Pratt’s an exceptional place to study art and design history and theory. From our landmarked campus you’ll have access to NYC’s premier international private collections, libraries, museums, studios, and galleries, as well as the opportunity to work with leading artists, designers, historians, and theorists.
Join us in New York City, the art capital of the United States, for an immersive education in the history of art and design. Explore the effects of gender, class, politics and religion intersect with art and cultures that created it. Gain a wide perspective in theory and design methods and artistic expression in art, architecture, film, and literature. The liberal arts curriculum, including foreign language study, prepares you to research and critically analyze art and literature.
The Experience
IXD students Wuke Zhou, Yuki Shimano, and Olivia Turpin at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (photo by Shih Wen Huang)
Interdisciplinary and socially engaged, the History of Art and Design BA provides a broad foundation from which students build critical and analytical capacities to confront complex questions. Drawing on disciplines ranging from sociology, anthropology, linguistics, and economics, students go beyond aesthetic consideration to consider complex questions and evolving challenges.
With class sizes of just 8-12, you’ll collaborate closely with your team, faculty, and community partners to learn the skills needed to create strategies and systems that meet real-world challenges.
Electives and Seminars
You’ll have the opportunity to take electives in film and design, architecture, non-Western, pre-Renaissance, Renaissance to Rococo, and 19th-, 20th-, or 21st-century art, design, theory and methodology, and chemistry of art. Major-specific seminars are available from your first through senior years, on topics that include the role of New York as a cultural capital, critical and theoretical models, and art and social justice.
Study Abroad
Mosaic restorer Giovanni Cucco explains his work at SS. Maria e Donato to graduate student Amy Ungricht (photograph by Kate McElhiney)
Immersing yourself in another culture is an incredible experience that can extend the boundaries of creativity. Study abroad programs are an integral part of the college experience, and Pratt has deep connections with university partners around the world. Study in Paris with the Pratt in Paris summer program. We also recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of Pratt in Venice, which is a 6-week program that occurs each June and July.
Learning Resources
We develop disciplinary fluency in our program of study and we celebrate the interdisciplinary nature of art and design critical to address the plurality and complexity of the environments in which we operate. Learn about 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.
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.
Art History 101: Unt 5 - Modernism and Abstract Art
The Modernist Movement
The early 20th century saw the rise of Modernism, characterized by a break from tradition and exploration of new artistic expressions.
Example: "The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dalí (1931)
Cubism Revolutionizes Art
Pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, Cubism shattered conventional perspectives by depicting subjects from multiple viewpoints simultaneously.
Example: "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" by Pablo Picasso (1907)
Abstract Expressionism Emerges
Artists like Mark Rothko emphasized emotional expression through abstract forms and colors, focusing on viewer experience rather than representational accuracy.
Example: "No. 61 (Rust and Blue)" by Mark Rothko (1953)
Op Art Phenomenon
Op Art emerged in the mid-20th century, using optical illusions to create dynamic visual effects that challenged perception—Bridget Riley was a key figure here.
Example: "Movement in Squares" by Bridget Riley (1961)
Weekly Art Spotlight: The Hall of the Kings, Alhambra – Muqarnas Ceiling
The Hall of the Kings in the Alhambra, Granada, is known for its stunning muqarnas ceiling, an extraordinary example of Islamic architecture. This intricate ceiling design combines geometric elegance with spiritual symbolism.
Key Features of the Muqarnas Ceiling:
The muqarnas are a form of stalactite-like ornamentation that creates a visually striking 3D pattern. These small, niche-like structures are arranged in tiers, creating a honeycomb or star-shaped appearance.
The ceiling’s layered structure gives the illusion of depth and complexity, symbolizing the infinite nature of the universe. It reflects the Islamic belief that the divine cannot be fully understood but is hinted at through beauty and complexity in nature.
