Assistant Professor of Art, Painting and Drawing

The Department of Art at the University of Oregon is accepting applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Painting and Drawing at the rank of Assistant Professor with a start date of September 16, 2024. The position is a full-time, nine-month academic year appointment.

Primary teaching responsibilities will be focused in the Painting and Drawing area, with additional interdisciplinary opportunities, including graduate seminars, advanced studios, and experimental courses. The University of Oregon operates on a system of three ten-week quarters with a typical load of five courses per year. Additionally, all faculty participate in graduate studio mentorship. Service responsibilities include committee contributions, advising, and participation in shared governance. In addition to teaching and service responsibilities, the successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to a sustained and developing creative practice, with an active and ongoing exhibition and professional record.

The Department of Art seeks an artist whose practice is rooted in the language of painting and drawing, which may include experimental and hybrid approaches relevant to contemporary practice and the future of the field. The ideal candidate has a practice that complements the two existing tenure-related Painting and Drawing faculty, contributing distinct approaches and concerns. Our priority is for a colleague who expands the department’s critical perspectives and conceptual territory and is fluent in contemporary socio-political, cultural, and aesthetic issues.

Minimum requirements
–MFA or another graduate degree and equivalent work experience.
–Ability to work effectively with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds.
–Strong and active exhibition and professional record in the field.

Preferred qualifications
–Three years college teaching experience beyond graduate school.
–A creative practice that expands the department’s critical perspectives and conceptual territory.
–Record of innovative and effective pedagogy.

Application instructions
To ensure consideration, please submit application materials by December 31, 2023. Please start your application by uploading your CV here.

Proceed to SlideRoom to complete the rest of your application:
–Cover letter outlining specific interests, qualifications, and contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion
–CV including a list of courses taught
–Artist statement
–Teaching philosophy
–Portfolio of 20 digital work samples of the candidate’s own work with descriptions
–Portfolio of ten examples of student work with descriptions

Reference letters and additional academic support materials (such as syllabi) may be requested at a later date.

Department summary
With more than 700 undergraduates and 20 graduate students, the Department of Art offers BA/BS, BFA, and MFA degrees; the curriculum encompasses ceramics, art & technology, fibers, jewelry and metals, painting and drawing, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. The Department includes 18 tenure-track faculty and 12 Career Instructors. The UO art and design degrees are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

The Painting and Drawing area is one of eight media areas in the Department of Art. Faculty share responsibility for the development and teaching of all levels of the curriculum, from introductory to advanced coursework in both drawing and painting.  

The University of Oregon supports the Department of Art faculty by providing private dedicated studio spaces and a fund for professional development. Additionally, the Pacific Northwest and the state of Oregon have a vibrant range of accessible funding, opportunities, and resources for artists.

Situated within a nationally recognized research institution, the Department of Art attracts students and faculty who value the study of studio art in the context of a larger intellectual and critical environment. Our curriculum reflects a diverse and fluid set of creative practices and critical methodologies. Students engage in broad and interdisciplinary approaches, as well as depth within specific media area practices. A robust visiting lecture series, bringing 10-12 artists, critics, and curators to campus each year, complements the curriculum. Nationally and internationally active, the faculty thrive on making connections between their individual studio practices and teaching. While we have diverse backgrounds, philosophies, and approaches, we have a strong commitment to a collective mission and a shared governance model.