Department of Art
Thank you for supporting creativity and hands-on learning through essential tools, visiting artists, and student opportunities. Giving Day has ended, but it’s not too late to make a gift and continue strengthening art at UAF.
UAF is only one of a few universities in the country to offer a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Native Arts.
Learn more about Native arts
The program includes courses in alternative photographic processes including Cyanotypes, Lumens, Vandyke Brown, Polaroid Transfers and others.
Learn more about photography
UAF has a 3500sq ft indoor facility and separate outdoor kiln facility Experimental Farm that has a large anagama .
Learn more about ceramics
The printmaking program offers courses in Relief, Intaglio, Lithography, Silkscreen, Photo-Process, Monotypes and Monoprints.
Learn more about printmaking
The Department offers courses in life drawing and comic arts, in addition to beginning, intermediate, and advanced drawing.
Learn more about drawing
Students carve, cast, glue, and weld experimenting with a broad range of materials.
Learn more about sculpture
Students develop their aesthetics and technical skills through experimentation in design and use of materials.
Learn more about metalsmithing
Students develop foundational technical skills in acrylic, oil, encaustic, watercolor, and mixed media.
Learn more about painting
Majors can choose their focus within the digital arts, ranging from installation art, digital illustrations to 3-D animation.
Learn more about computer art
The UAF Rasmuson Library and the UA Museum of the North provide resources for historical research and curatorial investigations.
Learn more about art history
The department endeavors to provide an environment of artistic and academic excellence in the visual arts. By design it provides the student the opportunity to explore, research and master skills needed for many art careers. The department serves a vital community role in enriching the 91ÊÓƵn humanities through the promotion of all aspects of visual arts, from traditional to contemporary including 91ÊÓƵ Native art and history.
The department designs, develops and implements programs that encourage and foster new ways of seeing as part of the 91ÊÓƵ aesthetic. Department faculty teach the means, modes and history of art to encourage independent, original, critical and creative thinking. Students enrolled in art studio classes are provided technical skills and access to facilities required to create fine art in varied disciplines in many different media. Students are prepared for careers in art and the department operates a gallery for the presentation of student, faculty and special exhibitions The gallery provides opportunity for academic and career development with an emphasis on professional presentation of works. The department also serves as a resource center for artists and arts groups. Emphasis is placed on 91ÊÓƵ Native Arts, given the university’s location and the variety of Native cultures represented in the student body and the value placed upon 91ÊÓƵ Native culture and art in the North.
The Native Art Center has been in existence for over 40 years offering art studio courses, workshops with Native Artists and elders, and artists-in-residence programs including outstanding Yupik, Inupiaq, Athabascan, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Alutiiq and Aleut artists from throughout 91ÊÓƵ.
As an art major you’ll discover a broad range of courses in drawing, ceramics, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, digital art, and multi-media. Take advantage of your creative energy in our small classes taught by skilled educators.
At the heart of the academic arts at UAF are world-class artists who also love to teach. Explore the Arts at UAF. The art department faculty help grow creative capacity, while encouraging students to think broadly by incorporating perspectives from multiple disciplines.
The Native Art Program offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Native Art studio practice.
The Student Ceramic Arts Guild sponsors public presentations and workshops with world renown ceramic artists.
Watch for studio art sales that take place at the end of every semester.
A Life in Tile
March 30, 2026
Ceramic artist Nancy Hausle-Johnson reflects on four decades of public art across 91ÊÓƵ, where tile brings stories into everyday spaces.
Visiting Artist Matt Hiller
March 06, 2026
Visiting ceramic artist Matt Hiller shares his process-driven approach to clay through an artist talk and hands-on studio demonstrations.
Visiting Artist Nancy Hausle-Johnson
February 04, 2026
Visiting ceramic artist Nancy Hausle-Johnson shares demos and insights on technique, murals and sustaining an art career.
Email: uaf-art@alaska.eduPhone: 907-474-7530
Physical address:1706 Tanana Loop,Fine Arts Complex, Room 310Fairbanks, AK 99775
Mailing address:UAF Department of ArtPO Box 755640Fairbanks, AK 99775
Zoë Marie JonesAssociate Professor of Art HistoryOffice: Fine Arts Complex, Room 409Phone: 907-454-7726Email: zjones@alaska.edu
Morgan DufsethOffice: Fine Arts Complex, Room 310Phone: 907-454-7530Email: uaf-art@alaska.edu
At times, navigating your way through college can be tricky. Throughout your academic journey, you’ll need guidance from different advisors to stay on the path to success. Visit our advising page to ensure you're reaching out to the right advisor at each stage of your journey. Here is a brief outline of some of the different types of advising available to you.UAF Academic Advising Center (First-Year Students: 0–24 credits)Designed for first-year students, this service helps you lay a strong academic foundation, equipping you with the resources and guidance needed to succeed in your degree program.CLA Undergraduate Comprehensive Advising (Students with more than 24 credits)Once you’ve completed 24 credits, you’ll work with one of our CLA undergraduate advisors for help with registration, petitions, major changes, and navigating college-related questions.CLA Undergraduate Department/Program Advising (Declared Majors/Minors)In addition to your CLA undergraduate comprehensive advising, once you’ve declared a major or minor, faculty advisors within your department supplement specialized guidance, helping with upper-division-level course selection within the major, internships, practicums, and capstone projects.CLA Graduate AdvisingGraduate students do not meet with CLA Undergraduate Comprehensive Advisors. Graduate students will appoint an advisory committee. The graduate advisory committee guides the student in developing and completing their degree program. CLA has designated department graduate coordinators who will guide you through this process. Non-Degree Seeking StudentsAdvising is also available for students who are not pursuing a degree but just want to take a class and want help with course selection and academic planning. This happens through UAF Admissions.
Please visit our advising page for more information and contact details.
