MA Fine Art: University of Southampton

Course Description

This well-established, flexible and dynamic MA is underpinned by research-intensive teaching by practising artists and theorists, with extensive experience of contemporary art and its specialisms. Their interdisciplinary programme provides a solid foundation for PhD research, and is excellent training for a career as a practising artist or in a related area of the creative industries.

You will be encouraged to experiment with innovative ideas and techniques, while building a wide-ranging, professional portfolio to showcase your work and enhance your career prospects. You will have opportunities to visit some of the world’s greatest collections of contemporary art, and will benefit from our close proximity to the London art scene. The programme encompasses practices including: drawing; mixed-media installation; painting; sculpture; print; photography; time-based and web-based practice.

Programme structure

Fine Art by Project (site-specific work)

The “site” of art has become a significant contemporary issue. Through engagement with this area you can extend/relocate your practice in relation to current debates, creating work for specific sites on and off campus. The programme provides access to different spaces, from public foyers to enclosed project spaces. These can be booked on a short-term basis, to test and expand site-specific ideas. You will learn how to critically evaluate your own practice through the subject of a site, and examine the role of documentation in site-specific working practices.

Painting

Painting is a dynamic discipline within the field of fine art and plays a central role in contemporary art practice. You will have the opportunity to develop the skills and understanding required to realise your ambitions as a creative practitioner. Focusing on studio-based study, you will explore traditional techniques, current methods and interdisciplinary approaches, underpinned by contextual thinking. Core areas include: conceptual understanding; installation of works; processes and techniques; and setting up a professional studio.

Printmaking

This pathway combines existing and developing graphic technologies in a dynamic and exciting way, from traditional printing presses to the latest in digital print design. You will experience a variety of processes, including etching, lithography and silk-screen, as well as software-based design and printing. Core areas include: artists’ books; digital printing and photography; multimedia; museum archives; and traditional printing.

Sculpture

This is a dynamic and rapidly changing discipline within the field of visual art. Historically, British sculpture has heavily influenced their world view, challenging sculptural norms at the forefront of cultural debate. You will have access to their casting, metal and woodworking facilities, plus outdoor and site-specific areas, with the opportunity to develop a range of skills, including: construction, casting and building techniques; health and safety; problem solving; and the use of hand, power and plant machinery tools.

Entry requirements

Second-class honours degree or equivalent qualification/experience; IELTS 6.0 or equivalent for international students; practical and creative artistic ability, demonstrated in a portfolio, will be the determining factor for entry