WELCOME FROM THE CHAIR

Thank you for your interest in the Department of Art History at Rice University.  In 2012--2013, our department will consist of ten full-time faculty, one postdoctoral fellow, and, in the Spring, two visiting professors, including one museum curator.  Our program's main areas of focus are modern and contemporary art (including film), and medieval and early modern art in Asia, Europe, and Middle East.  We offer a breadth of methodologies, including theoretical analysis and hands-on investigation of artworks.  

We maintain close connections with Houston museums, especially the Menil Collection and the Museum of Fine Arts, where we offer fellowships that enable students to work with collections and curatorial staff.  Students may also apply for summer travel funds in the U.S. and abroad.  Please be sure to visit Houston’s art museums and explore the fellowships we offer.

The department major offers three different tracks.  In addition to the regular major, students may choose to pursue honors or specialize in the history of architecture.  Some students at Rice who major in art history go on to attend graduate school in the field and achieve professional success as academics and curators. Other majors have chosen a broad variety of career paths, including law, medicine, and business.  In a world that is increasingly dominated by visual imagery, the study of art history provides invaluable training, and art history majors at Rice also develop strong writing and analytical skills.  For the undergraduate major, click here.

This year begins the fourth year of our doctoral program, which has been funded in large part to a grant from the Brown Foundation and generous individual donors.

The Art History department also plays a vital role in introducing the public to research in the field through our conferences and lectures.  Click here to see a list of upcoming events.

Should you have any questions about any of our programs, please contact our Administrator, Lucinda Cannady, at lcannady@rice.edu or the Chair at wolfthal@rice.edu.

Welcome to our website and our department.
Diane Wolfthal