Assistant Professor of Art Foundations

Xavier University of Louisiana – Assistant Professor of Art Foundations

The Department of Art and Performance Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana invites applications for a non-tenure-track Assistant Professor of Art Foundations, beginning Fall 2027. We seek a versatile artist-educator and dedicated teacher whose instructional expertise, creative practice, and service will contribute to the continued development of Xavier’s visual arts program. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching, student-centered learning, and the development of students’ technical skills, visual literacy, critical thinking, and creative expression.

The successful candidate will demonstrate broad knowledge of two-dimensional studio art practices, materials, processes, and concepts, with the ability to teach foundational courses across multiple areas, including drawing, painting, printmaking, two-dimensional design, and art appreciation. The department is particularly interested in an educator who can introduce students to a range of traditional and contemporary artistic approaches while fostering experimentation, visual problem-solving, cultural awareness, and thoughtful engagement with art and its role in society.

The successful candidate will teach foundational courses that serve students with varying levels of artistic experience, including art majors, minors, and non-majors. Teaching responsibilities may include introductory drawing, painting, printmaking, two-dimensional design, and art appreciation, as well as other courses aligned with the candidate’s expertise and departmental needs. Candidates who incorporate interdisciplinary connections, contemporary art and design, diverse cultural perspectives, experimental processes, and connections between art and lived experience into their teaching are encouraged to apply.

Xavier’s Department of Art and Performance Studies provides students with opportunities to develop skills in traditional and contemporary artistic practices through studio work, seminars, theory, exhibitions, internships, and undergraduate research. The department offers instruction across visual media, including ceramics, sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, graphic design, and art history. The successful candidate will contribute to this interdisciplinary environment by establishing a strong foundation for students’ continued artistic development and preparing them for advanced study, professional practice, and creative lives beyond the university.

Duties

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Teach undergraduate art foundations courses, including introductory courses in drawing, printmaking, two-dimensional design, art appreciation, and related areas consistent with the candidate’s expertise and departmental needs.

• Introduce students to foundational principles of visual art, including composition, color theory, line, value, form, space, texture, visual organization, material exploration, and the development of technical and conceptual skills.

• Develop and implement engaging, inclusive, and student-centered instructional approaches that support students with diverse backgrounds, interests, and levels of artistic experience.

• Foster experimentation, creative problem-solving, critical thinking, visual literacy, and the development of individual artistic voices through studio practice, discussion, critique, and reflection.

• Integrate relevant historical, cultural, social, and contemporary perspectives into foundational studio courses and art appreciation instruction.

• Assess student learning, provide constructive feedback, and mentor students in developing their artistic skills, conceptual understanding, portfolios, and capacity for independent creative inquiry.

• Contribute to curriculum development, course assessment, and the continued strengthening of the department’s foundational art curriculum.

• Maintain an active creative practice and engage in professional development appropriate to a teaching-focused faculty appointment.

• Participate in recruitment and retention activities for art students and contribute to initiatives that increase student engagement with the visual arts.

• Collaborate with faculty across the Department of Art and Performance Studies, and the broader university community to support interdisciplinary learning and creative opportunities.

• Participate in exhibitions, visiting-artist programs, workshops, lectures, student activities, and other initiatives that strengthen the University’s arts community.

• Maintain responsible studio practices, including appropriate procedures for the safe use, storage, and disposal of art materials and supplies.

• Provide service to the department, division, university, profession, and community, consistent with the responsibilities of the position.

• Contribute to Xavier University’s mission of preparing students for leadership and service and promoting a more just and humane society.

• The teaching load is 12 credit hours per semester, with additional expectations for student support, curriculum development, professional development, and service consistent with the position.

• About the Department

• The Department of Art and Performance Studies is part of Xavier University’s College of Arts & Sciences. The department fosters a dynamic learning environment in which students develop their creative potential through traditional and contemporary artistic practices, studio experiences, seminars, theory, exhibitions, internships, and undergraduate research. The department’s Art curriculum encompasses ceramics, sculpture, photography, graphic design, printmaking, painting, drawing, and art history.

• The department’s Art Program prepares students for graduate study, professional practice, and careers in which creative and critical thinking are essential. Art majors develop portfolios and professional skills, and students have opportunities to exhibit their work locally and participate in undergraduate research.

• The ceramics area is situated within XULA’s John Scott Art Village a vibrant New Orleans arts community and benefits New Orleans vibrant arts community and connections to the cultural life of the city. The University has an established history of ceramics instruction and creative practice, including faculty and students whose work has been exhibited in regional and national venues.

• The successful candidate will join colleagues committed to preparing students to become thoughtful, creative practitioners and engaged members of their communities.

• Minimum Qualifications

• MFA or other appropriate terminal degree in Studio Art, Printmaking, Fine Arts, or a closely related field from an accredited institution, completed by the date of appointment;

• Demonstrated expertise in printmaking and two-dimensional design, supported by a portfolio of creative work and/or relevant teaching experience;

• Demonstrated ability to teach undergraduate art courses, preferably at the college or university level, or equivalent experience demonstrating readiness for college-level instruction;

• Strong knowledge of two-dimensional design principles, including composition, color theory, visual organization, form, line, value, space, and the relationship between concept and image-making;

• Demonstrated knowledge of printmaking processes, materials, techniques, and studio practices, including the ability to introduce students to appropriate traditional and contemporary approaches to printmaking;

• Ability to teach foundational courses in two-dimensional design and printmaking, with the flexibility to contribute to other introductory studio art courses, such as drawing, painting, and art appreciation, consistent with departmental needs and the candidate’s expertise;

• Demonstrated commitment to effective, inclusive, and student-centered teaching practices that support students with diverse backgrounds, interests, and levels of artistic experience;

• Ability to foster creative exploration, critical thinking, visual literacy, and the development of students’ technical and conceptual skills;

• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to provide constructive feedback and facilitate meaningful classroom discussions and studio critiques;

• Commitment to curriculum development, student mentorship, collaboration with colleagues, and continued professional development; and

• Commitment to Xavier University of Louisiana’s mission and to undergraduate education in the liberal arts.

• Preferred Qualifications

• College-level teaching experience in printmaking, two-dimensional design, and/or related studio art disciplines.

• Demonstrated experience developing and teaching foundational studio art courses that emphasize visual literacy, creative problem-solving, technical skill development, and critical thinking.

• An active creative practice demonstrated through exhibitions, publications, residencies, lectures, awards, grants, or other relevant professional accom