Welcome!

Whether you are a student looking for the next level of creative study or a working artist, attending graduate school is an act of self-investment.

Our program is a 60 credit 3-year Masters of Fine Art in studio art that offers the freedom for both specialization and interdisciplinary experimentation.

Supported by excellent faculty and facilities in Ceramics, Sculpture, Photography, Printmaking + Book Arts, Painting/Drawing and Design, our MFA is designed to encourage independent research and creative risk-taking.

      For more information contact: 

Tom Ashcraft, MFA Director, Distinguished Professor of Visual Arts

tdashcraft@wcu.edu 828.227.7210

Visiting Artist Lecture Series:Flor Widmar, 2022-2023 Randall and Susan Parrott Ward Teaching Fellow in Ceramics. Thursday, September 8, BAC 130, 2:00 PM Flor Widmar, the 2022-03 Randall & Susan Parrott Ward Teaching Fellow in Ceramics at WCU i
Visiting Artist Lecture Series:Flor Widmar, 2022-2023 Randall and Susan Parrott Ward Teaching Fellow in Ceramics. Thursday, September 8, BAC 130, 2:00 PM Flor Widmar, the 2022-03 Randall & Susan Parrott Ward Teaching Fellow in Ceramics at WCU is currently working with delicate pinched coils of colored porcelain that are combined to create lines and a sort of strata that is at the core of her sculptures and images. Combining materials with different densities, like photographs, thread, and porcelain, contrasts each element to the next in color or texture. Her practice is a constant exploration of the act of repetition, making series, groups, and multiples on different themes. The slight variation between the repeated elements draws the viewer in as they discover the unexpected in the familiar. By using the multiples to build new forms each time, she creates physical manifestations of objects and uses her creative practice to explore personal negotiation and the solace of daily rituals. @florwidmar @wcusoad @western_carolina @wcuceramics @wcumfa
“Stack Collapse”, a new installation by Asheville based artist Nora Hartlaub . Friday 8/2, 6 - 10pm Rice and beans, Pbr's , friendly folks, great artwork, @stackcollapse . @sylvanc @wcusoad #projectspace #sculpture @wcusoad @wculivlab
“Stack Collapse”, a new installation by Asheville based artist Nora Hartlaub . Friday 8/2, 6 - 10pm Rice and beans, Pbr's , friendly folks, great artwork, @stackcollapse . @sylvanc @wcusoad #projectspace #sculpture @wcusoad @wculivlab
Welcome new and returning students, faculty and staff! . @wcusoad #workmakeswork . to be continued 🌈
Welcome new and returning students, faculty and staff! . @wcusoad #workmakeswork . to be continued 🌈
Congratulations 2022 MFA Thesis! . Well done . @eliblasko @kate_chassner @sethechlin @thekylekelsey . #lemons #puddles #chainsaws #paperairplane #workmakeswork #mfathesis #artistsbeingartists #thebeautyofquestions @wcusoad @wcugradschool (thank you
Congratulations 2022 MFA Thesis! . Well done . @eliblasko @kate_chassner @sethechlin @thekylekelsey . #lemons #puddles #chainsaws #paperairplane #workmakeswork #mfathesis #artistsbeingartists #thebeautyofquestions @wcusoad @wcugradschool (thank you) #next #makersgonnamake
@cherrybuttembroidery final mfa critique
@cherrybuttembroidery final mfa critique
@gordonjen555 final mfa critique
@gordonjen555 final mfa critique
@colin_dawson_studio final mfa critique
@colin_dawson_studio final mfa critique
@lorenacrowepark final critique
@lorenacrowepark final critique
2022 MFA Thesis Artist Presentations . THESE FOUR Eli Blasko . Kate Chassner Seth Echlin . Kyle Kelsey . April 28th, 3:30 – 5:00 pm Where: BAC # 130 WCU, SOA+D . 2022 MFA Thesis Exhibition Reception to Follow! 5:00 – 7:00 pm Fine Art Muse
2022 MFA Thesis Artist Presentations . THESE FOUR Eli Blasko . Kate Chassner Seth Echlin . Kyle Kelsey . April 28th, 3:30 – 5:00 pm Where: BAC # 130 WCU, SOA+D . 2022 MFA Thesis Exhibition Reception to Follow! 5:00 – 7:00 pm Fine Art Museum @wcusoad @wcugradschool @wcu_diversity @eliblasko @kate_chassner @sethechlin @thekylekelsey @bardoartscenter #workmakeswork #artisttalk #nextthing #artists #mfathesis @wcu_cfpa_alum
Repost from @revolveavl • Self Portrait as Grocery Lists (After Abraham Cruzvillegas) by Eli Blasko //// this work (and so much more) is up through next week, get in to see it while you can!
