Department of Art & Art History
We know what it takes to thrive as creative arts professionals. We do it every day. Through individualized mentoring, real-world experience, and a commitment to local and global engagement, you will discover your purpose and make an impact in the world.
- Art B.A.: Prepares you for competency in art and art –related careers while offering the flexibility of studying across a broad area of interests. It offers the opportunity to pursue a second major or minor to complement your artistic interests.
- Art B.F.A.: A professional degree that prepares you for graduate study and careers in art and design through in-depth studio experience and research in Visual Arts.
- Art History & Visual Culture B.A. : Focus on study of art and cultural heritage from a global perspective.
- Master’s in Art Therapy Graduate Pathway: Offered through the Coalition for the Common Good, this program prepares to empower your therapy clients to express themselves verbally and through visual art to treat a multitude of developmental, emotional, psychological, and medical problems or disorders.
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Concentration
Ceramics
Explore the ceramic form from both sculptural and vessel perspectives to develop your personal style and hone your technical abilities.
Concentration
Drawing
Learn contemporary, innovative drawing practices and traditional genres including still-life, life drawing, and nature-based drawing.
Concentration
Graphic Design
Use typography, images, shapes, textures, colors, and words as tools to create artworks that are in service to ideas and action.
Concentration
Painting
Painting is for students with a passion for color and for working in oil paints. It is also for those with an interest in process-based art who embrace change.
Concentration
Photography
Learn how and why to make images, and understand the social, aesthetic, and historical importance of photographs.
Concentration
Video Art
Use moving image and sound to push boundaries, experiment, and tell dynamic stories from diverse perspectives.
Student, Faculty, and Alumni Spotlights
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
I knew Otterbein was going to be an environment where I would be pushed to my full creative potential and given all the help and support I would need.
Megan Walsh ’22
B.F.A. in Art (Painting) with an Educational Studies Minor, Teacher Licensure, Visual Art
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
There are so many amazing galleries and art museums in Columbus. There are always new and exciting visual and performing art advancements.
Luke Patel ’24
B.F.A. in Art (Ceramics) with minors in Art History & Visual Culture and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Historical dress is my passion. Using fashion and costume as a tool to help teach people about the past, particularly when it comes to women, will play a big part in my life.
Addie Richmond ’22
B.A. in Art History & Visual Culture and B.A. in Theatre
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
I enjoy the freedom that comes with being an art/art history student the most. Self-expression is always very important within the assigned studio course projects.
Madison Popovich ’24
B.F.A. in Art (Photography & Graphic Design) and a minor in Art History & Visual Culture
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
All the art professors at Otterbein are wonderful and supportive and really are looking out for you and your future.
Michael Hunkins ’23
B.A. in Art History & Visual Culture and B.A. in History & Political Science with an Art Minor
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
I have learned so much about myself, others, and what art really means to me and society as a whole.
Nevaeh Ellis ’24
B.F.A. in Art (Graphic Design) and B.A. in Art History & Visual Culture
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
My favorite part of being an art student is everything! I am genuinely excited to go to class.
Tara Jones ’24
B.A. in Art (Graphic Design) with minor in Art History & Visual Culture
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
I feel that after becoming an art student in my second year, I matured. I learned to like my art; I’ve won multiple awards for it and I’ve been in three exhibitions.
Zeph Harris ’22
B.A. in Art (Graphic Design) with a Psychology Minor
Otterbein’s museum and galleries bring the best of visual arts to Central Ohio. We feature the art of internationally renowned creatives and give public access to our permanent art collection.
Art students at Otterbein have the opportunity to work directly with visiting artists from around the globe, like Cadine Navarro (pictured center).
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Otterbein was a fantastic program to learn a broad range of artistic practices to springboard into another program of artistic practice.
Jack Koppert ’21
B.F.A. in Art (Painting) with an Art History Minor
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
The experiences I had as a student, an alumni, a staff member, and a faculty member at Otterbein have benefited my studio practice and my professional career.
Chaz O’Neil ’06
B.A. in Art (Printmaking, Painting, and Drawing)
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
The Art and Art History Department helped build my confidence to network and step into new positions within my community.
