MFA program in Art Photography

The art photography program in the Department of Film and Media Arts at Syracuse University is now accepting applications for its MFA degree. The faculty of this dynamic program appreciate how photography as a contemporary art has transformed in the past two decades. The dramatic expansion of the parameters of photographic practices and the increasingly global nature of the contemporary art world necessitates an educational environment that prepares students for entirely new challenges and opportunities. Our MFA students are offered access to professional residencies in Los Angeles and Berlin; interdisciplinary courses that braid diverse ideas and practices; state-of-the-art equipment and media production studios; and significant investments in curriculum and facilities to ensure students can pursue their creative passions.   

As artist and faculty, we are acutely aware of the financial burdens of graduate education and offer generous tuition discounts, scholarships, and teaching positions. Graduate students admitted to the program benefit from substantial financial assistance and can receive up to 20,000 USD per year of study, with many students also receiving teaching assistantships and hourly paid positions.  

The faculty (Yasser Aggour, Doug DuBois, Laura Heyman, and Susannah Sayler) is a diverse group of working artists who have a comprehensive knowledge of contemporary photography and are experienced in documentary, video, conceptual, and performance art, as well as curatorial practices. Together with our students, we have created an academic environment that is intellectually rigorous and supportive. Recent graduates of the program have participated in numerous exhibitions and received awards, residencies, and academic appointments, including a Guggenheim fellowship and a MacArthur “genius” grant. Students benefit from our close partnership with Light Work, an invaluable intellectual, professional, and technical resource unique to Syracuse University. Graduate students receive membership access to one of the nation’s leading photo production facilities, which they retain for five years post-graduation.  On any given day MFA candidates may be working alongside major international artists in residence at Light Work. 

Between the contemporary programing at Light Work and our visiting artist program, students receive mentoring from some of the art world’s leading artists, critics and curators. Recent visiting artist include Siddhartha Mitter, Tyler Mitchell, Yto Barrada, Hito Steryl, Wendy Redstar, Allison Janae Hamilton, Joiri Minaya, Collier Schorr, Farah Al Qasimi, Rahim Fortune, William Camargo, Danielle Bowman, Deana Lawson, Dana Lixenberg, Laurel Ptak, Zora Murff, Ryan MacNamara, Zoe Strauss, Carrie Mae Weems, Elinor Carucci, Penelope Umbrico, Susan Meiselas, Alec Soth, Stanley Wolukau-Wanambwa,  Shimon Attie, Denise Markonish, Sam Falls, Arnold Kemp, An-My Lê, Justine Kurland, Liz Cohen, Kelly Reichardt and Jesse Darling, among others.  

In addition to artist studios and access to a full range of media production equipment and facilities, MFA candidates can visit and participate in exhibitions at several internationally recognized venues, including the Everson Museum, Syracuse University Art Museum, and Urban Video Project.  

Alumni: La Toya Ruby Frazier (MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellow, MoMA); Rose Marie Cromwell (Silver List 2024, Vice, Harper’s Magazine, Calvin Klein, FADER, MACK first book finalist); Widline Cadet (Huis Marseilles, The New Yorker, Time Magazine, FOAM, NYFA Fellow, Studio Museum in Harlem AIR, Deli Gallery, Fotografiska, Milwaukee Art Museum, PS1); Nydia Blas (Johnson Museum of Art, Over the Influence, Los Angeles, California, Paris Photo, The New York Times, Vogue, Assistant Professor of Art & Visual Culture at Spelman College ); Courtney Asztalos (Fort Wayne Museum of Art, The Front, New Orleans, Meinblau, Berlin, Post, LA, The New Yorker, Paper Journal, Der Greif, New York Times); D’Angelo Lovell Williams (Higher Pictures Generation, Lumber Room PDX, The Mint Museum, Yale University Art Gallery, W Magazine, Out Magazine, New York Times Magazine, monograph Contact High, Mack Books); David Politzer (Cabinet, Eyebeam, El Paso Museum of Art, Director of the University of Houston’s School of Art); Shawn Records (Vice, New York Times Magazine, MOCP, Portland Art Museum).  

Applications are now online. The deadline for fall 2024 admission is February 1.