Here you can carry out art historical and design research; apply the theories and practice of information science; design and curate digital libraries, archives, and exhibitions; and communicate arts content and design effectively across diverse cultures and societies.
Pratt students at the Morgan Library Reading Room (courtesy Polly Cancro, History of Art and Design / Library and Information Science '18)
History of Art and Design / Library and Information Science at Pratt
The MSLIS/MA History of Art and Design dual-degree program prepares you for careers in art and design, museum, and academic libraries. In this program, you will become an expert on the intersection of art and design and information, going deep into art, design, and historical archives, art and design collections, and more. With fellowship opportunities at NYC’s leading museums, libraries, and archives, such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Frick Art Reference Library, and MoMA, the dual-degree program offers unique experiential learning opportunities.
Students in the dual-degree MSLIS/MA History of Art and Design program get to experience all Pratt has to offer by taking half of their program (30 credits) at the School of Information based in Manhattan, and the other half in the Department of History of Art and Design on the Brooklyn campus (30 credits). The first two years students take courses in both departments, with much of the thesis work taking place in the third year. With class sizes of just 8-12, you’ll collaborate closely with your cohort and faculty and be learning at the nexus of NYC arts and culture communities.
Internships
Internships at museums, libraries, nonprofit art organizations, and galleries provide professional opportunities in your area of interest and prepare you for future careers. Recent students have interned at prestigious institutions such as the New York Public Library, Franklin Furnace, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Study Abroad
We are pleased to offer study abroad options for dual-degree students, including a new course offered for the first time during spring break 2024: “Artist Archives: Rome/New York”. We also recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of Pratt in Venice, which is a 6-week program that occurs each June and July. For more information on Study Abroad, see where you can go.
Learning Resources
We develop disciplinary fluency in our program of study and we celebrate the interdisciplinary nature of design critical to address the plurality and complexity of the environments in which we operate. Learning resources.
Our Faculty
Pratt’s distinguished faculty of outstanding creative professionals and scholars share a common desire to develop each student’s potential and creativity to the fullest. Bringing different views, methods, and perspectives, they provide a rigorous educational model in which students make and learn. See all History of Art and Design faculty and administrators and School of Information faculty and administrators.
Our Alumni
Pratt’s distinguished alumni are leading diverse and thriving careers, addressing critical challenges and creating innovative work that reimagines our world.
Where They Work
Librarian, Photographs and Prints Division, New York Public Library
Archivist, Center for Brooklyn History at Brooklyn Public Library
IT Project Manager, J. Paul Getty Trust
Head, Reference & Reader Services, Teachers College, Columbia University
Web Collection Librarian, Columbia University Libraries
Join us at Pratt. Learn more about admissions requirements, plan your visit, talk to a counselor, and start your application. Take the next step.
You’ll find yourself at home at Pratt. Learn more about our residence halls, student organizations, athletics, gallery exhibitions, events, the amazing City of New York and our Brooklyn neighborhood communities. Check us out.
The evolution of Western art is a story of creativity, innovation, and cultural transformation. From the idealized forms of ancient Greece and Rome to the spiritual intricacies of the Middle Ages, and finally to the humanistic revival of the Renaissance, each era brought new ways of seeing and depicting the world. Join us as we explore key moments and masterpieces that shaped art history, highlighting timeless works and groundbreaking techniques that continue to inspire today.
A journey through the foundations of Western art:
Classical Era: Idealized beauty & mythological themes.
Example: "Laocoön and His Sons" (c. 40-30 BCE)
Middle Ages: Art turned spiritual with intricate designs.
Example: The Book of Kells (c. 800 CE)
Renaissance: A rebirth of humanism, realism, and perspective.
Example: "The Birth of Venus" by Botticelli (c. 1485)
Innovations: Leonardo da Vinci redefined art with works like Mona Lisa (1503-1506) and The Last Supper (1495-1498).
#ArtHistory #RenaissanceArt #WesternArt #pratt
HAD’s Weekly Art:
Hilma af Klint’s Tree of Knowledge, No. 1 (1913-1915) is part of her groundbreaking series The Paintings for the Temple, where she explored the connection between the material and spiritual worlds. The tree symbolizes knowledge and wisdom, with vibrant colors and abstract forms that reflect her spiritual beliefs and interest in the unseen forces that shape life.
