AAH 60
60th Anniversary of the Department of Art & Art History
Explore our “Generations” Exhibition
Generations: 60 Years – 21 Conversations pairs emertius faculty, alumni, and current faculty members together to display their work, illustrating the generational influence of the department.
This academic year, the Department of Art & Art History celebrates its 60th anniversary. In 1964, the acclaimed North Carolina painter Maud Gatewood was hired to create a new program, and over the next decade she developed courses and hired colleagues, spearheaded the design of an arts building and its facilities, and sustained dialogue with institutions such as the Mint Museum and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Both the department and the university have grown dramatically in the intervening years, as more than 3,000 alumni have graduated from the visionary program Gatewood founded.
The Fine Arts Program (1964-1968)
Originally named the “Fine Arts Program” before departments existed at UNC Charlotte, it began with one painter and later added musicians and theater faculty. By 1968, construction began on the Rowe building, setting the stage for an interdisciplinary program modeled after Black Mountain College’s curriculum.
Pictured: Alumna Ann Carter in the studio with Maud Gatewood (1982).
Department of Creative Arts (1968-1985)
In 1968, the interdisciplinary degree became official, expanding studio, music, and theater courses. Dance was added in 1974, and architecture originated separately in 1972. The first BA was awarded in 1970, with a more ambitious Bachelor of Creative Arts (BCA) two years later. In 1985, the program split into Performing and Visual Arts due to an administrative revision to bring more structure to the courses.
Pictured: Former faculty Eric Anderson, Rod MacKillop, and Tom Mason
The Department of Visual Arts (1985-1993)
The department continued to offer interdisciplinary paths and brought faculty growth, helping overcome roadblocks and set the stage for degree reform and future expansion.
The Department of Art (1993-2007)
A new name arrived with the new BFA, one meant to promote visibility and recruitment: “Visual Arts” appeared alphabetically in last place in the university’s printed catalogues, whereas “Art” would feature near the beginning. Digital Media was introduced, while graphic design and art history were expanded, setting the stage for both of these disciplines to create degree programs of their own.
The Department of Art & Art History (2007-Present)
The first new degree program came in 2007, in art history, and prompted the most recent name change. The department then joined the College of Architecture along with the departments of Dance, Music, and Theatre in 2008 – creating the CoA+A. The department has since expanded, and its continued, dynamic growth positions it to operate at the university’s new Research1 status level.
the Projective Eye Gallery presents “Generations”
On view December 4, 2024-February 7, 2025
Closing reception: February 6 at 6 pm
In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Department of Art & Art History, the Projective Eye Gallery presents Generations, an exhibition of exemplary work by departmental alumni and legacy faculty.
In 1964, the acclaimed North Carolina painter Maud Gatewood was hired by Bonnie Cone to begin arts programming at the new Charlotte College campus. The following year, Charlotte College was added to the UNC System and became UNC Charlotte. Over the next decade, Gatewood developed courses and hired colleagues, spearheaded the design of an arts building and its facilities, and sustained dialogue with institutions such as the Mint Museum and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Both the department and the university have grown dramatically in the intervening years, as more than 3,000 alumni have graduated from the visionary program Gatewood founded.
Highlighting the program’s decades of accomplishments, Generations features work by Eric Anderson, Susan Brenner, Edwina Bringle, Keith Bryant, Sara Catapano, Ann Carter, Jen Clay, Lili Corbus, Alexandra Giannell, John Hairston, Adé Hogue, Heather Hoover, Eldred Hudson, Susan Jedzrejewski, Jason Losko, Nadia Meadows, Carmen Neely, Martha Strawn, and Winston Tite.
Companion Exhibitions
We are thrilled our community has joined us in the 60th-anniversary celebrations! We hope you will check out one of the companion exhibitions happening locally.
60 Years at The Mint Museum
On view now through winter 2024 on the 4th floor gallery
The Mint’s permanent collection has extensive holdings of UNC Charlotte-connected artists, a selection of which is highlighted in this exhibition. The exhibition features artwork by TJ Reddy, Marianne Lieberman, Maud Gatewood, Rod McKillop, Richard Stenhouse, Edwina Bringle, Tom Mason, Roy Strassberg, David Brodeur, and Maja Godlewska.
Hodges Taylor
On view from November 4 – December 16, 2024
Hodges Taylor helps continue the celebration with an exhibition of alumni work on view from November 4 to December 16. There will be an opening reception of the exhibition, “Generations: Artwork by UNC Charlotte Alumni” on November 8 from 6-8 PM.
Journey through 60 years of history with our UNC Charlotte Department of Art & Art History timeline!
Generations: 60 years – 21 conversations
In October we celebrated the 60th anniversary with Generations: 60 Years – 21 Conversations, an exhibition of 85 works by alumni and faculty that celebrated 60 years of accomplishment in the visual arts, marking the start of art-based research at UNC Charlotte and honoring the oldest of the programs in the College of Arts + Architecture. Curated by Professor of Art History Jim Frakes, Generations drew works by alumni and current faculty of the Department of Art & Art History into a thematic and visual conversation with the contributions of 21 “legacy” faculty. This exhibit was made possible in part by the Roderick MacKillop Bi-Annual Alumni Art Exhibition Fund. See the artwork featured in the exhibition by clicking through Maud Gatewood’s Drive-In into the Flickr album!
Get to know participating alumni!
Graduate student at Columbia University, NYC
Art Consultant at at Hodges Taylor
Professional artist and musician, The Avett Brothers
Teacher at Guilford Technical Community Colleg
Professional Artist and Resident at Wildfire Ceramic Studio in Missoula, Montana
Exhibited Artist
Art advisor, curator, and writer, specializing in Media Arts
Art teacher at J.T. Williams Montessori
MFA candidate at Central Saint Martins in London
Printmaker, Gallery Assistant at Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art, Charlotte
Professional artist and art curator, Charlotte, North Carolina
Commercial photographer and exhibited Artist
Artist/ Lecturer at UNC Charlotte
Artist and pressman at the Freeman Screen Print & Embroidery, Charlotte
Professional Artist and an instructor at Holt School of Fine Art, Pineville, NC
Graphic Designer at Wray Ward, Charlotte, NC
Independent Artist and Art Teacher at Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte, NC
Freelance Illustrator
Assistant Principal at South Garner High School in Raleigh
Freelance illustrator, fine artist and art professor at Winthrop University
Professional Artist- focusing on sensory-inclusive textile art
Designer and Co-founder of Metalform Studio in Brooklyn, New York
Professional Tattoo Artist, founder of What’s Good studio
Assistant curator at the Mint Museum, Charlotte, and a practicing artist
Retired art educator, artist
Printmaker and studio manager for painter Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, New York
Prossional Illustrator and Jewlery Designer
Professional artist and gallery owner
Executive Director of San Francisco Center for the Book
Senior Designer at ABC News
AP Studio Art and 3D Design teacher at Saint Stephens High School in Hickory, N.C.
Artist, Freelance Arts Education Consultant, and retired art teacher from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Professional artist/illustrator
Professional Artist
Lead Motion Designer at Valtech, Charlotte office
Professional Artist
President & CEO of Piedmont Craftsmen, Winston-Salem, NC
Graduate School Student
Exhibited Artist
Professional Artist
Professional artist, Instructor of art and coordinator of the visual art program at the South Carolina Governor’s School, and online…
Professional Artist
In memoriam