Repost from @revolveavl • Self Portrait as Grocery Lists (After Abraham Cruzvillegas) by Eli Blasko //// this work (and so much more) is up through next week, get in to see it while you can!
Repost from @wculivlab • Save a date and come out next week to the NEXT LEVEL show featuring two of WCU awesome MFA students. LORI PARK and SHANNON SWENTON. @ the Livlab Watershed Project Space on Mill St. Sylva.
Repost from @wculivlab • Save a date and come out next week to the NEXT LEVEL show featuring two of WCU awesome MFA students. LORI PARK and SHANNON SWENTON. @ the Livlab Watershed Project Space on Mill St. Sylva.
Repost from @eliblasko • ✨Open now✨ Work will be up through May 1 @revolveavl Reception this Friday 4.22 from 6-8p. #art #artshow #artexhibition #pink #sculpture #contemporaryart #invisible #objects #invisibleobjects
Repost from @eliblasko • ✨Open now✨ Work will be up through May 1 @revolveavl Reception this Friday 4.22 from 6-8p. #art #artshow #artexhibition #pink #sculpture #contemporaryart #invisible #objects #invisibleobjects
Repost from @eliblasko • I’m installing some work @revolveavl over the next few days for a not-thesis show. It’ll be a survey of works I’ve made over the past 3 years. C’mon by if you’re in Asheville! Show runs: 4
Repost from @eliblasko • I’m installing some work @revolveavl over the next few days for a not-thesis show. It’ll be a survey of works I’ve made over the past 3 years. C’mon by if you’re in Asheville! Show runs: 4.19-5.1 Reception: 4.22 | 6-8pm #horse #horsehead #horsey #foam #sprayfoam #art #sculpture #ceramics #ceramicart #contemporaryart #exhibition
Repost from @eliblasko • “If the moon’s full, you won’t have enough dirt to fill the hole back up” -Caleb from facilities Some images taken while installing one of my MFA thesis works “Desire” earlier this we
Repost from @eliblasko • “If the moon’s full, you won’t have enough dirt to fill the hole back up” -Caleb from facilities Some images taken while installing one of my MFA thesis works “Desire” earlier this week. I never thought digging holes could be so much fun (I wasn’t allowed to dig them) From Merriam-Webster: 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦: an unplanned route or path (such as one worn into a grassy surface by repeated foot traffic) that is used by pedestrians in preference to or in absence of a designated alternative #desire #desirepath #desirelines #art #publicart #intervention #sign #signs #trail #mileage #thesis #artproject #artwork #dirt #hole #digging #diggingholes #optimism #possibility
Repost from @colin_dawson_studio • New sculpture. Playing with simple forms and translating wire frame drawings into sculpture. Charred pine. #contemporarysculpture #sculpture #newwork #wireframe #burntwood #charredwood #leonardbaskin #jimedi
Repost from @colin_dawson_studio • New sculpture. Playing with simple forms and translating wire frame drawings into sculpture. Charred pine. #contemporarysculpture #sculpture #newwork #wireframe #burntwood #charredwood #leonardbaskin #jimedine #mikeglier #sculpturemagazine #internationalsculpturecenter
Congratulations 2022 MFA Thesis Grads ! . Eli Blasko , Kate Chassner Seth Echlin , Kyle Kelsey . WCU Fine Art Museum April 5 - April 29, 2022 April 28 3:00 – 5:00 PM Public Artist Presentation (WCU BAC #130) April 28 from 5:00-7:00 PM  Rec
Congratulations 2022 MFA Thesis Grads ! . Eli Blasko , Kate Chassner Seth Echlin , Kyle Kelsey . WCU Fine Art Museum April 5 - April 29, 2022 April 28 3:00 – 5:00 PM Public Artist Presentation (WCU BAC #130) April 28 from 5:00-7:00 PM  Reception @bardoartscenter . REVOLVE / RAMP Seth Echlin / Kyle Kelsey April 5 – 16 Hours 9 – 5 pm 821 Riverside Dr, AVL NC Invisible Objects / Eli Blasko April 19 – May 1, Reception April 22 , 6 – 8 pm . We would like to thank REVOLVE for their continued support and collaboration. @revolveavl THE HIVE A GOOD BARGAIN Seth Echlin April 9, 10- 5, Reception 5– 6 pm 569 Mill St, Sylva NC . @eliblasko @kate_chassner @sethechlin @thekylekelsey . #workmakeswork #sculpture #collage #ceramics #painting #animation #mfathesis #objects #chewinggum #tapdancing #clay @wcugradschool @wcu_diversity
