Art Majors & Degrees
Visual artists & art historians: find your authentic creative voice!
Welcome to the Art Major at Westmont College. Whether you’re interested in studio art or graphic arts, our program will challenge you to create original works of art, engage in art history and contemporary art, and develop the critical thinking and aesthetic skills that will help you become a visual communicator.
Do you have the discipline to develop your art?
Alumni Stories
Katie King Rumford ’06, received her BA in Studio Art from Westmont, went on to complete her MFA in Graphic Design at the Academy of Art University. Working at first as a creative director for Selman Design in New York City, Katie has gone on to establish her own business as a freelance art director, working for such clients as Google and Facebook. Her work has been featured in the New York Times and been recognized by Communication Arts magazine.
Betsy Freeman ’16 has built a career as a graphic and product designer in San Francisco. In 2022, she wrote and illustrated “The One & Done Cookbook” with Stone Pier Press. Reflecting on her time at Westmont, she credits the experience with shaping both her professional confidence and her deeper understanding of success.
Abigail Stadtlander ’22, combined her studio art major with a minor in art history, becoming a sharp interpreter of texts and images whose lively classroom presence inspired both peers and professors. Currently, she works in creative project management at Donut Digital.
Ridley-Tree Museum of Art
The Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art seeks to educate students and the larger community about the power and value of the visual arts in our world through physical, critical and spiritual engagement with the creative process and its result.
Areas of Concentration
Our Studio Art program fosters creative expression through hands-on projects, providing a solid foundation in various mediums for success in the art world.
In our Art History program, students delve into the rich tapestry of artistic heritage. Exploring diverse cultures and time periods, they analyze and interpret art, gaining a deep understanding of its historical and cultural significance. The program equips students with critical thinking skills, preparing them for engaging careers in art research, curation, and education.
Our Graphic Arts program integrates artistic creativity and technical skills for careers in graphic design and illustration. Through hands-on projects, students gain a strong foundation in design principles and digital tools, fostering creativity for success in the dynamic field of graphic arts.
Art Student Opportunities
In addition to your coursework, the art major takes full advantage of access to the creative community of Santa Barbara and Greater Los Angeles. We take regular field trips to Los Angeles art institutions and have strong local connections to galleries and multiple museum spaces.
While you are a student we offer a number of exhibition/presentation opportunities including your capstone senior exhibition in the Ridley-Tree Museum, solo shows in our ARTLAB gallery spaces, a group Sophomore Project exhibition, and student-led creative publications like the Phoenix, Yearbook, and Horizon Magazine.
Additionally we encourage students to start early in their professional journey through internships and participating as a vendor in the annual student art Holiday sale or curating an exhibition in the Artlab Galleries.
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Studios & Facilities
We value studio life and creative discovery made in community. With dedicated personal studio space for seniors, student run laboratory galleries, and outdoor patios for socializing, we hope our students will make Adams Center their locus for making and building life-long friendships.
Scholarships & Awards
The Art Department has five endowed scholarship opportunities for incoming and continuing art students awarded on a competitive basis. Departmental awards for outstanding students are available to those who demonstrate excellence and promise in studio art and art history.
Incoming Freshmen and Transfer Students
Applicants must be admitted to Westmont College, be actively considering majoring in studio art or art history, and submit the required application materials online to be eligible for scholarships
Continuing Students
Applicants must be a declared studio art or art history major and submit the required application materials online to be eligible for scholarships