At Boston University School of Visual Arts (SVA), we nurture the creative potential of every student through a balance of rigorous training and open exploration. We emphasize collaboration and dialogue alongside the focus of the studio and the freedom of choices offered by the larger university. Through our ethos, curriculum, and program offerings, SVA engages students in highly experiential learning, building expertise and experimentation through critique, process, and concept.
Discover Our Programs
Admissions & Portfolio Reviews
Ready to apply to a graduate or undergraduate program at BU School of Visual Arts? We can't wait to get to know you.
The SVA Experience
Resources for Students
The School of Visual Arts offers academic, extra-curricular, and career support for undergraduate and graduate students at all phases of their time at the College of Fine Arts. Find advising help, access equipment, and explore resources offered to all Boston University students.
SVA Stories
Read more BU School of Visual Arts students, faculty, and alumni making art and making change in the world
Creatives in Practice: Marc Schepens
The Boston University School of Visual Arts Director recently had his work displayed at the David Shelton Gallery in Houston, Texas
Beyond the Classroom: Oliver Perry (CFA’27)
As the sole art teacher at a Brookline school, BU art education graduate student Oliver Perry teaches visual art and art history to K-12 students
BU Faculty, Students, and Alums Showcase Comics in Venice Exhibitions
On view at A + A Gallery, American Comics for All Generations celebrates the uncelebrated narratives of US history and Reframing the Everyday: Emerging Voices in Comics narrates the shared human experience of everyday life
Immerse yourself in the arts at Alumni Weekend 2026
Check out BU Alumni Weekend's arts event lineup, happening September 17-19
An Internship Combining Art and Advertising at San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum
Helena Nguyen (CFA’27, COM’27) spent the summer developing public programs, reconnecting with her Vietnamese heritage, and exploring the West Coast
Discover the Arts at Boston University This Year
Encounter art, music, theatre, opera, workshops, lectures, and more at Boston University this year
What to Find at Boston University Art Galleries This Fall
Fourteen artists investigate the medium of newspaper in the exhibition, Between the Bylines, and The Boston Printmakers return to Boston University for the 2026 North American Print Biennial
Alum Sculptor Captures “Inner Essence”
Janice Corkin Rudolf (CFA’74) has depicted Thoreau, Alcott—and Franklin Park Zoo’s Kiki the gorilla
Why BU School of Visual Arts?
Guided by world-class artists and educators emphasizing skill-building and the ability to think creatively, you will hone your eye, hand, and mind at SVA.
Visual Arts Events
Join us for lectures, exhibitions, and more!