Jennifer Overhosler ’17
B.A. in Art (Painting and Graphic Design)
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
My Otterbein education certainly set me up for success at my current position!
Lindsay Lisanti ’21
B.A. in Art and B.A. in Theatre (seen here at left)
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Otterbein helped me to find new passions, new ways to express myself, and meet professors that would become great mentors and professional references – a few of which actually helped get me my job!
Megan Miller ’21
B.A. in Art (Photography Concentration) and a B.A. in Journalism & Media Communications
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
The faculty treated you as a peer, intently cared about your personal growth, and helped you learn to express that growth through your craft.
Paul Davis ’06
B.A. in Art (Graphic Design, Drawing, Computer Art) with minors in Art History and Music
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
The first wedding I got to shoot was because one of my classmates at Otterbein already was a wedding photographer, and she had asked me to help her.
Polly Sellers ’18
B.A. in Art (Photography, Graphic Design)
At The Point, students have access to a woodshop, metal shop, and maker space with 3D printers, laser etching machines, large format printers, virtual reality equipment, and more to take their art to the next level.
Our Annual Juried High School Student Art Exhibition supports young artists in Ohio, who gain experience in preparing and submitting their artwork for blind review by qualified arts professionals and may receive cash awards.
Department Features and Student Opportunities
Scholarships
We show interest in the whole person-life experiences, potential for success in academic setting, and enthusiasm for the arts-by offering up to $8,000 in talent award scholarships.
Study Abroad
Travel the world in short- and long-term study abroad experiences, including May Term trips led by Art & Art History faculty to locations such as Spain, Italy, Greece, and the United Kingdom.
Internships
Students gain valuable professional experience through internships and short-term positions with a wide variety of businesses and organizations within the arts community.
Artist-In-Residence Program
One of the only such programs of its kind in Ohio, our artist-in-residence program lets two graduating studio art majors work as arts professionals with support in the form of studio space, materials, and a professional exhibition.
Museum Internships
Art students at Otterbein have the opportunity to receive hands-on experience in preparation, installation, and striking of art exhibitions in the Frank Museum of Art and other galleries on campus.
Student organizations
Kappa Pi is a national honor society for Art & Art History majors who have greatly excelled in the arts. Starving Artists is a student-run organization that promotes the appreciation and education of art in the Otterbein community.
Art & Art History Department News
Fall Exhibitions Include Art from Himalayas and Otterbein’s Permanent Collection
News - August 22, 2024
Otterbein’s art museum and galleries will host Himalayan art for the annual Opening Doors to the World arts series, as well as pieces from the university’s permanent collection this fall. All exhibitions are open to the public. Details are below and online at www.otterbein.edu/art/art-exhibit-schedule/. Gateway to Himalayan Art Aug. 28-Dec. 12, 2024 Project Himalayan Art - The Rubin Museum, NY Elena Pakhoutova and Karl Debreczeny, Curators The Frank Museum of Art, 39 South Vine Street, Westerville Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3…
Hocking College Transfer Student Finds Creativity and Connection at Otterbein
News - January 18, 2024
By Maggie Nicol ’25 Art feels and looks different to everyone; it allows for connection and creation and for an individual to thrive. That’s the experience of Sarah Farmer, a senior earning her bachelor of fine arts degree with a concentration in painting, along with minors in art history and photography. Sarah Farmer “I have always felt highly compelled to create and be creative. I have been doing art religiously since middle school and pursuing an art degree felt like…
Fast Track Innovation Fund Lets Community Shape Otterbein’s Growth
News - July 31, 2023
Otterbein University is using an innovative approach to grow enrollment and revenue by “crowd sourcing” ideas from its own community and investing in the best ideas with $1 million approved by the Board of Trustees. Under the Fast Track Innovation Fund initiative, seven projects proposed by Otterbein faculty and staff in May have been funded and are already being implemented on campus. “This investment in Otterbein’s future demonstrates our trustees’ commitment to allowing every member of our community to be heard…Programs of Study in Art
Contact Us
Department of Art & Art History
33 Collegeview Road
Westerville, OH 43081
Department Chair
Jonathan Johnson
614-823-1166
jjohnson@otterbein.edu
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