Art and Design

The Power of Creativity

Viewing the World Through the Eyes of an Artist

At King School, art is not just a subject — it's a whole new way of perceiving the world. Our art students embark on a transformative journey that encourages them to see through the eyes of an artist. Our artists immerse themselves in a creative process, cultivate their imagination, explore their individuality, and gain the confidence to express themselves.

Mastering the Palette of Skills: Communicate, Think Critically, Create, Collaborate

Our program goes beyond nurturing artistic talent; it hones essential skills for life. We understand the power of effective communication in the art world. Students learn to share their thoughts, ideas, and questions while mastering various media. They develop critical thinking by analyzing artworks and understanding the artists, genres, and cultures behind them. Through group critiques and self-assessment, students gain new perspectives and appreciate the nuanced nature of art.

At King School, inquiry and exploration are at the heart of everything we do. Students embrace innovation, explore different techniques and ideas, and bring their artistic visions to life. Collaboration is key — we encourage teamwork, sharing critiques, ideas, and skills to benefit from the collective wisdom of peers.

Unleashing Originality, Personal Vision, Experiences, Novel Approaches

Our curriculum revolves around the OPEN project — an embodiment of our students’ artistic journey. Regardless of grade level, every art class participates in this transformative experience. OPEN, or Original, Personal, Experienced, and Novel, empowers students to express their unique vision in original and innovative ways. Our artists design their own projects and engage in inquiry, research, and experimentation. The OPEN project is all about ownership and creativity, allowing students to explore and unleash their artistic potential.

An Artistic Intersection: Where Disciplines Meet

We believe in the power of interdisciplinary connections. Students benefit from interdisciplinary work that better reflects the real world and keeps students highly engaged. For example, an art class partners with the History Department's "Baseball and American Culture" class and the Innovation Lab to explore the dynamic intersections between art and other fields. Our Global Art History and Themes in Global Art courses expand students’ understanding of art across cultures and time periods, enriching the learning experiences. Students immerse themselves in fresh perspectives and diverse techniques by engaging with visiting artists who work directly with our students.

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

Lower School

Building Foundations, Exploring Cultures, Expressing with Pride

In the Lower School, we lay the groundwork for artistic exploration and expression. Students work with various mediums, delve into different cultures, and build essential skills. They discover the elements of art and principles of design and let their creativity run free.

Middle School

Exploring Identity, Promoting Creativity

In Middle School, students hone their skills and focus on personal expression. They develop abilities in various art forms while exploring their unique identity and artistic voice, gain confidence in their abilities, and find their artistic footing. In Grade 8, students can immerse themselves deeper in the arts by choosing to major in Visual Arts, Performing Arts, or both.

Upper School

Expressing Themes, Visionary Projects

In the Upper School, art and design become a graduation requirement, highlighting our commitment to the arts. Students transition from skill-building to developing personal themes and visionary projects. They explore their chosen themes, working on self-designed problems and projects throughout the year. The culminating Art Colloquium during the senior year is a celebration of creativity, self-expression, and personal growth.

Curriculum Information

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.

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.

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

Art and Design in Action

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