Photography

The MassArt Photography Program teaches photography as fine art with an emphasis on personal vision, experimentation, and an understanding of the history of photography and the body of criticism that surrounds it. Students are introduced to a wide array of both film-based and digital tools; they become well-versed in the medium’s technical and aesthetic traditions while exploring contemporary directions through slide lectures, gallery visits, guest artists, and critiques. Our curriculum covers both analog and digital production and offers a wide variety of elective courses providing a strong foundation for critical thinking, collaboration, and a career in photographic arts.

A highly respected group of artists form the core faculty of the department, including Barbara Bosworth, Matthew Connors, Kathya Landeros, Laura McPhee, Abelardo Morell (emeritus), Matthew Monteith, and Amani Willett. Their efforts are augmented by a remarkable group of visiting professors. We are proud of our diverse and well-recognized faculty and staff, many of whom have received prestigious fellowships and publish and exhibit worldwide.

Our extraordinary Visiting Artist Lecture Series is an integral part of our curriculum and is open to the whole community. Recent visitors have included An-My Le, Walead Beshty, Dawoud Bey, Elinor Carucci, Charlotte Cotton, William Christenberry, Gregory Crewdson, Lois Conner, Philip-Lorca DiCorcia, Jim Dow, Doug Dubois, Mark Alice Durant, Ruby LaToya Frazier, Emmet Gowin, Katy Grannan, Deana Lawson, Laura Letinsky, Judith Joy Ross, Luc Sante, Stephen Shore, Jem Southam, and Penelope Umbrico.

Our 11,000 square-foot facilities include a three-studio digital facility with large format printers, Flextight scanners, and 40 workstations. Our analog black & white developing and printing areas are central to our curriculum with two large gang darkrooms, individual darkrooms, and a non-silver darkroom. Of special note is the 20x24 Polaroid “Land Camera”, built by Edwin Land (1909-91), founder of Polaroid. Only seven of these cameras were ever made and MassArt’s is the only one not in commercial use or in a museum.

Our location in central Boston, just blocks away from world famous museums and galleries, invites students to attend exhibitions of contemporary and historical photography and to visit with artists, curators, and gallerists.

Photography Faculty

Matthew Connors, Professor
BA, University of Chicago
MFA, Yale University

S. Billie Mandle
BA, Williams College
MFA, Massachusetts College of Art & Design

Laura McPhee, Professor
BA, Princeton University
MFA, Rhode Island School of Design

Matthew Monteith, Assistant Profesor
MFA, Yale University

Amani Willett
BA, Wesleyan University
MFA, School of Visual Arts

Programs

Photography