Art and Art History
Explore the Department of Art and Art History
The Department of Art and Art History provides an integrated studio and art history experience. Through the study of history, critical analysis, materials, techniques and contemporary art practices, we encourage you to construct meaning, understand multiple perspectives, employ differing academic disciplines and unravel the complexities of creativity. Our department is committed to fostering an education that inspires you to innovate, while honoring the traditions of the past and the techniques of the masters. Our alumni go into the workforce employing creative and critical thinking that ultimately manifests in a diverse scope of professional careers. From authors to teachers, designers to business owners, we are proud of the imaginative successes of our former students.
WHY CHOOSE UNH TO STUDY ART AND ART HISTORY ?
We are a small but mighty community of passionate artists and scholars. Take advantage of ample opportunities, including internships, research projects, scholarships, study-abroad trips, and more to expand your horizons and build lasting friendships.
We offer a range of programs in studio art, art history, and design studies, catering to various interests and career paths.
Learn from accomplished artists, historians, and educators who are dedicated to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of creative professionals and scholars.
Our studios, labs, and classrooms are equipped with the latest tools and technology, providing a professional environment for all forms of artistic expression and serious study.
Programs of Study
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Department News
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Students create digital map of art on campus
Students from Professor Melinda White's English 510: Introduction to Digital Humanities class collaborated with Otto Luna, the Digital Resources Curator in the Department of Art and Art History, and art history major Natalia Tomahatsch ('26), to develop an interactive digital map showcasing the public art on the UNH campus. Professor White asked the students to take photographs of the various artworks—including bike racks, murals, and sculptures—and to research and write clear, concise descriptions for each piece. The project culminated in the creation of the map itself.
Explore the map
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Thinking Out Loud
Professor Liese Zahabi has recently had an article published in the design journal Dialectic. “Thinking out Loud: An Invitation for Designers to Consider the Voice User Interface” discusses voice-activated devices and interfaces (specifically VUI) becoming normalized in places like the U.S.
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Boucher's Spirit
Congratulations to art history professor Susan Wager on the publication of her article, “Boucher’s Spirit: Authorship, Invention, and the Force of Porcelain” in The Art Bulletin. Published by the College Art Association of America, The Art Bulletin is one of the most prestigious journals devoted to art historical scholarship.
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Myths Retold, In the Garden
Building a Skill
On the Bookshelf and Streaming
On the Bookshelf and Streaming
A year-end roundup of books and recordings published by College of Liberal Arts faculty
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Frame of Mind
Frame of Mind
COLA faculty take snapshots to capture their research — and bring fascinating insights to the images
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Going Places
Student & Alumni Spotlights
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Fine Arts Major (Sculpture)How did you choose your major and why? As an undeclared student my first semester as a freshman, I explored a variety of classes and enrolled in a biology class which I immediately dropped after the first meeting. With a gap that needed to be filled, I registered for Professor Ben Cariens evening drawing class and was instantly sucked back into the magical world of creating…Learn More -
Studio Art MajorAs an art major, Kaitlyn Grant ’20 of Somersworth, New Hampshire, is, in some ways, learning the same things over and over — but not out of redundancy. Instead it’s part of an arts education that allows students to hone their skills and develop their personal style. It’s why art students can sometimes take the same course twice — where one professor focuses on composition and light one…Learn More -
Psychology and Studio Art Majors, Liberal Studies Masters | Library Services SpecialistWhat you are currently doing for work? I currently work at the UNH Dimond Library in the Circulation unit. I have a supporting role in training, scheduling and supervision of circulation student assistants. As an undergraduate I worked at the Dimond Library as a student assistant for one…Learn More -
Fine Arts MajorA native of Dublin, N.H., Tejas Moses came to UNH because he wanted to maintain his relationships to people and places he had before college, while feeding his desire “for challenge and adventure and bliss.” Those and “a really good financial aid package” that included a prestigious Hamel Scholarship, landed Tejas in Durham and UNH, where he majored in fine arts with a concentration…Learn More -
Studio Art Major | Art Instructor and ArtistDescribe what you are currently doing for work and how you got to this point. I teach art at Phillips Exeter Academy, where I have been an instructor in painting, printmaking and photography. I have been working there for almost 20 years. Prior to that, I worked at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston in the Design Department, which was my first job after graduating from UNH. I designed signage and banners before computers were used, which was very related to the hands-on project oriented major that I had just completed and fulfilled my desire to pursue graphic design in an art-centered institution.Learn More
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