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Welcome from the Chair

Headshot of Jenny Hager

Jenny K. Hager

Chair & Professor of Sculpture
Department of Art, Art History & Design

As the Chair of the department, it is my pleasure to extend a warm and enthusiastic welcome to all students, faculty, staff, and art enthusiasts. Our department is a vibrant and dynamic community that embraces creativity, exploration, and innovation across a diverse range of artistic disciplines.

Read our Mission Statement

We offer seven exceptional programs designed to nurture your artistic talents and broaden your understanding of the visual arts:

Art History: Explore global art movements, cultures and time periods while discovering how visual expression shapes history and society.

Ceramics: Create functional and sculptural works using traditional and contemporary techniques in a hands-on studio setting.

Graphic Design: Turn ideas into impactful visual communication through creative problem solving, design strategy and industry-standard tools.

Painting & Drawing: Build a strong artistic foundation while developing your personal style through traditional and experimental approaches.

Photography: Capture compelling visual stories through digital and analog photography while refining your technical and creative skills.

Printmaking: Produce original artworks through a wide range of printmaking processes, from traditional methods to experimental techniques.

Sculpture: Design and construct three-dimensional works using diverse materials and processes to bring your creative vision to life.

At UNF, learning extends far beyond the classroom. Through our immersive Study Abroad Programs, students explore art in global contexts with faculty-led experiences in Italy, Ireland, Brazil, Germany and England. These programs connect creative practice with cultural discovery and global perspective.

As a proud affiliate of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), students gain direct access to one of the Southeast’s leading contemporary art institutions. This unique partnership deepens engagement with today’s artists, exhibitions and curatorial practice.

On campus, students showcase their work in professional gallery spaces, including:

Student creativity reaches beyond campus and into the community. UNF artists contribute to public installations at the UNF Seaside Sculpture Park in Jacksonville Beach and James Weldon Johnson Park in downtown Jacksonville, creating art that transforms public spaces and connects with the region.

Our department is energized by a full calendar of signature events that bring learning to life, including:

Blocktober Steamroller Print Event (October)
Semiannual Iron Pours for UNF Sculpture (Fall and Spring)
Ceramics Woodfire Kiln Firings
Charcoal and Pizza Night (Painting and Drawing)
Portfolio Reviews for Fine Arts and Graphic Design and Digital Media

Each year, students also travel to Art Basel in Miami, one of the world’s premier contemporary art fairs. This experience places students at the center of the global art scene, where they explore emerging trends, connect with galleries and artists and gain real-world insight into professional creative careers.

Our primary focus is undergraduate research, creative exploration and professional growth. Students are guided by dedicated faculty who are active artists, designers and scholars. Together, we cultivate an inclusive, supportive environment where ideas take shape and creative ambition moves forward.

For more information about the UNF Department of Art, Art History and Design or to schedule a tour, contact us at (904) 620-4037 or email artoffice@unf.edu.

Warmest regards,

Jenny K. Hager

Chair, Department of Art, Art History, & Design

Professor of Sculpture—University of North Florida

Our Mission

The nationally accredited Department of Art, Art History, and Design provides undergraduate degree programs in Art History, Painting & Drawing, Printmaking, Graphic Design, Photography, Ceramics, and Sculpture. Our nationally and internationally accomplished faculty participate in exhibitions and commissions, engage in ground-breaking scholarly research, and as experts in their fields, provide outstanding undergraduate instruction through a broad and diverse curriculum. The Department’s dynamic and innovative programs go beyond curriculum and classroom walls to foster experiential and transformational learning through internships, community engagement, undergraduate research and exhibition, study abroad, and gallery practice and museum study opportunities in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Jacksonville, a cultural institute of UNF. The Department of Art, Art History, and Design prepares its students to excel as creative thinkers, makers, and cultural entrepreneurs, to excel in their disciplines, and to be successful in a broad range of graduate programs and professions in the arts and beyond.