Art History: From High School through College
This is an ambitious project that I have wanted to see come to life for a long time, but I haven’t had the time to devote to it. I realized this week that at the core of nearly every question I get is an anxiety about something: what studying art history is like in college; how to become a better art history student (and study it independently); what kind of jobs you can get, and how to get there; or whether or not you should go to grad school. I’ve addressed the first and last of these issues in separate booklets, but everything in between - and everything before one’s studies even begin - has yet to be addressed in a cohesive manner.
Art history is often perceived as a major for dreamers, that is, for those who have no sense of the reality of the marketability of this field of study. This only adds to the anxiety of applying to college, attending college, and graduating. The truth is, you should be prepared to battle with a tough job market, but this problem isn’t limited to this field, and like any field, there are ways to make yourself competitive.
And yet, I don’t just want the result of this project to be a set of “hows” - how to pick a college, become a better student or study art history on your own, find a job with a B.A. - though it will certainly contain these elements. I envision it as something with a bit more depth, something that you can look to and say “Yes, this is why I want to study art history,” … as something that will help you fight through inevitable encounters with self-doubt and naysayers.
Once I’ve put this guide out into the world, whenever that will be, my hope is that those who want to study art history will find comfort and encouragement in a book(let) that helps make the process just a little bit easier. So, Art History: From High School to College is officially on my mind, being brainstormed, and being written.
(And maybe one day, I will write a book that combines all of my guides, simply titled The Study of Art History. Thanks for listening.)














