Fine Art

Why study BA Fine Art at Goldsmiths

Study the practice and theory of fine art in a dynamic, critical and international context.

• Goldsmiths' School of Art has a longstanding, worldwide reputation for excellence

• You will have your own studio space from day one, with access to excellent technical facilities, across a broad range of media

• You will employ your analytical capabilities to develop your own studio practice, in combination with a course of critical studies lectures and seminars

• You will be taught by a team of artists, curators and writers, who will help you develop ideas, focus your research, and respond to a range of influences

• You will meet visiting artists and guest speakers, who will provide additional perspectives drawn from a diverse and international context

Course Modules

The programme has two elements that inform each other:

• Studio practice (75% of the course)

• Critical studies (25% of the course)

Studio practice
We do not set projects. Emphasis is on the development of your own interests and ideas through individual research and experimentation. This is supported by regular discussions with personal tutors, other tutors from the programme, and visiting artists.

You will make work with access to your own studio 7 days a week.

Studios are organised to enable a mix of year groups and disciplines, so you will be studying alongside students from all years, working in a wide variety of media, including:

• Drawing

• Painting

• Textiles

• Printmaking

• Sculpture

• Ceramics

• Photography

• Moving Image

• Sound

• Installation

• Writing

• Performance

Studio teaching is supported by the Art Practice Areas, open Monday to Friday, to introduce you to the materials, skills and techniques relevant to the development of your work.

Critical studies
Critical Studies engages and extends your critical skills, enabling you to discuss, analyse and write about contemporary art. We encourage individual research relevant to your studio practice.

The lecture and seminar series in Year 1 offer a space to explore and examine the historical and critical context in which art is made, seen and understood.

You will choose two optional seminars in Year 2. These seminars enable you to expand your critical knowledge of contemporary art, focusing on key debates and practices where written work can be explored and developed.

Tutorials will guide your essay writing in Years 1 and 2 and will support the completion of your dissertation in Year 3.

All staff on the programme support your development and creativity and help you acquire independent learning skills. This approach requires you to be committed, to thrive on constructive criticism exchanged between staff and students, and to participate in discussing your own work and that of others.

Degree Shows

You will work towards a final-year exhibition, which forms part of Goldsmiths' famous annual Degree Shows. These events celebrate the best of students' creative work.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

Studio practice coursework is continuously assessed through individual tutorials and group seminars and crits.

This is complemented by studio presentations at Year 1, viva voce at Year 2, and a final exhibition at Year 3.

Critical Studies is assessed through essays (Years 1 and 2) and a dissertation (Year 3).