Arts Division

Inside Hutchinson Hall, home of the University of Washington School of Drama, students work at tables as they learn to assemble patterns based on costume designs. They’re surrounded by dress forms, bolts of cloth, sewing machines and costumes in progress. This is the Costume Shop, the domain of Val Mayse, master dressmaker for the School of Drama.

This week and summer, honor the 2023 Awards of Excellence recipients, visit the newly renovated Jacob Lawrence Gallery to see the works of design students, add one of College of Arts & Sciences Dean Dianne Harris’ favorite books to your summer reading list, learn about the largest animals to ever roam the earth at the...

Abdiel Jacobsen, graduating with an MFA in dance, found creative ways to share Latin Hustle, their favorite dance, with students and the wider community.

Meghna Shankar, graduating with degrees in physics and computer science, found joy and balance by also performing in the UW Symphony Orchestra. 

Being a teenager is stressful, but “The Wolves” captures coming-of-age in all its nuance. Read contributing writer Anikka Stanley’s thoughts on the UW School of Drama’s newest production, running until June 4.

As a method of bridging age gaps in the arts space and on campus, the Henry Art Gallery has collaborated with AgePRIDE to provide intimate tours of the contemporary art museum. In their piece, contributing writer Elizabeth Martyrossian discusses the program and its impact on the community. 

“Altar No.3: I Choose To Remember Us Whole,” the latest installation in the Henry Art Gallery, encourages us to indulge each other in our reflections and promote a positive understanding of the world around us. Contributing writer Meghan Haydon speaks with the artists and creators of the project, which aims to promote dialogue, empathy, and community healing. 

Earlier this quarter, students from the School of Art + Art History + Design opened “Material Latitudes” in the Jacob Lawrence Gallery. Writer Theron Hassi walks through the featured pieces from senior students, which showcase topics such as braiding hair, the visibility of disability, and environmental justice. 

From May 3 to 7, the UW School of Drama’s Producing Artists Laboratory put on a heavy performance of “In the Blood” at the Glenn Hughes Penthouse Theatre. The show follows the story of Hester, a single mother struggling to raise her five children while living on the streets. Read writer Harper Gould's review on the production. 

Eason Yang (MDes 2022) talks about his competitive streak and the creation of his project Not Entirely Dead on KOUW's podcast Ten Thousand Things with Shin Yu Pai.

For the past few years, Preston Wadley (MFA 1977) has been thinking about those people who visit a museum or gallery and spend—at most—15 seconds looking at a work of art. How could he keep them longer, he wondered. How could he change their views? His answer to that question is now on display at the Bellevue Arts Museum in an exhibition titled “Abstract Truth.”

In this video, UW faculty, students, and visiting artists share how participation in the Arts & Creativity Initiative sparked new connections and ideas.

The Husky 100 recognizes 100 UW undergraduate and graduate students who are making the most of their time at the UW.

This week, attend the annual Schiedel Lecture, learn about the transactional relationship between mental health research and care, enjoy the Improvised Music Project Festival held by UW students and faculty and more.

A pair of studies published April 14 in the journal Science paint a new picture about apes, ancient Africa and the origins of humans. Many scientists had once hypothesized that the first apes to evolve in Africa more than 20 million years ago ate primarily fruit and lived within the thick, closed canopy of a nearly continent-wide forest ecosystem. Instead, the new research indicates that early apes ate a leafy diet in a more arid ecosystem of varyingly open woodlands with abundant grasses.