Visual Arts - Training Institutions

Small and mighty are accurate descriptors for the University of Lethbridge (U of L) department of art. The department has constructed itself into a strong entity for the arts community both provincially and nationally.

Accommodating the needs of students is of noticeable importance to the department, students can choose from a selection of eight different undergraduate degrees, including combined and post-diploma degrees in the visual arts. The department's three disciplines of concentration are painting, sculpture and photo arts.

Though specialization choices may seem limited, students can take various electives or major in a multidisciplinary practice so that they can immerse themselves in other areas including installation art, video, printmaking, performance art and drawing.

Highly trained faculty and well-resourced facilities assist student engagement in preparation for a challenging professional artist practice. Three public galleries exist within the U of L: the Main Gallery (that exhibits pieces from the permanent collection), the Helen Christou and Trianon Galleries.

With more than 13,000 holdings in its collection, the university has one of the largest university art collections in Canada. To those unfamiliar with the U of L, it may come as a great surprise that it holds pieces by such celebrated artists as Warhol, Lichenstein, Matisse and Picasso—the acquisitions are one of the school's most impressive assets.

A substantial selection of Inuit Art and pieces by renowned Canadian artists such as Emily Carr, A. Y. Jackson, and Janet Cardiff are also in the collection. Pivotal movements and artists are represented through prints, paintings, sculptures and installations, estimated at $34 million.

Fine art students realize their creations.

Student experiences at the department of art are enriched by other means as well. In order to maintain interface and create discussions with different audiences, the department and its students organize frequent performances and exhibitions. In addition, the Gushul Studio and Cottage for Visual and Literary Artists, an historic building administered by the University, opened its doors in 1988 as a location for short-term residencies in an intimate space.

With its earned reputation, the department of art continues to draw outstanding professors, students, visiting artists and residency participants.