In the Hall of the Kings, the muqarnas design is more than just decoration; it serves as an architectural and symbolic link between earth and heaven, offering a celestial, ethereal effect. The play of light and shadow in the recesses of the muqarnas emphasizes a spiritual connection.
Fun Fact: The muqarnas ceiling not only enhances the aesthetics of the space but also serves practical purposes, improving acoustics in the hall.
#IslamicArt #Muqarnas #Alhambra #ArtHistory #Architecture #GeometricArt #WeeklyArtSpotlight
Time melts away in Salvador Dalí’s surreal masterpiece, The Persistence of Memory (1931)
This iconic painting challenges our perception of time, reality, and the subconscious. What do you think the melting clocks symbolize?
#Surrealism #SalvadorDali #ArtAnalysis #IconicArt #ThePersistenceOfMemory #ArtHistory
Did You Know?
The Impressionist Movement was named after a single painting!
In 1874, Claude Monet exhibited a work titled Impression, Sunrise (Impression, Soleil Levant) in Paris. While critics mocked the loose brushwork and "unfinished" look, the term "Impressionism" was coined from this very painting, originally as an insult!
Far from a failure, Impressionism went on to revolutionize the art world with its focus on light, color, and capturing the fleeting beauty of everyday life.
Weekly Art Inspiration: Zhang Daqian's "Panorama of Mount Lu" (1981–83)
Zhang Daqian’s "Panorama of Mount Lu" blends traditional Chinese ink painting with modern techniques. His splashed-ink method and vibrant colors bring the grandeur of Mount Lu to life, showcasing nature's beauty through innovation. Let this masterpiece inspire you to merge tradition with modern creativity! 🌄🎨
#ArtInspiration #ZhangDaqian #ChineseArt #NatureArt #CreativeFusion
You are warmly invited to the HAD Student Symposium, featuring presentations by students from the Senior Seminar and HAD Graduate Thesis programs.
*This event is open for public.
Date: Friday, May 9, 2025
Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: Alumni Reading Room
Please RSVP and save the date! The morning session (10:00–11:45am) will showcase research presentations by Senior Seminar students, followed by graduate thesis presentations from 1:00–3:00pm. Lunch will be served during the break. Family and friends are welcome!
Design Movement Spotlight: Art Deco
Era: 1920s - 1940s
Key Characteristics:
Geometry & Symmetry: Bold geometric shapes, zigzags, and sweeping curves.
Luxurious Materials: Use of lavish materials like marble, gold, and glass.
Technological Influence: A fascination with modern machinery and industrial progress.
Global Influence: Incorporates elements from ancient Egypt, Africa, and East Asia.
Historical Context:
Art Deco emerged post-World War I, reflecting a desire for luxury, glamour, and modernity. It was influenced by the technological advancements and the cultural shifts of the Roaring Twenties. The movement spanned various domains, from architecture and fashion to interior design and graphic arts.
Legacy:
Art Deco remains a significant influence in contemporary design, often seen in modern fashion, interior decor, and even digital design, continuing its legacy of combining functionality with elegance.
The BA program affords a grounding in the philosophy, literature, and criticism of the history of art and design. Students will take specially designed foundation courses and the survey classes. They will continue with additional credits in liberal arts (English, humanities, sciences, social sciences, and foreign language) and electives. Majors will take upper-level electives in film and design, architecture, non-Western, pre-Renaissance, Renaissance to Rococo, and 19th-, 20th-, or 21st-century art, theory and methodology, and chemistry of art. The BA also features major-specific seminars from the first year through the senior year. Seminar topics include the role of New York as a cultural capital, critical and theoretical models, and art and social justice.
Undergraduates have an understanding of their own cultural environments as well as their places within them.
Undergraduates are able to use tools of critical inquiry to explore gender, class, politics, religious practices, conditions and materials of production, aesthetic expression, and the economics of the market within their larger geographic, historical, theoretical, and social contexts.
Undergraduates in the B.A. degree will be familiar with a foreign language after four semesters of study.
