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OU School of Visual Arts Mission Statement

The OU School of Visual Arts at the University of Oklahoma cultivates a vibrant intellectual community that fosters the greatest possible excellence in the study of the visual arts, design, and art history.  The School was established in 1915, and is the oldest and most comprehensive school of art in the state of Oklahoma.  Through civic engagement, we endeavor to meet the artistic needs of Oklahoma’s citizens and promote the growth of culture.  We offer the BFA and MFA in Art and the BA, MA, and Ph.D. in Art History.  We strive for excellence in teaching, publishing, and creating art and design at the highest level.  The School prepares our students for success nationally and internationally as artists, designers, scholars, teachers, and influential patrons of all the arts.

Fred Jones Jr Art Center Building exterior

The primary facility for the school is the Fred Jones Art Center. Located just off North Oval, the FJC contains classrooms, large well equipped instructional studios, darkrooms (being renovated), a technology based fabrication lab with multiple 3D printers, installation spaces, video and film editing rooms, digital photography labs, faculty offices, and the Lightwell Gallery exhibition space. The OU School of Visual Arts is also next door to the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art.

Separate from The Fred Jones Jr. Art Center, a 5,000 sq. ft. ceramics facility is located on the university's south campus near the Lloyd Nobel Arena and features state-of-the-art equipment and kilns to handle all types of ceramic production. A 12,000 sq. ft. graduate studio facility is located northwest of campus. This facility houses MFA students in one unified production and exhibition facility. North of the school (across Boyd Street) is the Old Faculty Club that has been renovated as home to the Charles M. Russell Center for Study of the Art of the American West. The Old Faculty Club is also home to our figurative sculpture program under the direction of artist-in-residence, Paul Moore.