The individual development of an artistic position, based on a permanent process of critical reflection, is a crucial element in contemporary art. In order to become a ʻprofessionalʼ artist, students need to learn to position themselves critically. This is the core of the Fine Arts master program at LUCA School of Arts/campus Brussels.
The Fine Arts Master program at Sint-Lukas Brussels represents a wide range of artistic possibilities. As a student you are free to develop your artistic ideas within the various disciplines of contemporary art: there are no restrictions in terms of medium or technique. All technical facilities on campus are at your disposal. The only imperative is the imperative of art. In practice this implies a focus on visual and conceptual finesse, productive self-questioning, and an imaginative approach to research. The student’s artistic intuition is not banned from the workfloor, but it may be critically dissected – out of respect rather than mistrust. The MFA group forms an international micro-community inside the school and, more broadly, inside the city; individual work is done in close contact with others. Student output will be framed and reframed by peers, directly and indirectly, using impulses generated in group discussions, theory seminars, guest lectures, workshops and excursions. The flourishing contemporary art scene in Brussels will act both as sounding board and medium of reception.
The Fine Arts MA programme at LUCA is aimed at critical self-reflection. Throughout the year students develop their master project in the context of theoretical and practice-related input. Through regular group evaluations and presentations, the students develop their practice to a professional level and learn to express themselves verbally to their peers, tutors and finally to an external jury.
Each student works with an individual tutor and a thesis promoter, assigned to him/her at the beginning of the academic year. Students are expected to regularly consult them and to report about the progress of their work. The thesis is regarded as an integral part of the student’s MA project.
In addition to individual and group tutorials, you will follow specific theory classes as well as interdisciplinary seminars. You will actively follow the latest developments in the contemporary art scene, regularly visiting exhibitions with fellow students and meeting with artists, curators and other actors from the national and international scene. As a result, you will develop your critical-reflective outlook on the contemporary art world. In the Critical Practice course, you further develop your discursive and analytical skills. This will help you to improve your level of reflection on the context and practices of contemporary art.
Seminars are an integral part of the master's program. LUCA has a particularly rich and diversified range of research seminars fed by the research groups of our campuses from Brussels, Ghent, Genk and Leuven. Each campus has its own researchers, research traditions and disciplines.
Together with your coordinator, you will select two seminars that match your ambitions. You can also choose from the courses given at the KU Leuven or its associated university colleges.
During your master programme, you will be guided by a diverse team of teachers with expertise in painting, graphics, sculpture, mixed media, video, film, photo and drawing. They are artists with an active practice in the international context of contemporary art. In addition to their teaching duties, your theory teachers are also active as a writer, researcher, curator, speaker.
The teaching team:
Richard Venlet
Camiel van Winkel
Aglaia Konrad
Michael Van den Abeele
Sara Deraedt
Melissa Gordon
+ guests
Peter Anthonissen, Herman Asselberghs, Mariske Broeckmeyer, Vincent Caers, Kris Cuppens, Boris Debackere, Peter De Graeve, Robbrecht Desmet, Jeroen D’hoe, Leen Engelen, Pablo Hannon, Steven Huybrechts, Peter Jacquemyn, Jeroen Laureys, Steven Lenaers, Frank Maet, Ans Mertens, Volkmar Mühleis, Els Opsomer, Jan Pillaert, Peter Schuermans, Lieven Segers, Nicola Setari, Johan Teirlinck, Pascal Vandelanoitte, Bert Vandenbussche, Katrien Van Haute, Tom Van Imschoot, Patrick Verlaak, Rosanne Van Klaveren, Esther Venrooij, Klaas Verpoest, Jasper Vrancken, Kristof Vrancken.
Campus Sint-Lukas Brussels
Paleizenstraat 70
1030 Brussels
+32 2 250 11 00
An international campus and an added value to your programme
Our campus is situated within the dynamic context of the city of Brussels. The urban diversity creates new avenues of thought and leads to challenging artistic trajectories. Surrounded by a international mix of students with different cultural backgrounds you'll be confronted by other realities that may shift your boundaries.
High tech workshops
You can use all workshops and technical facilities, ranging from graphic techniques (such as screen printing and etching) to metal and woodworking and video and audio editing. You will receive support and tips from experts to practice techniques or realize your work.
Experiment room for master students
Our former students work as visual artists, curators, teachers in art education or build a career in the cultural sector. Some of our alumni are internationally renowned as artists, such as Luc Tuymans and Hans Op de Beeck.
Are you graduating as an artistic master and would you still like to become a teacher? Then you can opt for a shortened educational master's program. EDU by LUCA offers the opportunity to acquire your competencies in secondary and part-time art education at an accelerated pace. Students who take the shortened course of 60 credits sign up for a one-year full-time program. If you want to combine work and family, you can choose to spread the shortened route over two years. Edu bundles the (abbreviated) teacher training courses for secondary education offered by KU Leuven, LUCA School of Arts and VIVES.
"After Sint-Lukas Brussel I went to the HISK and the Rijksacademie in Amsterdam. I met people from the international art sector there. After that initial period my international career as an artist started. Today I have a studio with several assistants and I am a guest lecturer at various academies and universities."
Hans Op De Beeck
The application and enrollment procedure at LUCA School of Arts consists in general of three steps.
Are you curious about our approach to art education? During our open days, you will get all the information you need, visit the campus, talk to our teaching staff and students ... Still not convinced? Visit our graduation show! During this, on-campus two-day art festival you can experience first hand how good our students really are.
Contact us:
Paleizenstraat 70
1030 Brussels
+32 2 250 11 00
bk.brussel@luca-arts.be