Photography
Photography Department
The Department of Photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) offers a multifaceted approach to the medium, including traditional forms of image making and conceptually oriented practices, making the SAIC Photography program uniquely diverse.
Undergraduate Admissions Events
Meet with us, learn more about SAIC and our curriculum, and get feedback on your work.
Graduate Admissions Events
Learn how to prepare a competitive application, meet with faculty and staff, and explore our programs and facilities.
An image from the 2017 Photography Graduate Critique.
Student Work
Students in the Photography department will:
- Explore the practice and theory of photography.
- Learn from distinguished, practicing artists with a variety of approaches to the medium.
- Practice your art in a supportive, nonhierarchical community among faculty, undergraduate, and graduate students.
- Work with state-of-the-art equipment available for checkout from our media centers, and enjoy access to all the resources of the school.
- Collaborate with graduate students and peers to create an annual departmental catalog.
#3 Best Photography Program
U.S. News & World Report
Best Fine Arts Grad School Rankings
Parlor Room
Parlor Room is a visiting artist program and lecture series created, run, budgeted and curated by graduate students of photography. Parlor Room provokes dialogue and connections with artists, curators, thinkers and critics engaged with photography. Through public presentations, one-on-one studio visits, and informal group events with graduate students and faculty, Parlor Room seeks a diversity of thought and practice.
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Contact Us
Department Chair
Aimee Beaubien abeaubien@saic.edu
Graduate Coordinator
Robert Clarke-Davis rclarkedavis@saic.edu
Senior Administrative Director
Nika Gorini
Administrative Director
Jessica DuPreez
Administrative Assistant
Maria Dunaevsky
Assistant Director of Photography Facilities
Mayumi Lake