Repost from @kate_chassner • My work is up for the MFA Thesis Show 💫 This work is using memory as a pathway between real and unreal. While using some formal ideas I was curious to investigate for my final show. Feels pretty good to be at thi
Repost from @kate_chassner • My work is up for the MFA Thesis Show 💫 This work is using memory as a pathway between real and unreal. While using some formal ideas I was curious to investigate for my final show. Feels pretty good to be at this point of the journey. Three years of grad school …during a pandemic …with two small kiddos 😬 Also super stoked to be in this space with my amazing cohort @eliblasko @thekylekelsey @sethechlin Come see art. Fine Art Museum on WCU campus, work is up until April 29. @bardoartscenter @wcusoad @wcumfa 🙏🏼Thank you @workingmancollective @johnseefeldt @susanmartin1613 #studioart #mfa #thesisshow #workmakeswork #collage #mixedmedia #cutandpaste #collagecollective #collagecollectiveco #largecollage #ashevilleartist #ashevilleart #textileart #imagetransfer #layers #abstractart #contemporaryart #abstractlandscape #curious
Repost from @colin_dawson_studio • Detail of a recent work. #contemprarysculpture #sculpture #holyspiritactivate
Repost from @colin_dawson_studio • Detail of a recent work. #contemprarysculpture #sculpture #holyspiritactivate
Visiting Artist Lecture Series:Flor Widmar, 2022-2023 Randall and Susan Parrott Ward Teaching Fellow in Ceramics. Thursday, September 8, BAC 130, 2:00 PM Flor Widmar, the 2022-03 Randall & Susan Parrott Ward Teaching Fellow in Ceramics at WCU i “Stack Collapse”, a new installation by Asheville based artist Nora Hartlaub . Friday 8/2, 6 - 10pm Rice and beans, Pbr's , friendly folks, great artwork, @stackcollapse . @sylvanc @wcusoad #projectspace #sculpture @wcusoad @wculivlab Welcome new and returning students, faculty and staff! . @wcusoad #workmakeswork . to be continued 🌈 Congratulations 2022 MFA Thesis! . Well done . @eliblasko @kate_chassner @sethechlin @thekylekelsey . #lemons #puddles #chainsaws #paperairplane #workmakeswork #mfathesis #artistsbeingartists #thebeautyofquestions @wcusoad @wcugradschool (thank you @cherrybuttembroidery final mfa critique @gordonjen555 final mfa critique @colin_dawson_studio final mfa critique @lorenacrowepark final critique 2022 MFA Thesis Artist Presentations . THESE FOUR Eli Blasko . Kate Chassner Seth Echlin . Kyle Kelsey . April 28th, 3:30 – 5:00 pm Where: BAC # 130 WCU, SOA+D . 2022 MFA Thesis Exhibition Reception to Follow! 5:00 – 7:00 pm Fine Art Muse Repost from @revolveavl • Self Portrait as Grocery Lists (After Abraham Cruzvillegas) by Eli Blasko //// this work (and so much more) is up through next week, get in to see it while you can! Repost from @wculivlab • Save a date and come out next week to the NEXT LEVEL show featuring two of WCU awesome MFA students. LORI PARK and SHANNON SWENTON. @ the Livlab Watershed Project Space on Mill St. Sylva. Repost from @eliblasko • ✨Open now✨ Work will be up through May 1 @revolveavl Reception this Friday 4.22 from 6-8p. #art #artshow #artexhibition #pink #sculpture #contemporaryart #invisible #objects #invisibleobjects Repost from @eliblasko • I’m installing some work @revolveavl over the next few days for a not-thesis show. It’ll be a survey of works I’ve made over the past 3 years. C’mon by if you’re in Asheville! Show runs: 4 Repost from @eliblasko • “If the moon’s full, you won’t have enough dirt to fill the hole back up” -Caleb from facilities Some images taken while installing one of my MFA thesis works “Desire” earlier this we Repost from @colin_dawson_studio • New sculpture. Playing with simple forms and translating wire frame drawings into sculpture. Charred pine. #contemporarysculpture #sculpture #newwork #wireframe #burntwood #charredwood #leonardbaskin #jimedi Congratulations 2022 MFA Thesis Grads ! . Eli Blasko , Kate Chassner Seth Echlin , Kyle Kelsey . WCU Fine Art Museum April 5 - April 29, 2022 April 28 3:00 – 5:00 PM Public Artist Presentation (WCU BAC #130) April 28 from 5:00-7:00 PM  Rec Repost from @kate_chassner • My work is up for the MFA Thesis Show 💫 This work is using memory as a pathway between real and unreal. While using some formal ideas I was curious to investigate for my final show. Feels pretty good to be at thi Repost from @colin_dawson_studio • Detail of a recent work. #contemprarysculpture #sculpture #holyspiritactivate