Master of Arts/Master of Fine Arts in Drawing

Drawing is understood as more than a support or preparation for other disciplines: it is considered the work .

Each core workshop draws upon the individual investigations and questions arising and evolving in the studio as a starting point and provides the students with new contexts to rethink their work – to test out methods, materials, and ideas.

The aim is to explore contemporary and emerging approaches to drawing alongside the continued acquisition and practice of academic skills. There is an expectation that students will explore a convergence rather than the opposition of the two.

At PCA Students may choose either the 1-year MA Degree Track or the 2-year MFA (Terminal) Degree Track. The first year is common to both degree tracks with the exception of a spring semester Degree Project for MA candidates. MA students who choose to continue into the MFA would be required to complete the 3rd and 4th semesters and the MFA Thesis Project.

The program is designed with an emphasis on professional practice and research, and, for the MFA program, with a focus on the teaching of drawing, providing students with possibilities to further their work outside the context of the school. Students are taught how to apply ‘drawing’ in its many forms to unfamiliar and diverse situations and are encouraged to invent projects that will continue beyond the scope of the MA/MFA.

Every student will take part in a form of collaboration where they will bring their drawing practice into dialogue/conversation/exchange with artists, designers, and creative professionals from other fields. The collaborations are devised according to each student’s needs in order to challenge each individual and are expected to provoke potentially radically different departures for their work.

What are the advantages of studying in Paris?

PCA’s links with cultural institutions provide extended ‘studios’ in which students are invited to work, and areas of specific research can be developed.

Particular interest in the practice of drawing has been evident in Europe and the U.S. for the last two decades and does not appear to be waning.

Specifically, Paris has been hosting the yearly art fair ‘Drawing Now’ since 2007; a Paris-based magazine titled Roven which focuses on contemporary drawing has been successful since 2009; and the Prix Canson, created in 2011 and one of the most prestigious annual drawing prizes in the world, exhibits its winners in major museums and galleries in Europe.

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.