RISD's graduate program in Jewelry + Metalsmithing emphasizes rigorous research, experimentation and creative practice. With its small size and high ratio of faculty to students, the department offers individual attention to help students define their methodology, delve into the research areas that interest them most and explore the intersections between art, craft and design.
The department offers two paths to the MFA: a two-year program for candidates who have earned a BFA with a concentration in the field and a three-year option for students with various levels of experience and technical and conceptual proficiency. At RISD, graduate students in Jewelry + Metalsmithing tend to open up new, uncharted territory and demonstrate high levels of competency, setting the standard for the department as a whole.
current enrollment
graduate students: 12
undergraduates: 34
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- What do you look for in a graduate candidate?
We're looking for committed, mature and informed students who have developed a clear understanding of the philosophy, expectations and structure of our program. Candidates need to be able to engage in independent work, respond open-mindedly to feedback and dialogue, and take risks that may be uncomfortable.
- How can I determine if RISD's MFA program in Jewelry + Metalsmithing is the right one for me?
If you attend one of the In Focus open house events, a current graduate student from our department will take you on a brief campus tour immediately following the general session and will then escort you to our studios to meet with the Graduate Program Coordinator, who will answer more specific questions about the program. If you're not able to visit before deciding on where to apply, you're welcome to speak with the Department Head or Grad Program Coordinator via phone or e-mail.
- How many applications do you receive for each available opening?
Approximating 30—40 candidates apply to our graduate program each year. We accept six new students for fall enrollment, for a total of 12 MFA candidates enrolled in our two-year program.
- How do you decide whom to admit?
After reviewing each application, the Department Head and Graduate Program Coordinator conduct phone interviews with a short list of applicants and invite selected finalists for on-campus interviews. Once final decisions are made, any candidate who is wait-listed is notified after accepted candidates confirm their intentions.
- What do your graduates do after earning their MFAs?
Many of our alumni establish independent studios (either individual, collective or both), producing one-of-a-kind gallery work and/or limited production pieces. Some go on to design for the industry and/or create work on commission. Others open galleries, teach and/or pursue artists' residencies.
link to general questions on Graduate Studies at RISD
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“We invest in a lively visiting artist program and bring in professionals from around the world because there's no better way to expose students to professional realities and post-graduation options, while also providing them with invaluable, multifaceted perspectives on the creative process.”
Robin Quigley MFA '76 JM, Professor
Robin Quigley, Professor
Tracy Steepy, Department Head / Graduate Program Coordinator / Assistant Professor
Lola Brooks, Graduate Program Coordinator / Assistant Professor
adjunct faculty
Brian Bergeron
Technical Assistant / Critic
Noam Elyashiv
Senior Critic
Michael Glancy
Critic
Seung Hea Lee
Critic
Hongsock Lee
Lecturer/Critic
Barbara Seidenath
Senior Critic
Johan van Aswegan
Senior Critic
Andrea Zatarain
Critic
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