#HilmaAfKlint #AbstractArt #TreeOfKnowledge #ArtHistory
Image: Tree of Knowledge, No. 1 (1913-1915) by Hilma af Klint.
HAD’s Weekly Design History: The London Underground Map
Designer: Harry Beck (1933)
“Did you know? The London Underground map, designed by Harry Beck in 1933, revolutionized how we visualize public transport systems! Beck’s innovative approach simplified the chaotic network by using geometric shapes and a non-geographic layout, making it both functional and iconic. Today, it's one of the most recognized pieces of graphic design in the world!
Image 1,3: Beck's Underground Map of 1933
Image 2:Map of underground lines, 1908
#DesignHistory #IconicDesigns #GraphicDesign #pratt #prattinstitute
The history of art is the history of a great idea.’ — Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
Art is more than just visual expression; it’s a powerful narrative of human thought and evolution. Each work reflects the ideas and ideals of its time, leaving an enduring mark on history.
#ArtHistory #PhilosophyOfArt #ArtAndIdeas #Pratt
Weekly NYC Museum & Galleries, November 6 edition;
On November 16, Solid Gold exhibition at Brooklyn Museum opens.
“Opening on the occasion of the Brooklyn Museum’s 200th anniversary, Solid Gold features more than 500 works, pairing showpieces from the collection with stunning international loans. The fashion world’s embrace of gold will be seen in standout designs by Anna Sui, Christian Dior, Demna, Gianfranco Ferré, Giorgio di Sant’Angelo, Halston, Mary McFadden, The Blonds, Walter Van Beirendonck, and Yves Saint Laurent. Gold-ground paintings and sculptures, coins, and other treasures will sparkle alongside jewelry by Alexander Calder, Belperron, Cartier, Charles Loloma, Jacob & Co, and Verdura—as well as grillz by Gabby Elan. While celebrating the seductive magic of this luminous material, the exhibition will also confront darker histories, inviting frank discussions about the human and environmental costs of extracting gold ore from the earth. Solid Gold will immerse you in one of humankind’s most dazzling obsessions.” *
Kindly reach the details on Brooklyn Museum website.
#SolidGoldBkM #arthistory #designhistory #pratt #pratthad
Image: Greek. Wreath (details), 3rd–2nd century B.C.E. Gold. Brooklyn Museum; Gift of George D. Pratt, 26.763. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
* Source: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/solid-gold?utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ENG%E2%80%94FY25%E2%80%9411%2F1November(General)&utm_content=version_A&promo=
Weekly Art&Design Movement:
"Egyptomania"
The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb on November 4, 1922, by British archaeologist Howard Carter, sparked a global fascination with Ancient Egyptian aesthetics, leading to a phenomenon known as "Egyptomania" that influenced various aspects of art, architecture, and design.
Influence on Art Deco
The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb coincided with the rise of the Art Deco movement, which incorporated many elements inspired by Ancient Egyptian design:
Architecture: Egyptian-style motifs integrated into Art Deco architecture, especially in public and commercial buildings.
Decorative Arts: The exquisite craftsmanship of Tutankhamun's grave goods inspired designers to incorporate Egyptian-inspired elements into furniture, fabrics, and jewelry.
Visual Language: Egyptian symbols and patterns became a part of the Art Deco visual vocabulary, dominating design trends until the mid-1930s.
In conclusion, the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb had a lasting impact on 20th-century design, influencing architecture, decorative arts, and popular culture. Its contents not only inspired a new aesthetic movement but also significantly contributed to our understanding of Ancient Egyptian civilization and craftsmanship.
Image 1: Detail of fabric from 1923. Source: Creative Commons.
Image 2: Tutankhamun’s tomb, innermost coffin, New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, c. 1323 B.C.E., gold with inlay of enamel and semiprecious stones (Egyptian Museum, Cairo)
Image 3: Cartier, London, brooch, dating from 1924. Source: Creative Commons.
Image 4: Advertisement for a French perfume aimed at the American market, dating June 1923. Source: Public Domain.
