Visual Arts

In Lower School art, students use a wide range of materials such as paint, clay, fiber, and papier-mâché to explore their creativity. With each project, students learn about basic concepts including form, scale, and color.

In Middle School studio art, students build on their previous study and learn to express themselves through mediums such as cloth, collage, paper, oil pastel, and acrylic paint. By studying a diverse body of artistic work, students explore a range of themes and techniques that they then use in their own original work.

When they reach Upper School, students may choose art classes that best suit their creative interests and talents. Visual arts in the Upper School include drawing, painting, ceramics, digital art, and both wet darkroom and digital photography. Students can take a variety of foundational classes or follow a particular discipline through sequenced course offerings for intermediate or advanced study. View the curriculum guide for more details.

Rubenstein Gallery


The Daryl Reich Rubenstein Gallery showcases art created by students in all divisions, as well as occasional exhibits from faculty or other members of the Sidwell Friends community. In addition, the Rubenstein Gallery Guest Artist Program offers a way for nationally recognized artists to share their life’s work and talents with Sidwell Friends students and faculty.