Description

The Department of Studio Arts at the University of Pittsburgh invites applications for a full-time Teaching Assistant Professor (TAP) in all levels of Drawing, who will offer support teaching in Painting and the department's Capstone practical courses, pending budgetary approval.
The initial contract for appointment is from August 15, 2026, through May 15, 2028. The teaching load is six 3-credit courses in a two-term academic year (three courses in the fall term, three courses in the spring term). After successfully fulfilling the initial contract, this is a permanent position in the appointment stream (outside the tenure stream) and offers the opportunity for promotion from Teaching Assistant Professor to Teaching Associate Professor and Teaching Professor.

This position focuses on teaching in the Drawing area (Drawing 1, Drawing 2, Drawing Projects, Directed Study, and/or Special Topics), with the ability to support teaching in the Painting area and in any of the department's practical capstone courses, which focus on professional development and exhibition. We seek candidates who are innovative artists and teachers, who will be expected to mentor undergraduate students beyond the classroom as appropriate to their educational needs. Expected service will include committee work, participation in the shared activities and governance of the department, and willingness to potentially serve as Assistant Chair or Director of Undergraduate Studies in the future, working collaboratively with colleagues and the department chair.
The Department of Studio Arts undergraduate program supports a BA major and minor in broad-based visual arts and hosts the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Digital Studies and Methods (DSAM) undergraduate certificate. The department currently offers hands-on undergraduate courses in Visual Thinking, Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Digital Photography, Digital Imaging, Animation, Computation, Video, and Performance. You can read more about the program on our website, https://www.studioarts.pitt.edu/.

The Department of Studio Arts emphasizes integrative art-making that relates to all realms of our complex contemporary world. We are committed to providing our students with a variety of perspectives, mentors, and role models.

Duties
1. Teach three courses per semester, primarily in Drawing
2. Meet with students beyond the classroom as may be appropriate to their educational needs
3. Work collaboratively with faculty to coordinate curricular plans
4. Expected service that supports direct teaching, studio areas, and the department, including committee work, student mentoring, and affiliated events and activities, including the annual student exhibition
5. Participation in shared governance, which may include a rotating position as Assistant Chair or Director of Undergraduate Studies
6. Support the department and the university through shared and rotating service efforts

Minimum requirements:
1. Graduate degree (MFA or equivalent in Studio Art)
2. Broad knowledge of a variety of drawing and painting media
3. Experience fostering creativity and critical approaches to visual culture and creative expression
4. Expansive knowledge of art history, contemporary issues, and critical dialogue in the visual arts
5. Effective communication, collaborative, and organizational skills
6. University-level teaching experience

Preferred requirements (in addition to those above):
1. Evidence of professional creative activity
2. Experience using Canvas or other online LMS

Applicants should include:

1. Cover letter (1-2 pages) addressing teaching skills and experience
2. Current CV, including list of courses taught
3. Teaching portfolio (15 pages max as single pdf)
4. Teaching philosophy, articulating pedagogical practices in teaching drawing/visual arts
   1. Evidence of teaching effectiveness sharing 15-20 samples of the candidate's student
   2. work with project descriptions
5. Creative Portfolio (12 pages max as single pdf
   1. Artist statement
   2. 15-20 samples of the candidate's creative work with descriptive list
6. Contact information (full name, title, and email) for three persons able to provide confidential professional letters of recommendation. We do not need the letters themselves currently, only the contact information

Review of applications will begin on January 5, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Questions may be directed to Erin Delaney, Academic Operations Manager, Arts Departments, (ewd9@pitt.edu).

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