a wide variety of experiences, is really important."

— Heidi Nielsen '96, COO Brink Communications

Read Heidi's Story

Pacific University art major graduate Heidi Neilsen '96

Major in Fine Arts

The art major explores personal expression and interpretation to investigate aesthetic boundaries and to develop concepts relevant in today’s world. The program also offers a minor in art.

Explore Our Art Studios

Pacific University’s art studios are a hidden gem on campus. As an art major or minor, you’ll learn how to use tools like 3D printers, laser cutter/engravers, CNC routers and a full suite of woodshop tools. In the 2D studio, you’ll have access to plenty of space for painting and drawing, a printmaking a photo studio with a new Conrad intaglio press and silkscreens, a digital photo lab, and a traditional darkroom.

Art Careers

Our graduates are professional artists and photographers, landscape designers, illustrators, teachers, gallery directors and art therapists. Many art students pursue graduate school while others pursue business opportunities, such as starting art galleries and working in design firms.

Headlines

Tyler Brumfield teaches art and design at Pacific University, where he also serves as the gallery coordinator for the Kathrin Cawein Gallery of Art, the studio technician for the Brown Hall Design Studio, and the chair of the Cultural Collections Committee. 

Mesquite Flat #48, Landscape Photo By John Wimberley

The Kathrin Cawein Gallery of Art opens its 2024 season with "Chapters," an exhibition of photos by internationally renowned artist John Wimberley. The exhibition runs Feb. 5 to Mar. 7, 2024.

Black and white photo by John Wimberley

The Kathrin Cawein Gallery of Art is proud to announce "Chapters," its exhibition of John Wimberley’s internationally-renowned black and white photographs. These seldom-shown images represent distinct chapters in his artistic and spiritual journey.