The Visual & Dramatic Arts department at Rice gives students the opportunity to focus their art education in one of three distinct tracks of study: studio, theatre, or film. In addition, we supplement course work with distinguished speakers, visiting artists, exhibitions, film series, student exhibitions, performance opportunities, and emerging artist residencies.

Many of our students link their careers in art to other disciplines of study. We work hard to provide an active, dynamic environment where individuals can pursue art interests while continuing other fields of scholarly study. We stress the importance of these connections and feel that the artwork produced is clearly richer and more diverse because of collaborative engagement.

Our faculty is a diverse group who contribute significantly in the profession of art on the local, national, and international levels. In addition to our permanent faculty, we annually host seven guest instructors from the prestigious CORE program at the Glassell School of Art of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. These MFAH CORE Fellow participants are artists and critical writing fellows chosen from a competitive national and international pool of visual artists and art critics. Houston is an international art center with major museums, vital alternative exhibition and performance-art spaces, a large number of art galleries, and various forums for the discourse in which art and culture interact with the issues of society as a whole. The Department of Visual and Dramatic Art actively engages the city's art scene as an extension of the studio classroom.

Please browse our website for further information on our programs, exhibitions, and events.  You may also contact our department coordinator, Rachel Boyle, by email at rboyle@rice.edu, or by phone at 713-348-4882.

John Sparagana
Grace Christian Vietti Chair of Visual and Dramatic Arts
Chair, Department of Visual and Dramatic Arts