JMU School of Art, Design and Art History

Home
United States
Harrisonburg, VA
JMU School of Art, Design and Art History

Call Directions Website Contact the university

Where students become innovative professionals and their creative passions become careers. Welcome to the School of Art, Design and Art History page!

This site is for information about the events of the School, to learn more about the activities of its faculty/staff/students, to provide potential networking opportunities for SADAH alumni, to learn how to schedule a visit if you are a prospective student—and much more! Check out our links to SADAH entities: Duke Hall Gallery, artWorks Gallery, New Image Gallery, Madison Art Collection at Festival, and the Institute for Visual Studies. Some additional info about us:

The School of Art, Design and Art History at James Madison University offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.

• For an undergraduate degree, the SAAH offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (BFA), the Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) and the Bachelor of Science degree (BS) in the following areas:

*Fine arts—photography, painting and drawing, sculpture, printmaking, metals, ceramics, fibers, animation
*Design—graphic design, industrial design, interior design
*Art history
*Art education K-12 certification

• The SADAH also offers the Master of Fine Arts degree and the Master of Arts degree. Call us at 540.568.6661 for more information about the admission process, or for more information on our programming!

10/27/2026

Join us tomorrow for the opening of Keepsakes in Every Hair ~ Migration at

Opening, Artist Talk & Live Performance
Wednesday, October 28, 5–7 PM
Live piano performance by Masayoshi Ishikawa

Keepsakes in Every Hair ~ Migration is a collaborative installation and performance about how we carry memory as places, seasons, and the world around us keep changing. Bringing together sound, live piano, movement, spatial installation, screens, and AI systems that respond to changing conditions in distant places, the work invites visitors into a space where memory is held, moved, and met again.

Exhibition details:
Keepsakes in Every Hair ~ Migration
Sangjun Yoo · Masayoshi Ishikawa · Seungho Lee
October 28–November 20, 2026

Support provided by the College of Visual and Performing Arts Faculty Development Award.

10/19/2026

Celebrate the opening of two exhibitions featuring student art and design: "A Third Space: Making Space" by SADAH Architecture students and "Exquisite Co**se" by SADAH Studio Art students.
Enjoy light refreshments and explore new work in the Carrier Library Art Galleries: the Updike Gallery on the second floor and the Ground Floor Gallery.
Opening remarks will take place at 3:00 p.m. at the Updike Gallery on the second floor.
All are welcome — no RSVP needed.

Carrier Library Art Galleries Opening Reception
Thursday, October 22, 3–5pm
Carrier Library, JMU

10/05/2026

Apply by TOMORROW, Tuesday, Oct. 6th for Winter term: CURATING CULTURE IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL. Earn 3 credits of 300/400 Art History while you build strong professional networks and go behind the scenes in the capitol’s greatest museums!

10/01/2026

Art Education students collaborated with Waterman Elementary School for Hispanic Heritage Month! Responding to a request for a HHM special project Art Education students Noelia, Hannah, and Yadi presented a lesson on piñatas, showing the transnational history of piñatas and connecting tradition with contemporary artists who utilize piñata making in their artworks.

09/21/2026

09/14/2026

Graphic Design students from SADAH visited a special collection to deepen their research into the history of typography and printed letters. Through examining historical sources, including Bible leaves and the Book of Kells, dating from approximately 1200 to 1500, students explored the evolution of letterforms, printing practices, and the visual language of historical texts.

Prof. Zenab Bastawala expanded on the development of printing techniques, drawing connections between metal and wood type used in letterpress printing, hand-drawn manuscripts, and the evolution of printed communication. The exploration of ink on vellum also highlighted the significance of printed texts and the material practices that shaped visual communication during these periods.
This hands-on experience connects historical research with contemporary graphic design practice, encouraging students to observe, document, and draw inspiration from the rich legacy of printed letters and typographic forms.

08/28/2026

Opening September 8: Pato Hebert: Sick Days.
In this solo exhibition, NY-based artist Pato Hebert addresses topics ranging from chronic illness and disability to viral impacts on neurology and language. Through multidisciplinary artworks, Hebert examines the complex relationships between health, identity, and community, offering timely perspectives on collective wellness and care.

08/26/2026

Welcome back, Students! Whether you're returning to campus or joining us for the first time, we're excited to see the creativity, curiosity, and inspiration you'll bring to our community this year. Here's to new ideas, new connections, and a great semester ahead.

Address

Main Office: 820 South Main Street, 1011 Duke Hall
Harrisonburg, VA
22807

Telephone

540.568.6216 /6661

Website

http://www.jmu.edu/artandarthistory/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when JMU School of Art, Design and Art History posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.