Sculpture and Expanded Media

Figurative sculpture by Erin Brooke (300 level); Macramé sculpture by Kaitlyn Konkin

The Sculpture and Expanded Media program offers a range of opportunities for study of this three-dimensional art form. Students explore and create art works in different media, from clay to plaster, metal, wood, fabric, and mixed media, using traditional and experimental methods and techniques.

Careers

• Practicing Artist
• Museum/Gallery Exhibition Preparator
• Model Maker
• Set Designer/Prop Sculptor
• Prosthetic Artist
• Landscape Architect
• Educator
• Visual Art Professor/Instructor in a Post-Secondary Institution

Undergraduate Studies

Studying sculpture and expanded media as an undergraduate degree enables students to concentrate on figurative, abstract and conceptual sculpture. 

Mikylie Shapka (500 level)

In the introductory courses students learn the fundamentals of form and structure, working with wood, clay, and steel. Models are available for figural study.

After taking two introductory courses in sculpture giving them a solid technical knowledge for working in wood, steel, clay, plaster and 3D digital modelling, students go on to take more advanced courses where they will develop their skills further and pursue more self-directed and conceptual sculpture projects. 

Jenna Hoffart; Krissya Iraheta; Nicolas Hertz

The size of the well-equipped sculpture studios, expertise of the instructors and technicians allows students to realise ambitious and highly varied sculptural work at every level. Over recent years our students created large scale wooden figurative sculptures, detailed ceramics, abstract steel forms, digital sculptures and wearable sculpture, installation and public art as a way to engaging with a broad range of the themes.

Carson Tarnasky

The program as a whole emphasizes formal and technical competence with the importance of knowing and understanding developments in sculpture both a historical and contemporary perspective.

Kasie Campbell; Roseanna Nay

Graduate Studies

TJ Mclachlan, A Central Perspective, 2016, Dimensions variable, Plywood, Steel, Laminate, Urethane, Silicone, Paper

The primary aim of the graduate program is to enable students to bring undergraduate work to a professional level within a studio environment and to place students in a position of informed criticism and judgment in relation to personal development. Sculpture graduate students are mentored in creative research methodologies that enable them to more effectively support their studio practice with academic research and/or theoretical discourse related to their thesis topic. Students also gain insights into how their own studio practice relates and intersects with questions within the broader field of contemporary sculpture/art. Although the program is focused on sculpture studio practices, students can engage in cross-media creative work that could include drawing, new media and performance.

There are numerous funding opportunities for students throughout the program including scholarships, research assistantships and teaching assistantships. Teaching experience is stressed in the program and there are also opportunities for students to teach as primary instructor in sculpture, foundation and drawing courses.

Facilities

The sculpture studio is situated on the ground floor of the Fine Arts Building. It has good access via a large overhead door at street level. The total area of the sculpture space is just under 11,000 square feet, which is divided up roughly as follows: a central area of just under 5000 square feet devoted mainly to a woodworking shop, of which 3,500 square feet is used for abstract elementary sculpture classes; the remainder consisting of cubicles for intermediate and advanced level students where they can pursue individual studies. 3000 square feet is devoted to figurative studies in the form of a large kiln room, a plaster casting room, and two modeling studios. The studio is equipped with two forklifts, a large array of MIG and electrode welders, oxy-acetylene and plasma cutting equipment. There is a large Wadkin band saw, rotating disc sander a panel saw and numerous hand tools as well as clay preparation equipment and a large gas kiln.

Instructors work with the Digital Scholarship Centre on 3D modelling and printing projects. Sculpture at the University of Alberta has a strong partnership with the Digital Stone Project in Italy founded by Jon Isherwood and in 2017. Within the Weight of Action, featured large scale digital marble sculptures made by students and instructors with the Digital Stone Project.