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VISUAL ARTS

Within the Visual Arts Department framework of studio practice, critique, and exhibition, students develop skills to articulate their ideas and process and become self-directed in pursuing their own subject matter and concept areas in their artwork.

From this multifaceted educational style, students develop skills through verbal presentation and the written word. By participating in core arts courses, students become self-directed artists who are guided to pursue their own interests in different mediums.

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AUDITION/PORTFOLIO REVIEW

We are thrilled you are auditioning for The Chicago Academy for the Arts. Please remember: our number one goal is for you to be successful. That means that when you have questions, please ask them!

You can email Department Chair Margy Stover at any time for more clarification.

  • Applicants must create an Online Application to submit their preliminary audition.

    1. Student Introduction Video (30 seconds - 1 minute)

    • Name, Grade, Current School.

    • Why are you applying to The Chicago Academy for the Arts?

    Brief explanation of previous artistic experience.

    2. Portfolio Requirements

    • Self Portrait (from direct observation in a mirror, not a photo).

    • What you see while looking out your window.

    • A section of your room, including your bed.

    • A pair of shoes (from direct observation, not a photo).

    • Something from your imagination.

    • Optional: you are welcome to submit additional artwork to support your portfolio. We recommend compiling your additional pieces into a PowerPoint or Google Slides presentation and uploading it to your application as a PDF.

    3. Artwork Analysis

    Select one of the approved artworks below and answer the following five questions. While you may go see the work in person at The Art Institute of Chicago, you can answer the following questions by looking at the piece online at w​ww.artic.edu/aic/collections/artists​. Your response should be no more than one typed page. Please submit your response in PDF format.

    Questions:

    1. Describe the composition of the piece including the overall organization of elements?

    2. Is there an illusion of space or movement in the composition? How is color being used?

    3. How does the form of the artwork mirror the content (meaning) of the work?

    4. Why did you select this work? What do you find interesting?

    5. What questions do you have about this artwork?

  • Applicants who pass their preliminary audition are invited to attend a live audition. The Visual Arts Department live audition consists of a portfolio review, a discussion of student artwork, and a departmental interview.

    Applicants should be prepared to discuss their work in detail and their previous experience with the visual arts, i.e. mediums interests, classes taken, etc. Your work is evaluated on technical skill, use of composition, and the degree of difficulty of the individual works.

    Approved Artworks:

    Artist: Willem de Kooning
    Artwork title: Excavation, 1950

    Artist: Jasper Johns
    Artwork title: Corpse and Mirror II, 1974-75

    Artist: Agnes Martin
    Artwork title: Untitled #12, 1977

    Artist: Glenn Ligon
    Artwork title: Stranger in the Village #13, 1998

    Artist: Kiki Smith
    Artwork title: Blood Pool, 1992

    Artist: Kerry James Marshall
    Artwork Title: Africa Restored (Cheryl as Cleopatra), 2003

    Artist: Eva Hesse
    Artwork Title: Hang Up, 1966

    Artist: Edward Hopper
    Artwork title: Nighthawks, 1942

    Artist: Cindy Sherman
    Artwork Title: Untitled #92, 1981

    Artist: Alberto Giacometti
    Artwork Title: Walking Man II, 1960

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