Master in Visual Arts

Campus Sint-Lukas Brussels

All the specializations of the Visual Arts Master focus on giving students the possibility to create artistically authored images and texts across media. Artistic and curatorial research as well as storytelling and critical practice play an important role in the curriculum. The overall vision is oriented towards the formation of responsible protagonists of the next society and cutting edge investigators of new forms of visual and narrative expression. The teaching staff includes leading artists, designers and photographers from Belgium and abroad.

Fine Art

In the MA programme of Fine Arts in Brussels there are no restrictions in terms of medium or technique. All technical facilities on campus are at the disposal of students. 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 by the studio team 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.

Next to the individual counselling, the students also attend a theory course called ‘Critical Practice’ and two elective Research Seminars. The Research Seminars form a ‘cross-over’ with the other MA departments at LUCA School of Arts.
The MA-programme also focuses on developments and activities within the contemporary art scene. Meetings are organized with artists, curators and other actors within the national and international art scene. Through these exchanges students learn to develop a critical and reflective attitude towards the field of contemporary art. 

Graphic Design

In the MA year Graphic Design you can choose between a specialisation in Media & Information Design or Graphic Storytelling.

As an MA student, you'll choose your own project and formulate your own relevant research questions. You'll demonstrate that you are able to work critically and innovatively within your chosen discipline or able to initiate multidisciplinary projects. You'll work in a productive and stimulating environment in which confrontation and communication with other students and tutors are the driving force for deepening your own work.

About the MA training

The open, questioning attitude you take as a designer/author towards available media ensures that the switch between techniques and disciplines becomes a matter of course. In other words: the autonomous designer/author sometimes makes video, sometimes conceptual work, then a book or a digital project. In addition, you'll write a thesis in which you reflect on your practice, methodology and the choices you make. Alongside design, you'll focus on an ongoing critical analysis of your work process through academic writing and presentations.

A critical design attitude

During the Critical Practices and interdisciplinary Critical Study you'll learn research methodologies and collect, analyse and synthesise relevant information to answer your research questions. This will bring you insight into the manner in which designers operate in different geographical, historical and cultural contexts and will give you the necessary intellectual capacity to grow into the next generation of leading designers, authors and artists.

Photography

In the MA year Photography, you'll take one step further in the development of your artistic identity. Throughout the year you'll work on a MA project, guided by two mentors who will help you to broaden and enrich your horizons. You'll not only realise an artistic project but also write a thesis in which you reflect on your artistic practice.

You, your Master thesis and photography

Alongside your artistic research, you'll intensively follow theoretical seminars, visit exhibitions and take part in lectures and workshops. Through portfolio viewings with nationally and internationally recognised artists, art critics and curators you'll discover new perspectives. In preparation for the master exhibition – which you organise together with fellow students off-campus – you'llshow your work to a wider public in an intermediate exhibition at the Recyclart art centre in Brussels.

Your MA thesis represents an important step in your artistic quest and in the development of your visual language. It is the starting capital with which you'll launch yourself on the path of contemporary (art) reality.

Evolving insight

Curiosity, independent initiative and a passion for experimentation drive your artistic inquiry. You'll discover new strategies and unique methods. By openly communicating about evolutions and doubts during your work process, you'll bring your projects to a successful conclusion.

In Brussels, in the middle of the world

Students of the MA Photography come from all corners of the globe. In the dynamic context of Brussels, this diversity creates new avenues of thought and leads to a challenging artistic process. Surrounded by students from Belgium and abroad you'll be confronted by other realities that shift your boundaries. The international character of the master is also felt during the final master exhibition when an external and partly international jury will judge your work.