Image 5: Tutankhamun’s gold funerary portrait mask, topped with a cobra and a vulture. Source: Creative Commons.
#ArtHistory #DesignMovement #egyptology
We are pleased to announce a new @prattischool fellowship for the spring '25 semester in the area of archives with the Hauser & Wirth Institute (@hauserwirthinstitute). The Hauser & Wirth Institute Archives fellow will work on creating metadata from print ephemera and visual material (slides, photographs, etc.) digitized by HWI from The Drawing Center’s (@thedrawingcenter) extensive exhibition archive. The Drawing Center is a museum and a nonprofit exhibition space in Manhattan, New York City, that focuses on the exhibition of drawings, both historical and contemporary. Application deadline is November 26th! For more details and to apply, please visit our Fellowships page; link available in our bio.
Alumna Mariame Kaba created the Audre Lorde Justice Endowed Scholarship to support librarians and archivists committed to social justice and inclusivity. Read about it in story in our bio.
Photos: 1) Mariame Kaba, MSLIS ’22 (Gioncarlo Valentine)
2) Audre Lorde teaching at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, 1983 (Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
3) Kimberly Angelica Barnes, MSLIS ’27 and MA History of Art and Design ’27
Open Call - "Corpus: Bodies of Data" -- Data Through Design 2025
Data Through Design (DxD) has extended the submissions deadline through November 4 for proposals for the March 2025 exhibition, "Corpus: Bodies of Data." DxD is an independent collective that organizes an annual art exhibit featuring works that creatively analyze, interpret, and interrogate data from NYC’s Open Data portal in conjunction with Open Data Week. The DxD collective includes Pratt visiting faculty members Rachel Daniell (MSDAV '19), Can Sucuoglu, and Sara Eichner, as well as Pratt SI alum Tereza Chanaki (MSMDC '24), and past shows have included art by Pratt SI faculty Nancy Smith and Claudia Berger as well as alum Gabriella Evergreen (MSLIS '24). Learn more and submit your proposal on the DxD website: datathroughdesign.com.
We have 6 exciting new special topics courses for this Spring '25 semester, including:
Automotive UX
Deceptive Design & Ethical UX
Archives & Art-Making
Artists’ Archives: Rome/New York
Experience Design for the Internet of Things
Service Design: Principles, Processes & Interventions
Links to the flyers available in our bio!
The MSLIS/MA History of Art and Design dual-degree program prepares students for careers in art, museum, and academic libraries. With fellowship opportunities taking place at NYC’s leading museums, libraries, and archives, such as the Brooklyn Museum, the Guggenheim Museum, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the dual-degree program offers unique opportunities for experiential learning.
This program consists of 30 credits at the School of Information and 30 credits at the Department of History of Art and Design for a total of 60 credits, which must be completed with a B average or higher. Students in the dual-degree program generally take one or two classes in each program per semester (3–4 courses, 9–12 credits).
Students in the dual-degree MSLIS/MA History of Art and Design satisfy the learning outcomes of each of the respective degrees.
MS Library and Information Science
Throughout the LIS program, students will create a digital portfolio to highlight the work they have completed and demonstrate they have met the program’s five student learning outcomes:
Foundations of Library and Information studies – Apply core concepts and theories to information collection, organization and access in multiple environments.
User-centered services – Students can meet information needs of diverse user communities across multiple communication formats (e.g. oral, written, visual, interactive).
Technology – Students can select and apply tools and technologies used in the field to improve information functions.
Research – Investigate information environments and users’ needs, behaviors, and experiences through appropriate research methods and analysis.
Ethical/Creative/Critical practice – Apply core ethical principles to professional practice and understand the broad impact of information on society. Students can raise critical questions about information, its production, dissemination, storage and preservation.
MA History of Art and Design
Graduates are able to articulate the mutually constitutive nature of historical changes in social, political and economic conditions in the fields of art, design, and cultural production.
Graduates are able to describe, research and analyze the forms of cultural artifacts and monuments.
Graduates demonstrate a critical engagement with the discipline’s tools and methods.
Graduates have the skills to craft lines of inquiry and perform in-depth research, including the use of relevant languages, that results in original analysis and interpretation.
