WLC student in printmaking studio

Art and Graphic Design Major

Tell a story, share what’s meaningful to you, and bring a little more beauty to the world as an art and graphic design major at WLC. You’ll learn how to hone your creative skills and express yourself visually in a variety of mediums.

As an art major at WLC, you’ll participate in creative experiences that further develop your God-given talents. Our faculty offer personalized guidance and professional training in small, supportive classes. In addition to creative expression, you’ll gain aesthetic literacy, visual thinking, and critical analysis skills.

Within our program, you could graduate ready to build a career as a successful:

  • Art director
  • Graphic designer
  • Illustrator
  • Painter
  • Printmaker
  • Sculptor
  • Web designer
Tailor your education to meet your aspirations

Our art major offers great flexibility allowing you to construct a degree that focuses on the areas of art that most interests you. Students interested in graphic design will engage in hands-on, experiential learning with Adobe Creative Suite and sophisticated text editors for web design and development. Students interested in drawing, illustration, printmaking, and painting will further their skills alongside professors with real experiences as designers and studio artists. Since our class sizes are small, you’ll receive plenty of personal attention and will be encouraged to balance technical training with a variety of creative energies.

Find inspiration beyond the classroom

You’ll take part in museum trips, gallery tours, talks by guest artists and visiting professionals, all to enhance your learning experience. Students have traveled with faculty to Costa Rica, Norway, and national parks to gain new experiences and inspiration to bring to their work. Trip activities may include visiting museums and cathedrals, meeting with area artists, making art on location, and seeing unique, inspiring landscapes.

Local trips to area parks, the Milwaukee County Zoo, the Milwaukee Art Museum, and various other landmarks are vital opportunities for our art students.

WLC art and graphic design majors have an opportunity to intern at art galleries, museums, and other locations during their time of study at WLC. Students have previously enjoyed internships at the Milwaukee Artist Resource Center, Pettit National Ice Center, Milwaukee Children’s Choir, and area Milwaukee creative and communication agencies. Internships have often led to full-time job opportunities!

Milwaukee has long been known for its lively art scene

Take advantage of Milwaukee's many museums, galleries, murals, creative agencies, and public relations firms, as well as various artist series, performing arts centers, and art-related events and volunteer opportunities.

Explore Art in Milwaukee

Milwaukee lakefront and Milwaukee Art Museum at sunset
Create alongside talented faculty who live what they teach

Our fine arts faculty are talented, passionate, and renowned for their love of the arts, their professional experience, and their body of work. At larger schools, students rarely interact directly with professors. At WLC, you’ll grow as an artist alongside faculty who’ll work one-on-one with you to identify your interests, further your talents, and encourage your creativity.

Qualify for an art scholarship

Whether you plan to major or minor in art and graphic design, or you prefer to participate while focusing on other academic areas, you may be eligible to apply for a Fine Arts Scholarship. Incoming freshmen and transfer students with exceptional artistic ability are encouraged to apply for an Art Scholarship, with an annual value of up to $2,000, renewable each year for a lifetime value of up to $8,000. Four art scholarships will be awarded each year.

Learn More About Our Art Scholarship

In addition to our Art Scholarship, additional awards and scholarships may be available to you as you pursue artistic studies at WLC.

Honors Convocation Awards

The Vision Award is presented to a freshman or sophomore art student displaying outstanding discipline, involvement and promise in the field of art.

The Golden Palette Award acknowledges the pursuit of artistic discipline and the application of art skills in contribution to the college and community. It is presented to a junior or senior art major.

Gerald and Georgia Brommer Art Scholarship

The Gerald and Georgia Brommer Art Scholarship is awarded to a senior art major. The student is chosen during their junior year. Students are judged on the following criteria:

  • dedication and adherence to Christian ideals in the life of the student,
  • artistic skills in his or her chosen area of art,
  • dedication to art (fine art production, graphic design, art education and/or art history) as a vital element in the Christian life (that is, a sense of personal commitment to the field of art and a dedication to personal growth in art).
With a degree in art and graphic design, you’ll be an effective visual communicator ready to start a career in the arts, or continue your education in graduate school.

Art and Graphic Design Advising Resources

Connect with art and graphic design faculty