Visual Arts
At Derby, we believe true artistic expression is the perfect sum of technical discipline and personal vision.
Our Visual Arts program invites students to open their perception of the world, using their minds to master new concepts and their hearts to communicate their unique human experience.
Developing Artistic Fundamentals
Technical Skill & Observation
Developing the mind to see and replicate the world with precision.
Imagination & Risk-Taking
Cultivating the heart to stretch beyond comfort zones and embrace the creative process.
Self-Expression
Finding a personal voice to convey a unique vision to the community.
Building Foundations
in the Lower School
The Lower School Visual Arts program offers students a wide range of hands-on, developmentally responsive art experiences. Course content often connects to classroom curriculum, allowing students to build on prior knowledge as skills, ideas, and interests grow.
Students explore how art links us to cultural traditions and human history while learning to observe closely, take creative risks, and express their ideas visually. A spirit of curiosity and enthusiasm drives a lively program that engages and challenges the young artist.
Expanding Creativity
in the Middle School
The Middle School Visual Arts program promotes observation, imagination, and critical thinking, enabling students to understand and value art throughout their lives. The curriculum incorporates works from global cultures and emphasizes art as a universal language that can deepen our understanding of distant places, historical change, and contemporary issues. Students apply art concepts and vocabulary to critically reflect upon their own work, as well as that of others.
Studio experiences support the development of artistic style, technical skills, and design awareness with extended projects built through idea generation, planning, and reflection. With a focus on foundational skills and a growth mindset, students work across diverse media in a supportive environment that values process over product.