Kansas City Art Institute

Animation

KCAI's animation department provides students with a singularly unique education in the history and application of the medium. All animation majors receive immersive instruction in classical, experimental, and digital animation techniques and technologies as well as animation history, professional practice, and interaction with renowned visiting artists. Seniors are offered a year long studio to fully produce an original animated work and to create a portfolio reel.

Art History

At KCAI, the art history program reflects a unique approach that combines academic rigor with an understanding of studio practice, taking an object-based approach that infuses the curriculum with a deep understanding of media, technique and the dynamics of art-making in tandem with the history and theories of art. Students may pursue the art history major with a studio minor (120 credit hours) or as a double major with a studio major (135 credit hours).

Ceramics

The ceramics program provides an in-depth technical, visual, critical, and conceptual foundation for the education of artists. Students explore the vessel, figure, and architectural applications of ceramic art and technology as they pertain to contemporary forms, from functional designs to diverse sculptural practices.

Creative Writing

Creative writing students work closely with innovative, accomplished writers to develop a literary practice that complements and deepens their education as an artist. Through small classes, directed individual studies, internships, and opportunities with distinguished visiting writers, students develop technique and confidence as a writer in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, memoir and hybrid forms.

Fiber

The fiber curriculum combines traditional and experimental practices to provide students with a broad technical foundation as well as a conceptual focus. Inherently multi-disciplinary, the field of fiber encompasses painting, printing, dyeing, pattern design, sewing, quilting, experimental fashion and costume, weaving, knitting, crochet, sculpture and basketry techniques, felting, spinning and papermaking.

Filmmaking

The filmmaking curriculum is based on critical conceptual and technical driven inquiry and investigation into the medium, exploring the moving image as a delivery system for content and ideas. Students are exposed to all modes of historical and contemporary fine art filmmaking, cinematic theory and practice, including expanded approaches to the moving image and emerging relationships between the still and the moving image.

Graphic Design

Graphic design students at KCAI develop a holistic idea-driven creative practice through critical and exploratory thinking, making, and reflecting, learning how to make and shape meaning and communicate ideas visually through the manipulation of text, image, and space. The curriculum features a core track of six inquiry-based studio courses that cut across media [2d / 3d / 4d] and repositions graphic design as equally important within civic and commercial contexts.

Illustration

The Illustration program emphasizes the development of creative and effective image-making, valuing young artists who mirror the unique interpretation of various cultural narratives and celebrate them as the visual essay. The work students develop is for print, the screen and beyond, and is individually or collaboratively thoughtful, innovative, imaginative and communicative.

Painting

Painting students at KCAI develop a visual language based on the creation of a personal studio practice rooted in both visual and critical skills that allow them to experiment both conceptually and materially. Students are not limited by specific material techniques, but rather are asked to expand the field through an understanding of core philosophies within the discipline of painting as they interact with a variety of contemporary art issues.

Photography

The photography curriculum is based on critical conceptual and technical driven inquiry and investigation into the medium, exploring the image as a delivery system for content and ideas. Students are exposed to all modes of historical and contemporary fine art photography, photographic theory, and practice, including expanded photographic works and emerging relationships between the still and the moving image.

Printmaking

The printmaking program provides students with a deep understanding of the processes, creative concepts and issues that inform contemporary printmaking and art in a global creative environment. Traditional printmaking processes and concepts — etching, lithography, drawing, collage, silkscreen, letterpress, book arts — and post-modern processes such as mass media, collaboration, simulation, appropriation and dissemination are taught concurrently.

Product Design

Product Design makes the most of KCAI's strengths in creative form-making to explore the design of products that respond to global and everyday challenges. The program prepares students to be agents for positive change through the objects, systems, and businesses they create, moving from the study of meaningful form-making in sophomore year to human-centered design in junior year and a self-directed thesis in senior year.

Sculpture

Sculpture at the Kansas City Art Institute aims to educate students to develop their individual artistic voices with an understanding of diverse world views.