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Visual Arts

In the foreground, students stand around easels in an art studio, while the background is adorned with a colorful display of masks on the walls.
A young Black woman in a maroon sweatshirt leans over a table, drawing on a piece of paper, with art supplies and a bag of %22Multi-Mix%22 in the blurred background.

Creativity, Skill, and Expression.

Milton Academy’s Visual Arts program challenges students to see the world differently and to shape it with imagination, discipline, and purpose. Through hands-on studio work, critical dialogue, and public exhibition, students develop technical mastery, conceptual depth, and creative confidence.

Art at Milton is both a rigorous academic discipline and a vital part of campus culture. 
All students entering the Upper School before Grade 11 take an Arts Program course to introduce them to visual arts, performing arts and music at Milton. After completing this graduation requirement, students have a world of course options to expand their creative minds.

A Comprehensive
Visual Arts EDUCATION

The Visual Arts curriculum balances foundational skill-building with opportunities for advanced, independent exploration. Courses are designed for students at every level, from beginners discovering a new medium to experienced artists preparing college portfolios.

A man with orange glasses and a grey sweater is talking to another person in front of framed pictures on a wall.

Students engage deeply in:

  • Drawing and painting

  • Photography and digital imaging

  • Sculpture, ceramics, and three-dimensional design

  • Filmmaking and visual storytelling

  • Architecture and design

  • Digital and emerging media

Foundational courses emphasize observation, composition, technique, and visual literacy. As students advance, they refine their artistic voice, experiment with materials and ideas, and produce sustained bodies of work.

Learning to See, Think, and Create Like an Artist

Students do more than master materials in these courses. They learn to think critically and creatively, solve visual and conceptual problems, give and receive thoughtful critique, develop persistence through revision, and communicate ideas with clarity and impact.

Faculty members are practicing artists and dedicated teachers who guide students through an iterative creative process, encouraging risk-taking, reflection, and growth.

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Portfolio Development and Advanced Study

For students pursuing art beyond high school, advanced courses support the development of sophisticated portfolios suitable for competitive college applications. Individualized feedback and sustained studio practice help students refine their artistic direction and technical skills.

Whether students aspire to careers in the arts or seek to strengthen creative thinking within another field, the Visual Arts program cultivates habits of observation, innovation, and expression that extend far beyond the studio.

Two students work on a project at a large table in the foreground, while other students are visible working at desks in the background of a brightly lit art studio.
In the foreground, a person's hand with a watch holds a paintbrush over a colorful painting, while in the background, a young girl with blonde hair concentrates on her artwork in a brightly lit classroom.

 

Studio Spaces Designed for Creative Work

Milton’s dedicated art facilities provide inspiring environments for making and exhibiting art. Large, open studios, specialized workspaces, and digital labs allow students to explore traditional and contemporary practices side by side.

The Nesto Gallery serves as a professional exhibition space on campus, hosting rotating shows by visiting artists as well as student exhibitions. These experiences expose students to diverse artistic perspectives and model the standards of professional presentation.

Twice each year, Arts Commons celebrates student creativity across disciplines, offering the community an opportunity to experience visual art in dialogue with performance and music.

A man in a striped shirt holds up a piece of fabric to two young women in the foreground, while a man in a blue shirt sits in the blurred background.

A community of MAKERS

At Milton Academy, visual art is woven into the fabric of school life. Student work fills offices, hallways, and shared spaces, shaping the visual identity of the campus and reflecting the imagination of its community.

Through discipline, experimentation, and public exhibition, Milton artists learn not only how to create, but how to see, question, and contribute meaningfully to the world around them.

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Our Visual Arts Faculty

Nicole Darling

Visual Arts Department Chair

Jennifer Hughes

Visual Arts Department Chair

Daphne Confar

Visual Arts Faculty

Martin McDermott

Visual Arts Faculty

Scott Nobles

Visual Arts Faculty

Molly Swain

Visual Arts Faculty, Director of Professional Learning, Dean, Class of 2027

Ian Torney

Visual Arts Faculty

Hannah Wagner

Visual Arts Faculty