Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fine Arts

"Teaching art is about initiating total involvement, passion, questioning and questioning the questioning, experimenting, process, investigating ideas, inventing, and finding visual answers."

– Véronique Devoldère, Chair of Fine Arts

With Paris as its extraordinarily rich cultural setting, the P.C.A. Fine Arts Department promotes the development of artistic skills, the expression of creative processes, and an informed awareness of how art practice intersects with current visual, cultural, and societal concerns.

Students gain a strong foundation in the artistic tradition via both established and new media, thus enriching their capacity for communication and expression as a whole. The curriculum balances a full investigation of traditional media: drawing, painting, and sculpture, with extensive explorations in video, installation, performance, photography, and digital imaging.

The new focus program in the junior year allows students to choose a 2D, 3D, or 4D orientation. Elective courses in other departments open students to new and different methods and processes. Interdisciplinary practice provokes students to pursue and develop individual artistic modes of inquiry.

Application of theory and criticism shapes students’ ability to work and think critically and analytically. Courses in Art History and Critical Studies, critiques, debates and tutorials, and the considerable resources available in Paris, direct students to an informed exploration within both historical and contemporary art practices. Museum and gallery visits are an integral aspect of the curriculum.

At the completion of their sophomore year, students can apply for transfer to Anna Maria College’s BA in Art Therapy , through a special articulation agreement between the two institutions.

Paris College of Art is a dynamic forum for exchanging ideas, methods, and professional experience. Our students and faculty combine curiosity, experimentation, and enthusiasm in the pursuit of learning.

At Paris College of Art, we believe that finding a design solution, creating a work of art, and facilitating the production of a creative team are intellectual processes of undeniable value. Developing critical awareness through hands-on research and discussion is essential to professional maturation and individual growth. Artistic practice demands a high level of personal commitment and discipline, and we expect our students to participate actively in class so that they can explore differing points of view and engage our creative resources.

Paris College of Art is rooted in a city of primary art and design production. Experiencing the uniqueness of the Parisian metropolis provides a rich source of visual inspiration. Sharing this experience with individuals from over 40 different countries gives our students a unique perspective on the variety of expressions existing throughout the world.

Paris College of Art is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment, and prohibits discrimination against and harassment of any student, applicant, employee, or community member because of race; color; national or ethnic origin; age; religion; disability; sexual orientation; gender; gender identity and expression; genetics; veteran status; and any other characteristic protected under applicable law. We expect all PCA employees, students, and community members to join with and uphold this commitment.

The legacy of Paris College of Art and its successful graduates is something to be proud of and to contribute to in the years to come.

Mission

Paris College of Art, a new name for a college with over 30 years of experience, promotes the artistic and intellectual maturation of promising students into exceptional artists, art historians, photographers, designers, and design managers.

Grounded in the Parisian landscape, informed by the European art and design world, nourished by a faculty of leaders in the creative industries from the world over, and replenished by students from over 50 countries, Paris College of Art is a truly international college.

Paris College of Art was established as an independent degree-granting institution with the mission to:

• Provide the highest international standard of art and design education taught within an American pedagogical paradigm while being influenced, informed, and drawing from our French/European environment;
• Open up French educational opportunities to the world and international education to the French.

Vision for 2023

Paris College of Art serves a multi-national student body that enriches the educational experience by bringing the values and experiences of their respective traditions to the studio/classroom and assures that each graduate will understand herself in a global context and be prepared for the contemporary professional marketplace in art and design.