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Assistant Professor of Art, tenure track, Painting/Drawing (Position # 6274) The Division of Art in the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University invites nominations and applications in Painting/Drawing for an opportunity to be involved in the shaping of a dynamic interdisciplinary curriculum in Art. The candidate selected will be expected to be a significant partner in connecting the Division to an increasingly diverse and globally connected community at the university and in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The successful candidate will be an artist with an extensive record of creative practice with at least one year of full-time teaching.

As a faculty committed to interdisciplinary dialogue, we seek an artist and educator working within Painting/Drawing and its position within contemporary art. Creative responsibilities include active artistic presence on a national level through exhibition or other kinds of publication. Teaching responsibilities include introductory and advanced undergraduate courses and graduate courses. Other responsibilities include university service, especially but not limited to supervision of the Painting/Drawing areas shared with faculty in Painting/Drawing and with the support of the Art Technical Manager.

Faculty in the two areas, Painting and Drawing, work closely together from observation and imagination in an open dialogue with the other areas in the Division of Art. Artists of all ethnic backgrounds and philosophical persuasions and women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Minimum qualifications

• An MFA or equivalent in Art
• An extensive creative portfolio in Painting/Drawing with an active exhibition record
• Extensive knowledge of traditional and recent Painting/Drawing with the ability to teach across the broadest spectrum of materials and concepts
• One year full-time teaching at the university level
• An interest in curriculum development
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse learning environment for students of all backgrounds.

Preferred qualifications:

• Demonstration of a body of work and teaching that integrates Painting/Drawing with the world of art today
• An engagement with an area of Painting or Drawing in depth, as well the breadth of Painting and Drawing
• Two years full-time teaching at university level

Applications must include:

• Letter of application highlighting the candidate’s accomplishments and interest in the position
• Artist statement (one page or less) describing the artist’s work in relation to historical and contemporary art practices
• Teaching statement (one page or less) describing the candidate’s philosophy of teaching undergraduate and graduate students
• CV
• Names and contact information of three recommenders (the committee will request letters when appropriate)
• 20 images of work samples with descriptions in a single portfolio

Applications must be submitted electronically via Interfolio at the following link: URL. To ensure full consideration for the position, the application must be received by December 15, 2024, but the committee will continue to accept applications until the position is filled. Hiring is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background check. 

Start Date: 1 August 2025. Contact for further questions: Nishiki Sugawara-Beda, Associate Professor of Art, nishikis@smu.edu. 

The Division of Art provides a challenging environment for the study of studio art within a multi-faceted arts school at a major liberal arts university. We offer a B.A., B.F.A., and M.F.A. in studio art. Each of our undergraduate degrees is based in an innovative program of Foundation studies and broad experiences in ways of seeing, ways of making, and ways of thinking. We place emphasis on the development of our students’ knowledge in ceramics, drawing, installation, new media, painting, performance, photography, printmaking, sculpture, sound, and/or time-based media. Students are encouraged to work across media and in ways that integrate with other studies to develop their awareness of the context of art today and its future possibilities. Traditionally each degree culminates in focused exhibition, based in intensive work and critical discussion that is individual and true to students’ ideas and ambitions. In addition to faculty actively engaged in exhibition and research at the highest levels, SMU’s Division of Art hosts an ongoing series of lectures, open studios, panels and studio visits by artists, critics and curators.

Founded in 1969, the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University is one of the foremost arts education institutions in the United States. The Meadows School offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in advertising, art, art history, arts management and arts entrepreneurship, creative computation, music, theatre, dance, film and media arts, public affairs & corporate communication, journalism and fashion journalism. The goal of the Meadows School of the Arts, as a comprehensive educational institution, is to prepare students to meet the demands of professional careers. The Meadows School is a leader in developing innovative outreach and community engagement programs, challenging its students to make a difference locally and globally by developing vital connections between art, entrepreneurship and change. The Meadows School of the Arts is also a convener for the arts in North Texas, serving as a catalyst for new collaborations and providing critical industry research.

SMU, a private nonsectarian university of roughly 12,000 students, is an inclusive and intellectually diverse community of teachers and scholars that values diverse research and creative agendas and is dedicated to academic excellence. The Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is a culturally rich arts and global business center and home to over eight million people, offering exceptional museums, diverse cultural attractions and a vibrant economy.