MFA: Sculpture

MFA candidates in Sculpture pursue a professional course of study in a rigorous and challenging environment balanced by the support of faculty and peers. Graduate students are encouraged to focus on their own growth as creative individuals, working to realize their ideas through a hands-on approach to process and materials.

Throughout the two-year program, students are guided and challenged by RISD's diverse and committed faculty. Visiting artists and critics also expose them to a wide spectrum of skills, philosophies and professional experiences.

current enrollment
graduate students: 15
undergraduates: 43

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Sculpture Department website

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• What are you looking for in the application portfolios?

  Since faculty determine who to admit based upon the work itself, it is critical that your documentation be clear, cogent and professional. We are looking for diverse young artists who represent the many facets of studio sculpture. With that in mind, your portfolio should reflect your sensibility and should not be "padded" for quantity over quality.

• Can I meet with graduate faculty in Sculpture prior to or during the application process?

  Unfortunately, this isn't possible. We receive more than 150 applications for eight openings in our program and simply can't schedule individual appointments with each interested candidate. Instead, we encourage you to take advantage of the In Focus open houses organized by the Graduate Studies Office.

• As a graduate student, how often will I meet with my advisors?

  In Sculpture we meet with graduate students for tutorials and studio visits every Thursday from 9 am to 3 pm. You'll also regularly meet with visiting artists in their studios for one-on-one or small group discussions.

• Do you consider research to be an important part of the process?

  Due to the sheer demands of the material processes you need to understand and master when making sculpture, you will inevitably be pulled into dialogue with multiple lines of inquiry. From the study of shipbuilding to the investigation of butterflies (and everything in between), you will find that research is not just the starting point, it's an essential part of the journey.

link to general questions on Graduate Studies at RISD

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“The critical skills we help students develop here have to do with honing an understanding of the larger poetic implications of sculptural language, and getting the technical chops to say it the way you want to.”

Ellen Driscoll, Department Head / Professor

Ellen Driscoll, Department Head / Professor

Stephanie Snider, Assistant Professor

Michael Beresford, Professor

Dean Snyder, Graduate Program Coordinator / Professor

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