Visual Arts


  • Liberal & Fine Arts

The Art Department at JJC offers students the opportunity to learn both the foundation courses of visual art and art history, as well as enroll in media-specific courses, including painting, figure drawing, ceramics, jewelry making and metalsmithing, graphic design, computer art, and photography.

What Will I Learn?

This program will prepare students to create a portfolio allowing them to transfer to a four-year university art program.

What is Unique About Our Visual Arts Program?

We have fully equipped studios in painting, design, ceramics, metals and graphic design. Our small student-to-teacher ratio in the studio courses offers hands on learning opportunities from our faculty of professional artists sharing their craft with students. We have a state of the art 2,055 sq. foot gallery, where there are visiting artist exhibitions as well as the opportunity for visual art students to exhibit their work. We offer work study opportunities for visual art students in their area of interest. We also arrange portfolio reviews from transfer schools.

What Are My Career Opportunities?

  • Fine Artist
  • Illustrator
  • Graphic Designer
  • Photographer
  • Animator
  • Arts Administrator
  • Printmaker
  • Teacher/University lecturer

Laura A. Sprague Art Gallery

JJC's art gallery is 2,055 square feet. Located on Main Campus, this gallery provides an excellent work-study opportunity for students.

  • About the Gallery

    JJC's Laura A. Sprague Art Gallery hosts many shows, artist talks and receptions each year, featuring the work of contemporary visiting artists, JJC student artists and local high school artists. 

    The art gallery plays an important role in the visual arts curriculum. Having a gallery on campus gives our students a chance to view artwork close to home and interact with the artists that create it. It also gives students a chance to exhibit their own work.

    More About the Art Gallery

    Gallery Hours

    • Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
    • Friday: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. (Closed Fridays in the summer)
       

  • Art Shows

    2023 Juried JJC Student Art Exhibition

    Open through Thursday, June 29, 2023


    This annual exhibition features the work of our dedicated and talented JJC visual arts students and includes painting, drawing, ceramics, 2 and 3D design, graphic design and metals. This year's juror, Billie Giese, is a professional artist and visual arts faculty at NIU School of Art and Design. Giese will also join us for a visiting artist exhibition in the spring of 2024 along with fellow NIU faculty Cindy Hellyer-Heinz.