Art + Design at Austin Peay brings unique artistic experiences into each classroom.
Our students and educators all come from distinctive backgrounds. This makes each
class period a new opportunity to engage with an original thought process to use in
your work. And with state-of-the-art facilities in our Art + Design building, you
can revolutionize what the future of art looks like. Our faculty members continue
to add to their real-world experience by regularly creating and showing their work.
Austin Peay Department of Art + Design welcomes all high school art students, art teachers, and parents to our annual College Art + Design Day! Mark your calendars because this year it has moved to November 2nd. Spend the day with us and see what studying art at APSU is all about.
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Academic Programs and Minors
The Department of Art + Design offers three separate program concentrations and four minors. Any of these options will give you the tools you need to enter the professional world from working in an in-house design firm to setting up your own studio.
Animation and Visual Effects is a versatile and highly in-demand skill set for today’s
digital artist. The ever-evolving digital world demands artists that have the ability
to critically generate content that is both technical and creative. The generalist
approach to the discipline presents graduating students with a wide-range of career
opportunities in the entertainment industry.
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Through a combination of courses in typography, web design and visual communication,
students will learn how to participate in the creative economy.
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Studio Art graduates gain the skills necessary to implement a concept through technique, material, or a
discipline specific strategy. They develop a personal style or vision and execute
it across a variety of media, ideas, and creative activities through critical making
and critical analysis.
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Art Education is one of the fastest growing fields in the 21st century, and our graduates
are successful in finding positions in these areas. Fine artists are able to purse
graduate work or are often successful at creating entrepreneurial opportunities for
themselves in galleries, as freelance artists, and as owners of small business. The
greatest value of an arts education is that it prepares students to solve problems
in a creative way.
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Art History builds visual skills, critical reasoning, and prepares students for careers
in curation in art galleries and museums.
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Our state-of-the-art facilities house one of the largest Art + Design departments in the state.
“I really do believe it is one of the best programmed art buildings I’ve ever seen, and I was an arts and sciences dean, so I’ve been in that field for a long time,” Dr. Alisa White, Former APSU president, said. “The Art + Design faculty programmed something that will really serve our students, that really sets us apart.”
The $21.3 million, 46,000-square-foot building features faculty office space, general purpose classrooms, a multifunction room, art studios, a photographic studio, a general art gallery and a student gallery.
Department events and exhibitions
From visiting artists and student exhibitions to senior student shows and College Art Day, there is always something exciting happening in our department. Read more about everything we have going on throughout the year below.
During College Art + Design day, high school art students, as well as their art teachers
and parents, are invited to participate in a daylong experience of college programs
and careers in the visual arts. Students will have a choice of creative workshops
designed to give them a college-level studio experience, while art faculty meet with
parents and teachers about the program, the value of art education, scholarships,
the Tennessee Promise and any other topics of interest.
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Our Student Juried Art Exhibitions are professionally juried from outside the University,
emulating the practice of real world art shows. The exhibition showcases the best
artwork produced by students during the past year and gives students the opportunity
to participate in a professional exhibition where a qualified juror selects artwork
and artistic merit awards.
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Throughout the history of the Department of Art + Design, we have been committed to
bringing top artists, designers, curators, and thinkers to Austin Peay State University
and the Clarksville community. Along with the support of the Center of Excellence
for the Creative Arts, all of our events within the Department of Art + Design are
free and open to the public.
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Each semester, the Department of Art + Design hosts senior student BFA Studio Art
thesis exhibitions. Each show takes place in the Barbara Beach Gallery on the second
floor of the Art + Design building.
Thesis Exhibitions for Fall have begun! Openings receptions are every Monday evening
from 5:00-7:00 pm with remarks by the artists at 5:30 pm.
All students with a major in Art + Design must register for a portfolio review after they have completed all foundation level courses. The review will be conducted by all full time faculty members within the Department of Art + Design. The faculty will vote immediately following the review on the students acceptance to degree tracks. The vote will either approve, deny, or defer their acceptance.
Portfolio Review sign ups are open! Click on the Read more below to fill out the form.
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News Feed
View all Art + Design news
The Living Gallery at Austin Peay State University has announced its Spring 2025 artists in residence, and community members can visit to enjoy diverse works from 11 talented students.
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Brooklyn-based artist Khari Turner's "Lost at Sea" is on display now through March 28 at The New Gallery. Turner's artwork explores Black history and personal narratives using water collected from oceans, lakes, and rivers.
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APSU and its College of STEM will sponsor two drone shows at Montgomery County's New Year's Eve Celebration at Downtown Commons, featuring student-designed animations and offering pre-event drone workshops to the community.
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