Painting & Printmaking (BFA)

Overview

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) at the Department of Painting + Printmaking (PAPR) at VCUarts Qatar prepares the new generation of creatives to become accomplished and confident artists with independent, professional practices in the arts. We provide students with a wealth of adaptable skills in contemporary art practices to take with them into the career of their choice. 

The program reflects the dynamic attitude towards contemporary art, with an emphasis on experimentation and intellectual inquiry. You will produce a diverse body of work that will enable you to carve your artistic identity. 

The program brings together a diverse community of artists, researchers, educators, curators, activists, and creative professionals to foster collaboration and interdisciplinary learning. Our students experiment with a wide range of traditional and contemporary media, including drawing, painting, 3D art, new media, sculpture, installation, photography, film, sound, performance, animation, and printmaking, gaining the skills and knowledge to become versatile artists with a broad range of expertise.

The future of art, here in Qatar

Doha is home to some of the world’s leading cultural institutions, including the Museum of Islamic Art, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, National Museum of Qatar, Lusail Museum, Fire Station Museum, and many more. Currently, Qatar Museums is set to open several new museums including the Art Mill Museum, which is poised to become one of the leading modern and contemporary art institutions in the world. 

This growth presents opportunities for emerging artists to develop a successful career within local and international art communities.

What will you learn?

This is a multidisciplinary fine art program that encourages working across disciplines. Students can also engage in elective courses from other programs allowing them to get a minor in Art History, and a minor in Film and Design. They can also attend special topics electives (masterclasses) with leaders from the cultural industries in the region and globally. Students have the opportunity to develop individual research interests and build personalized learning objectives.

Curriculum

All new students who choose a BFA pathway first need to complete a one-year Art Foundation program. In addition, all of our graduates complete a Liberal Arts and Sciences core curriculum. High-achieving students will also be invited to follow our Honors program to supplement and enhance their education. 

The culmination of a student’s BFA journey is VCUarts Qatar’s annual BFA + MFA Exhibition where projects created by the graduating class are showcased and celebrated with the wider community.

For further information on the program’s structure, please visit the links below:

Degree Requirements

Program Descriptions

Some of the program’s modules

Additionally, you will:

• Be introduced to contemporary art practices.
• Be encouraged to try new approaches and forms within your chosen projects. 
• Explore disciplines outside the department with interdisciplinary electives beyond fine art, broadening your practical skillset.
• Work collaboratively across the wider VCUarts Qatar and Education City communities.

Career Options

Our graduates are currently employed in sectors and enterprises such as: 

• Professional Art practice 
• Filmmaking, including animation, pre-production, post-production, and video and sound editing
• Project management
• Animation
• Curation
• Writing
• Photography
• Arts administration
• Publishing
• Education
• Technical instruction
• Design
• Creative media management
• Pre and post-production work
• Printmaking and reprographics 
• Public and Community art
• Video editing

Our students have been hired by:

Qatar Museums, Qatar Airways, AlBahie Auction House, Katara Hospitality, Qatar Foundation, Qatar National Bank, ARAK Collection, Teach for Qatar, and many more.

Our People

Our faculty members are accomplished artists and industry professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge, industry connections, and expertise to the classroom. They will guide you through your coursework, help you develop your unique artistic voice, and provide mentorship and career advice to help you achieve your goals. 

Dr. Aissa Deebi
Director of Painting and Printmaking

Rola Khayyat
Assistant Professor

Michael Perrone
Assistant Professor

Khalifa Al Obaidly
Adjunct Faculty

Ryan Browning
Associate Professor

Habeeb Abu-Futtaim
Adjunct Faculty

Charlene Kasdorf
Adjunct Faculty

Walid Taher
Adjunct Faculty

Bahaeldin Abudaya
Adjunct Faculty

Peter Welz
Adjunct Faculty

Hana Al-Saadi
Adjunct Faculty

Natalia Mejia Murillo
Assistant Professor

Painting + Printmaking Department Advisory Board

The Department of Printing + Printmaking has a Board of Advisors drawn from some of the world’s best institutions and universities. They are:

Bashir Makhoul, Vice-Chancellor, University for the Creative Arts, London, UK
Mr. Ashraf A.R. Abu Issa, Chairman, ABUISSA Holding, Doha, Qatar
Professor Walid Sadek, Chair, Department of Fine Arts and Art History, American University of Beirut, Lebanon
Michael Rakowitz, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
Hassan Elahi, Director, George Mason University School of Art and Design 
Nada Shabout, Professor, Art History and the Coordinator of the Contemporary Arab and Muslim Cultural Studies Initiative at the University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA
Wael Shwakey, Artist, Alexandria, Egypt 
Beral Madra, Independent curator and art critic, Istanbul, Turkey 
Noah Simblist, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA
Tarek Al Ariss, Dartmouth College, USA 
Shaurya Kumar, Chair, Department of Printmedia, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, USA
Bassam El Baroni, Assistant Professor, Curating and Mediating Art at the School of Arts, Design, and Architecture, Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland