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150 Years of
The students, faculty, and staff of SAIC are innovative creators of art, design, curriculum, and writing. Faculty members bring their diverse experiences directly into classrooms and studios and engage with our students as emerging peers and full participants in learning. For the past 150 years, the entire SAIC community has been committed to student success and the realization of students' full artistic potential.
The students, faculty, and staff of SAIC are innovative creators of art, design, curriculum, and writing. Faculty members bring their diverse experiences directly into classrooms and studios and engage with our students as emerging peers and full participants in learning. For the past 150 years, the entire SAIC community has been committed to student success and the realization of students' full artistic potential.
Conversation Peace
Garland Martin Taylor and his public sculpture traveled across the country to get people talking about gun violence in Chicago.
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On Board
As a new member of SAIC’s Board of Governors, Sanford Biggers (MFA 1999) brings a unique artistic and alumni perspective to the School.
Dark Rooms and Pool Halls
An SAIC alum's photographic series resurfaces after more than four decades.
Jeff Koons Returns to SAIC
The 150th Anniversary Distinguished Alumni Lecturer talks about his career, exalts the Chicago Imagists, and sings some Led Zeppelin.
The Past, Present, and Future of Design
After 150 years, design at SAIC takes the next step—a Design History track to study that history.
Boundary-Pushing Performance Artist
The work of Cuban performance artist Tania Brugera (MFA 2001) is rooted in political struggle.
Interdisciplinary Visionary
Sanford Biggers (MFA 1999) crosses media to mine the history and symbols of global cultures.
The Cannes Winner
Apichatpong Weerasethakul (MFA 1998, HON 2011) is leading a new generation of Thai filmmakers.
Artist, Writer, Publisher
Former editor of SAIC’s student newspaper, Paul Chan (BFA 1996) is an award-winning artist who works in a variety of media.
Back in Style
In the early 1990s, Gemma Kahng (MFA 1980) dressed celebrities like Madonna and Sharon Stone.
Imagist Painter, Intuitive Collector
An acclaimed Chicago Imagist, Roger Brown (BFA 1968, MFA 1970) collected flea market objects and created paintings that served as social and cultural commentaries of the day.
Mr. Chicago
One of the Chicago Imagists, Ed Paschke (BFA 1961, MFA 1970, HON 1990) was once described as "a formalist in wolf's clothing."
The Post-Black Artist
Rashid Johnson (SAIC 2003–04) draws upon materials and visual sources to explore how cultural experiences shape African Americans.
A Family Affair
An influential social reformer starts an SAIC family legacy that spans more than a century.
“I went to SAIC thinking one way about fashion and then learned a more expansive, creative way to think about everything.”
—Cynthia Rowley (BFA 1981)
Fashion Icon
Anthropological Art Historian
Whitney Halstead (BFA 1949, MFA 1954) was an art historian, educator, critic, author, artist, alum, and beloved instructor at SAIC.
50 Years Later
Members of SAIC’s Half Century Club—alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago—reflect on their past experiences at the school and offer some advice to current SAIC students.
Lively Lecturer
Robert Loescher (1937–2007) was a well–known art historian, beloved educator, and lively lecturer who taught at SAIC from 1972–2006.
He Talked Pretty One Day
America's foremost humor writer, David Sedaris (BFA 1987) has sold more than 10 million books.
America’s First Fashion Star
Halston (SAIC 1952) brought global attention to American fashion in the 1970s
Picture of Ivan Albright
Ivan Albright (SAIC 1919–23, HON 1977) combined extreme detail and garish color contrasts to develop a magic realism.
The Regionalist
In the early 20th century, Grant Wood (SAIC 1913–16) was the visual spokesman for rural America.
Ambassador of Awkward
SAIC alum and faculty member Jeffrey Brown (MFA 2002) draws inspiration from his own life to create comics.
Art Historian Extraordinaire
Helen Gardner (1878–1946), influential art historian and SAIC professor, authored art history's seminal textbook.
A Monumental Sculptor
Lorado Taft (1860–1936) founded SAIC's Sculpture department and gained renown for his monumental and largely allegorical sculptures.
The Artist’s Art Historian
Kathleen Blackshear was an influential artist and teacher who inspired generations of SAIC students.