Fine Arts
National presence, an interdisciplinary curriculum,
supportive professors who
are artists and performers
themselves: For fine arts
students at St. Olaf College,
it all adds up to professional-level
training in a liberal
arts environment.
Q & A with Associate Dean of Fine Arts Charles Forsberg
At St. Olaf, the fine arts are a component of a broad liberal arts education. We have wonderful facilities and an excellent arts faculty, and we create art rather than just talking about it. We encourage students to experience the arts at St. Olaf because the arts offer a different way of looking at the world and of reflecting on each individual’s place in this world. Read more »
Combine your talents in new and exciting ways
St. Olaf has nationally accredited programs in dance, music and theater, and it boasts an art and art history program that Ruggs’ Guide to Undergraduate Education has called “one of the 30 most selective undergraduate programs in the country.” Synergy happens every day at this winning institution — where fine arts programs of the highest caliber interact with each other and with other challenging disciplines. The results are exciting:
Sculptors and painters collaborate with
choreographers to produce dances that
tantalize the eye and the mind.- Actors in a play consult with Psychology Department faculty and psychology majors in order to understand their characters inside and out.
- Professors and students receive grants to collaborate on a Flash animation that alters in response to sound or travel and then use that technology in Costa Rica to explore dance improvisation in the rainforest.
Overview of the art programs »
St. Olaf alumni are well-rounded, successful artists
Kelly Kaduce ’96, opera singer
Kelly Kaduce entered St. Olaf as a biology major, began taking voice lessons, and left with a Bachelor of Music degree in performance. Since then, she has debuted with the New York City Opera and the Santa Fe Opera, and starred as Mimi in the Los Angeles production of La Boheme.
Ward Sutton ’89, illustrator
Artist Ward Sutton creates cartoons, illustrations, poster designs and animation. His self-syndicated weekly comic strip, “Schlock ‘n’ Roll,” debuted in 1995 and has been running in the Village Voice since 1998. He also creates cartoons for TV Guide and The New York Times.
Carl Schroeder ’05, composer
While Carl Schroeder was still in school, "Christine's Lullaby" premiered to an audience of over one thousand at Minneapolis’ Orchestra Hall. Minneapolis’ Star Tribune newspaper called his work “searingly beautiful.” Since then, Carl's work has been performed by over 25 ensembles in North America and Europe.
