The goal of the Bachelor’s program in the Painting/Drawing Department is to establish an independent artistic position and to provide guidance in historically critical reflection on theoretical and practical questions of painting and drawing in the past, present, and future.

Students collaboratively explore a wide range of technical, genre-specific, aesthetic, and theoretical foundations of painting and drawing and experiment with their application in the development of their own ideas and concepts. Possible compositional categories include all aspects of form, color, and surface design, along with their many variations and combinations. This also involves engagement with contemporary art-theoretical discourses, multiple historical and contemporary visual languages, sustainability, and the contextualization of students’ own artistic articulations within the specific socio-cultural environment of their creation.

Students’ learning and research are structured around individual or collective artistic development projects, with their own artistic approach developing through the interplay of practical and conceptual work. Technical experimentation with painting and drawing techniques, printmaking methods (such as etching, lithography, screen printing, etc.), or digital image processing and development techniques takes place in specialized courses, laboratories, and workshops.

The interdisciplinary structure of the program also allows engagement with neighboring artistic disciplines, enabling students to situate their artistic endeavors within a broader framework of art production.

Opportunities to study at a partner university abroad are strongly encouraged. The presentation, mediation, and discussion of artistic work are central components of the program, which can be explored through collaborations with galleries or museums, the annual exhibitions, or at ICAT.

Accompanying courses in the Theory and History Department deepen students’ artistic inquiries and experiences, providing historical and theoretical knowledge as well as methodological tools that support the development of artistic self-awareness and understanding of art history.

The goal of the Master’s program in the Painting/Drawing Department is to further deepen students’ individual artistic ideas and skills and to significantly enhance their critical reflection on theoretical and practical questions of painting and drawing—in the past, present, and future.

The technical possibilities are as diverse as the artistic means of expression and can include, in addition to painting and drawing elements, etchings, screen prints, or lithographs, digital image processing and development techniques, multimedia installations, and performances. Technical and genre-specific skills, aesthetic and theoretical knowledge, engagement with contemporary art-theoretical discourses, multiple historical and contemporary visual languages, sustainability, and the contextualization of students’ own artistic articulations within the specific socio-cultural environment of their creation are largely explored in a self-directed and autonomous manner. The central structuring element of the program is the student’s individual or collective artistic development project, through which their artistic position is strengthened in the interplay of practical and conceptual work.

Knowledge and experience in conceptual and working strategies, presentation and publication techniques, and production, usage, and reception aesthetics are fostered through collaborations with project partners, the annual exhibitions, or at ICAT. Periods of study at partner universities abroad provide additional opportunities to broaden perspectives.

Courses in the Theory and History Department further expand students’ artistic inquiries and experiences. Alongside the possibility of interdisciplinary engagement with neighboring artistic disciplines, these offerings help students develop and refine their artistic self-understanding.