UT School of Art

Being an artist is not just a job title for graduating studio art student Emma Toledo. It's a way of living. Thanks to her mentors and the unmatched opportunities in UT's School of Art, she has been able to develop her artistic voice and share who she is through her ceramic work. Congratulations, Emma! Welcome to the alumni family! 🎓 #UTArtSci #CASAdvantage #UTGrad2026

We're continuing to celebrate Commencement Week by spotlighting three of our amazing seniors: @lilibug.call (studio art), Abigail Rivero (art history) and @suttgrace (2D studio art/art history). (Swipe to see what they had to say about their time at the SOA!) Grace, Abigail and Lili, we'll really miss you but are so excited to follow your careers and see what you'll create in the future 🧡

We're continuing to celebrate Commencement Week by spotlighting two of our amazing seniors: @axoxo_sarahjanee (2D studio art/art education) and @art_byjulia_7 (2D studio art/art education) (Swipe to see what they had to say about their time at the SOA!) Sarah and Julia, we'll really miss seeing you around the A+A building, but we can't wait to see what you do next, and we're so excited for your future students 🧡

Happy graduation week, Vols! Today we're spotlighting two of our amazing senior BFA students: @artbyirislove (2D) and @emmaceramicstudent (3D). (Swipe to see what they had to say about their time at the SOA!) Iris and Emma, we'll really miss you, but we can't wait to see what you do next 🧡

Fall Course Spotlights: Intro to Cinema and Video Art (CNST / ARTC 236) and Documentary Film: Topics in Non-Fiction Filmmaking (CNST / ARTC 424)! Register for these courses now and learn how to tell stories that matter. 🎥 Intro to Cinema and Video Art: This course introduces students to the theory and practice of creating lens-based media while developing their cinematic and artistic voice. Through hands-on video production, intentional framing, and choreographed movement, students will draft and refine short works of cinema and video art. While building technical skills, the course emphasizes visual style, artistic exploration, and conceptual understanding through discussions, writing exercises, and practical application. By blending film theory, industry standards, and creative practice, students will gain foundational experience and insight into career paths or further study in cinema and video art. 🎬 Documentary Film: Topics in Nonfiction Filmmaking: Explore the art and impact of nonfiction storytelling through the creation of short-form documentary content. Students will develop practical skills in documentary filmmaking, including research, interviewing, cinematography, audio recording, editing, and story structure, while examining the theory and ethics behind documentary practice. Through screenings, discussions, and hands-on production work, students will learn how documentary films shape public understanding and why nonnarrative storytelling remains one of the most powerful forms of media expression. Reach out to Professor Katie Mahalic with questions: [email protected]

Sneak preview of the Honors Exhibition, on display at the Ewing Gallery May 11-15, with an installation in the Art + Architecture by the College of Architecture and Design's Design-Build interior architecture students.. The exhibition will be open from 10am-4pm next week. . Initiated by the Ewing's Director Emeritus Sam Yates over 30 years ago, the Honors Exhibition recognizes outstanding students graduating from the University of Tennessee's School of Art and College of Architecture and Design. Selected by a school of art faculty scholarship committee, seven art students were chosen for this year's exhibition. These students are: Grace Sutt, Sara Caoile, Julia Johnson, Tracy Yu, Iris Love, Darcy Privette, and Grace Russell. The students from the College of Architecture and Design were selected by the faculty-at-large and by outside review teams. These students are: Margaret Marando, Emily Lavoll, Delaney Kohlstedt, Sam Tugman, Nicole DiLorenzo, Isabella Myers, Charlotte Albright, Adele Berelsman, Lauren Bouchoux, Margaret Bremner, Michelle Chen, Ella Chipley, Abigail Dearstine, Jackson Gupton, Alison Hamplin, Nora Heely, Jenna King, Emma Kissel, Brittany Portas, Adriana Scialla, and Alexandra Vega-Cruz. @utkcoad @utkschoolofdesig

Celebrating the last week of classes with some photos from our BFA Capstone Exhibition last month. Congratulations to these outstanding graduating students. We’ll miss you, but we can’t wait to see what you create next! 📸 Misha Shulga and Sarah McFalls

Handheld Film Festival is back on Monday, May 11, beginning at 6:30pm! Handheld is a biannual celebration of the excellent work produced by students in the SOA Cinema Studies and Time-Based Art programs. Free and open to the public, with installations in the Art + Architecture Atrium and screenings in McCarty Auditorium. We hope to see you there!

There are still a few spots left in Monoprint and Monotype: The Painterly Print (A266)! Join our nationally-ranked printmaking program to learn all about this fascinating form of printmaking from instructor @mableniart . Beginner-friendly and a great fit for printmakers, painters, and other art-interested people looking to round out their fall semester with a unique and hands-on course (it also has spots for non-majors!) Register today!

Congrats to all of our Knox County Schools art educators and interns on a beautiful exhibition at the UT Downtown Gallery. Below are the award-winning educators, announced at Friday's reception. —Best of Show, Lauren Farkas | L&N Academy —1st Place Chelsie Nunn | Sequoyah Elementary —2nd Place Ben Eng | Hardin Valley Academy —3rd Place, Tiffany Lubienski | South Doyle High School Honorable Mention Laney Haskell Farragut High School Megan Haniford, West High School Jessica Kirk, Belle Morris Elem Directors Choice, Teacher Julie Clarin | Lonsdale Elementary Directors Choice, Intern Kari Schneider | West Valley Middle School

Dr. Tim Hiles, Associate Professor of Art History and former School of Art Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies, retired in fall 2025. A scholar whose recent research focused on the history of photography and the work of artists with disabilities, Dr. Hiles was a beloved professor and colleague, guiding many undergraduate and graduate students towards deeper understanding about the role of visual arts in our world. We'll really miss you, Tim, but we're excited for this next stage. Thank you for all you've done for the SOA! Read about Tim's time in the School of Art at the link: tiny.utk.edu/timhiles

We had a great visit from @farragut_hs_art painting students and their teacher, SOA alum Laney Haskell, last week! In addition to checking out the BFA Capstone Exhibition at @utkgalleries , chatting with professors in our different areas, and trying out one of our presses in the Letterpress Studio, the students also painted the Rock. We hope to see these talented young artists back in the A+A building in the near future! (If you're a middle school or high school teacher interested in touring the Art+Architecture Building with your class, please reach out to [email protected]!)