Art and Design

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The Power of Creativity

In King School's Art and Design program, students are engaged in art-making based on observation and vision. They are encouraged to use critical thinking and to persist in exploring unique ways of executing their work.

Artistic skill-building is supported by exposure to the history of art and work from artists around the globe. Reflection and class critiques further strengthen artistic growth, and conceptual thinking. Students gain an understanding and respect for art through interacting with artists who are part of King’s Visiting Artists Program and the OPEN Mentor program. Students in all division participate in the O.P.E.N project experience: Original, Personal, Experiential, and Novel where they explore different mediums of art and create projects that are a personal expression of their interests or experiences to present to their classmates.

King's Visiting Artist Program
Open Mentor Program

King's Visiting Artist Program

The King School Visiting Artists Program annually invites a practicing local artist to have a three day residency at the school. Its purpose is to enrich, enhance and inspire the Art and Design students’ experience at King, by providing them with an immersive experience working directly with a professional artist.

The Visiting Artists Program is designed to give insight into an artist’s life and motivation, accomplishments, and challenges, and to educate members of the King community about developments in contemporary art practices.

Art and Design students will be able to view the selected works of emerging and mid-career artists up close in an intimate, supportive setting, and engage in personal dialogue with the artists. The residency culminates with the creation of an on-site collaborative project with the students.

King students across all three divisions participate in the Visiting Artists Program. For example, students enjoyed a week of creative expression in mixed media portraits as they worked with Michael De Feo, a New York City based artist internationally known as “The Flower Guy."

Visiting Artist Michael De Feo Inspires Students

Open Mentor Program

The Art and Design Department’s curriculum culminates in an OPEN project that each student participates in during the school year. Our teaching prepares students to work independently and have the resources and skills to express their personal vision in original ways, experimenting with novel approaches.

OPEN mentors are practicing artists, designers, and artisans who mentor students when they need to learn a particular skill in order to complete their OPEN project. They are available on an as-needed basis when a student reaches out to them seeking help with their project. OPEN mentors can choose to consult by phone, email, or in person.

Areas of study include painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, ceramics, sculpture, and digital media, including photography, animation, filmmaking, web and graphic design.

In the Lower and Middle School, art classes meet two or three times per rotation.

In the Upper School, after a one semester required art class, students can choose to take Art and Design high school electives in specific disciplines or to take Advanced Art classes as a major course of study.

At the advanced level, students are guided in developing a portfolio and creating a website which are used during the college application process.

For a full list of art and design courses and curriculum please refer to the Lower School, Middle School and Upper School curriculum guides.

Advanced Art Colloquium

Senior Advanced Art students develop a personal “theme” at the beginning of the school year on which they base all of their art. Throughout the year, their artwork evolves and becomes increasingly more sophisticated. At the end of the year, they exhibit their work in the PAC Lobby Gallery and they participate in the Senior Art Colloquium where they present their work and explain their processes to the Upper School community.

See Advanced Art Portfolios