College of Fine Arts News

Civil War-era song cycle ‘Rappahannock County’ launches UK Opera Theatre’s new season

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 2, 2026) — The University of Kentucky Opera Theatre will continue its “Telling America’s Stories” series with a powerful Civil War-era song cycle, “Rappahannock County,” opening the 2026-27 season Oct. 16-19 at the Lexington Opera House.

RadioLab Creator, MacArthur Fellow Jad Abumrad brings ‘Words Fail Me’ to Singletary Center

LEXINGTON, Ky. (09/29/26) — What happens to the human mind when the world just won’t stop talking?  Jad Abumrad, MacArthur Fellow and creator of Radiolab, explores that question in his latest work, Words Fail Me, coming to the Singletary Center for the Arts on Saturday, Oct. 3. 

UK Art Museum finds connections between art and natural history

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 29, 2026) — It is approximately 15 inches in diameter, was pulled from the stomach of an unfortunate 19th century cow, might be the largest hairball on the planet and, through Dec.

Save the Date: UK Arts and Health Symposium Set for Oct. 2

Arts Disaster & Crisis Preparedness Conference returns to UK, Sept. 24-25

UK SA/VS presents Fall 2026 Visiting Artist Series

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 4, 2026) — The University of Kentucky School of Art and Visual Studies (SA/VS) Fall 2026 Visiting Artist Series launches Sept.

‘Edge Logic’ brings contemporary Japanese photography to Lexington

The University of Kentucky School of Art and Visual Studies (SA/VS) will spend September looking at what usually goes unseen. “Edge Logic: Thirteen Japanese Photographers,” a new exhibition of contemporary Japanese photography presented by SA/VS, opens Sept. 1 and runs through Oct. 1 in the Bolivar Art Gallery, 236 Bolivar St. in Lexington. Admission is free. 

The Beat Podcast: Rachel Hooper

In today's episode, we sit down with Rachel Hooper, curator of the University of Kentucky Art Museum, to discuss her curatorial work and the museum's upcoming exhibition, Museum of Natural History and Artificial Curiosities, opening August 5.

Twirlers and Sweetheart Majorette Twirling line are national champions

UK College of Fine Arts takes the world stage

From the theatres of London's West End to the streets of Istanbul to the concert halls of Corfu to a Parisian classroom, University of Kentucky College of Fine Arts students are turning the entire globe into their classroom.

UK students selected for 2026 University Open at LexArts

Miriam Kienle: 2026-27 University Research Professor Q&A

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 9, 2026) — Miriam Kienle, Ph.D., associate professor of art history in the School of Art and Visual Studies in the College of Fine Arts at the University of Kentucky, has been honored as a 2026-27 University Research Professor.

CFA Arts Admin and UK Art Museum researchers explore history of modern dance through photography

Dance is motion. Photography is stasis. And when the two are combined, something new is created: a moment of suspension.

Arts Administration Chair Wins 2026 William B. Sturgill Award

The Beat Podcast: Laura Neese

UK School of Music senior Dejah Watts advances to Metropolitan Opera Laffont National Finals

School of Music Celebrates Student Achievement at Annual McCracken Awards Ceremony as part of the Friends of Music Celebration Weekend

The University of Kentucky School of Music culminated its academic year with a Celebration Weekend at the Singletary Center for the Arts, bringing together two days of awards, performances, and recognition of student excellence.

Intersections of Arts & Health: A Research/Creative Activity Symposium Recap

On March 27, the College of Fine Arts hosted Intersections of Arts & Health: A Research/Creative Activity Symposium, bringing together faculty, researchers, and practitioners from across the University of Kentucky campus and beyond for a full day of conversation at the Art and Visual Studies Building. 

The Beat Podcast: Aaron Levi Garvey

UK alum Mary Joy Nelson sparks joy for the arts with local up-and-coming young artists