Studio Art Schools in Kentucky

Studio art as a discipline is just as broad as the career options for graduates in this field. Studio art programs feature instruction in the areas of drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, fiber, glass, printmaking, and more. Because studio artists are so versatile, they can find work in an endless number of fields such as art administration, set design, illustration, art direction, graphic design, photojournalism, web design, mural or display painting, animation, legal (courtroom sketch artist), cover art, advertising, publishing, and more.

Kentucky isn’t the first place that might come to mind when you think of art scenes, but the state certainly has a growing art and culture scene as well as a rising population of artists of all kinds, including studio artists. The state is home to more than 15,000 salaried artists along with  a wide variety of art and performance venues such as the Kentucky Museum of Arts + Design, the Kentucky Museum at Western Kentucky University, and the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts.

Besides an excellent art and culture scene and an impressive artist population, Kentucky is home an good-sized collection of schools that offer top-tier art and design programs. Just a few popular schools for aspiring artists include Sullivan College of art and Design, Western Kentucky University, and Murray State University. Continue reading to learn more about Kentucky’s top picks for aspiring artists and designers.

Kentucky Studio Art Schools

According to the most recent report by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), Kentucky is home to 76 accredited colleges and universities. They can be found all over the state, but some of the most popular options for aspiring artists can be found in major cities such as Louisville and Lexington and. Scroll through the list below to find out which schools are the best options for aspiring studio artists and what they have to offer
 
Lexington
University of Kentucky  - Degrees Offered: B. A., B. F. A. Art Studio with Concentration in Digital Media, M. F. A. Studio with New Media Major Area

Louisville
University of Louisville -  Degrees Offered:  B. F. A. Communication Art and Design; M. A. Studio Art with Concentration in Digital Media

Murray
Murray State University – Degrees Offered: B. A./B. S. Studio Art, B. F. A. Studio Art with Emphasis in Graphic Design

More Studio Art related programs to consider:  

Employment and Salary Trends for Kentucky Studio Artists

According to the latest report by the Bureau of labor Statistics (March 27, 2012), Kentucky is home to 15,520 salaried artists and designers, up from 13,390 in 2002. Salaries have increased as well. In 2002, salaried artists here averaged $32,130. As of March 2012, the average salary was $39,190.

It is important to note that salaries vary by industry, company, experience, location, and more. For example, at $86,860 per year, the highest paying (creative) industry for artists is the motion picture and video industries, and at an average of $108,430, art directors are the highest paid artists in the field. In the state of Kentucky, at $60,740, the average for art directors is also much higher than the average for artists overall, as well as multimedia artists and animators ($59,570), and

Salaries for independent artists and business owners may be higher or lower based on experience, specialization, type of company, location, and other factors. For example, illustrators that contract with multiple major Florida design studios can average $40,000-$80,000+ per year. However, according to the Bureau, the average salary for “independent artists” is $70,200 per year, up from an average of $51,340 for 2008-2010.