Visual Arts Application Requirements

Visual Arts MFA: Required Creative Materials

You may submit your application online or via mail, but you MUST submit your portfolio online via SlideRoom. Instructions, signup and login information are available at http://columbia.slideroom.com.

Visual Arts applicants must specify a field of study on their application, but if they are accepted into the program they will not be held to that field.

ALL applicants must submit the following:

  1. Statement of Intent: No more than 500 words. (Statements typically include your reasons for applying to the Visual Arts Program, a discussion of those aspects of your work you consider significant to your artistic practice, and an exploration of your work's relative place in the history of contemporary art.)
     
  2. Resume: Detailing your academic career and professional accomplishments.

Applicants MUST ALSO submit portfolios ONLINE for the field of study they specify, as outlined below.

Painting:

Please submit 15 digital images of your work in SlideRoom. You will be required to list the title of each image, the media, year and dimensions.

Photography:

Please submit 20 digital images of your work in SlideRoom. You will be required to list the title of each image, the media, year and dimensions.

Printmaking:

Please submit up to 20 images and/or videos in SlideRoom. Your samples can be from any media--whatever best represents your recent artistic work. You will be required to list the title of each image or video, the media, year, dimensions and/or running time. We suggest also including a brief description of each sample.  Videos must be submitted through SlideRoom via video upload or video links. If your video link is password protected, you must include a current password in the description otherwise it will not be reviewed. The total running time of videos cannot exceed ten minutes. As additional information, you can also provide links to full videos. We do not accept DVDs or VHS tapes. Websites that are freestanding artworks and NOT documentation of work may be submitted through SlideRoom. A still of the website with the web address in the description may be included.

Expanded Practice | Sculpture:

Please submit up to 20 images and/or videos in SlideRoom. Your samples can be from any media--whatever best represents your recent artistic work. You will be required to list the title of each image or video, the media, year, dimensions and/or running time. We suggest also including a brief description of each sample.  Videos must be submitted through SlideRoom via video upload or video links. If your video link is password protected, you must include a current password in the description otherwise it will not be reviewed. The total running time of videos cannot exceed ten minutes. As additional information, you can also provide links to full videos. We do not accept DVDs or VHS tapes. Websites that are freestanding artworks and NOT documentation of work may be submitted through SlideRoom. A still of the website with the web address in the description may be included.

Moving Image:

Please submit videos or excerpts of videos and/or images in SlideRoom. You can submit any combination of up to 20 images and/or videos. Your samples can be from any media; whatever best represents your recent artistic work. You will be required to list the title of each video, the media, year and running time. We suggest also including a brief description of each sample. Videos must be submitted through SlideRoom via video upload or video links. If your video link is password protected, you must include a current password in the description otherwise it will not be reviewed. The total running time of time-based samples cannot exceed ten minutes. As additional information, you can also provide links to full videos. We do not accept DVDs or VHS tapes.