All programs Apply

Printmaking

BFA

Explore tradition and innovation in one of the nation’s premier printmaking programs—where bold, curious artists build world-class studio practices.

Location: On Campus (Boston)
Format: In-person, Full Time
Length of Program: 4 years
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation

MassArt’s Printmaking program combines the study of traditional techniques with modern approaches to develop technical proficiency in printmaking processes. Our students take courses in etching, lithography, silkscreen, relief, photographic print processes, and drawing. They also study monotype and woodcut techniques, in addition to digital color separation.

At MassArt, you’ll work in one of the largest and most beautiful print shops in the United States–and you’ll receive a world-class education at an affordable public tuition. With access to renowned museums, visiting artists, and generous awards, you’ll graduate with confidence, professional skills, and a distinctive body of work.

Students work in the Printmaking Studio; John Thompson consults with a student. Videography: In the Car

A person wearing a colorful sweater sits at a cluttered desk in a cozy, well-lit studio art space. They are holding a small object, possibly crafting. The walls are adorned with paper, a laptop is open, and various items are scattered around.

My most important task is to help students work collectively. Meaningful artistic diversity is realized through collective practice in the studio. Catarina Coelho Visiting Lecturer, Fine Arts 2D

What You’ll Learn

In the Printmaking BFA program at MassArt, you’ll learn by doing—building deep technical knowledge while pushing the boundaries of what printmaking can be today. Through hands-on studio courses, critiques, and collaborative work, you’ll explore time-honored processes alongside contemporary and experimental approaches.

Your education is intentionally structured to support your growth. You’ll begin by building strong foundations in drawing and developing fluency in core printmaking techniques. As you move into junior- and senior-level studios, your coursework becomes increasingly self-directed, giving you the freedom to experiment across media.

Sample Pathway:

Sophomore Year: Foundations in printmaking, drawing, and technique
Junior Year: Advanced studios, electives, interdisciplinary exploration
Senior Year: Independent studio work, thesis-level projects, portfolio development

Faculty mentorship, group critiques, and a collaborative studio culture help you refine your technical skills and strengthen your conceptual thinking.

Boston extends your learning beyond campus. With free access to the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Harvard Art Museums, you’ll study directly from significant works of art through guided visits and on-site teaching.

Generous end-of-year awards recognize outstanding work and support your continued growth as a bold, curious, and self-driven artist.

People wearing aprons stand around a metal table in a print studio, looking at prints.

Annual Printmaking Events

Each spring, you’ll work closely with a world-class visiting artist through the Master Print Program, developing a shared concept that evolves into finished artwork. You’ll also engage with contemporary voices through the Fine Arts department’s Visiting Lecture Series, which brings eight renowned artists to campus each academic year.

MassArt Printmaking also hosts the annual Iron Print Competition in collaboration with the Boston University, Rhode Island School of Design, and School of the Museum of Fine Arts.

Printmaking Events

BFA Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the Printmaking BFA program are expected to be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes in addition to our College-wide Learning Goals.

Understand perceptual, formal, and conceptual approaches to painting and printmaking;
Demonstrate technical and material proficiency in drawing, painting, and printmaking;
Strengthen visual analysis and verbal articulation skills in relation to artistic practice,
Understand and appreciate diverse, historical, contemporary practices, and the artist’s role in society;
Develop a unique body of work that reflects authentic perspectives;
Comprehend the histories of Painting and Printmaking as technological/material/conceptual developments that are tied to geography, time, and larger ideologies;
Develop strategies that encompass the role of investigation and experimentation in creative practice;
Demonstrate best practices in the studio, including health and safety
Acquire professional skills for sustainable studio practices beyond school.

Career Outcomes

Your Printmaking BFA prepares you for a wide range of creative paths. MassArt’s strong ties to Boston’s arts ecosystem, including relationships with the Museum of Fine Arts, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and Harvard Art Museums, create opportunities for internships, research, and professional connections.

Many alumni continue on to competitive MFA programs, while others build sustainable studio practices supported by exhibitions, grants, residencies, and teaching opportunities. With affordable public tuition and a national reputation for excellence, MassArt offers exceptional value for artists ready to shape their future.

Career Paths

Professional Independent Artist, Curator, Educator, Art Dealer; Creative Professional working in a museum, gallery, or cultural institution

Career Development

Internships

Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Big Wheel Press, Muskat Studio (Carolyn Muskat), Flatbed Press, Liz Sheperd, New Impressions Print Studio, Powers Gallery, PrintCraft Studio, Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop

Internships

McMillan Award

The Genevieve McMillan-Reba Stewart Grant is awarded to a graduating senior, printmaking major at MassArt. Genevieve McMillan established a fellowship in memory of her dear friend, painter and world traveler, the late Reba Stewart. Genevieve McMillan, an intrepid traveler herself, knew that MassArt students would benefit from an opportunity to travel abroad.

Senior printmaking majors are required to prepare a complete application. Alumni are eligible to apply up to two years after they graduate. Please contact the department for more information.

Student Work