Hartford Art School Low Residency MFA in Illustration

12/05/2025

Get inspired by this selection of iconic work by our incoming Program Director , then share your own during a Virtual Portfolio Review on Saturday, December 13! This is your chance to receive individualized feedback from both Leslie and current Director . Grab your 20-minute slot now via the link in our bio.

11/25/2025

Big news from the Hartford Art School’s MFA in Illustration program.

This year brings a meaningful transition for our community. After many years of extraordinary leadership, mentorship, and artistic vision, Program Director C.F. Payne has announced that he will retire in summer 2026. We’re deeply grateful for the talent, heart, and guidance he has shared with generations of illustrators.

At the same time, we’re thrilled to share the exciting news that Leslie Cober will be serving as Guest Artist and Director of the MFA in Illustration program, effective in July 2026.

is an award-winning illustrator, designer, curator, and educator whose work champions optimism, storytelling, and the power of visual communication. Her illustrations have appeared in countless global publications and international initiatives, and she currently serves as President of the Society of Illustrators in NYC. As an alum of our MFA program, she brings both a deep connection to our community and a bold, visionary approach to the field.

Her career spans teaching at FIT and Western Connecticut State University, curating major exhibitions, and inspiring students nationwide to “think out of the box” and develop their own distinct voices. Leslie’s leadership bridges art, education, and community—empowering artists to create expressive and meaningful work.

We’re looking ahead with excitement as our MFA in Illustration program reaches new heights and steps into an inspiring new era.

09/17/2025

Applications for the summer 2026 are open! If you're interested in learning more about our program, we encourage you to attend the upcoming virtual info session. Program Director C.F. Payne will host a detailed overview of the low residency structure, curriculum and offer plenty of time for Q&A. Register here: https://forms.gle/zDBCXMGTxc4gYmCT6

07/08/2025

The MFA in Illustration Program’s Class of 2025 is proud to present their thesis exhibition, Vision & Voice, which will be on view from Tuesday, July 15 through Friday, July 25. A closing reception will be held on Friday, July 25 from 6–8 p.m.

07/17/2024

The Illustration MFA Class of 2024 presents Drawn Together, an exhibition showcasing a variety of illustrators whose seemingly dissonant paths aligned two years ago. The work reflects each artist’s unique style, experiences, and future pursuits while celebrating the strength found in unexpected connections and the power of creativity within a community.

The featured illustrators who were drawn together by circumstance include Mandie Anderson, Annie Caufman, Jesse Clark, Nathan Diewert, Autumn Fesperman, Kelsey Grass, Shaun Ivie, Chris Koehler, Megan Laude, Kelly Light, Collin McCormack, Keith Seaman, and Dana Smooke. Drawn Together will run July 16–26 in Joseloff Gallery with a closing reception on Friday, July 26, from 6 to 8 p.m.

11/16/2023

This Sunday! Program Director, CF Payne is offering pre-application portfolio reviews. There are a few slots left.

Need more time to prepare? You can also register for Sunday, December 17th.

https://go.hartford.edu/portal/illustration

07/17/2023

The University of Hartford’s Low-Residency MFA in Illustration Program is excited to present the Class of 2023 Thesis Exhibition: Perspective.

Hailing from across the U.S., the eleven illustrators in the Class of 2023 have spent countless hours creating a body of work as expansive as their backgrounds and unique perspectives. From children's books and editorial illustrations to graphic novels and imaginative realism, the exhibition promises something for everyone. Featured artists include John Barlow, Hannah Chan, Christina Corey, Elizabeth George, Leah Kellaway, Corinn Marriott, Christian Meesey, Sarah Mirisola, S. H. Murphy, Stephanie Nordlund, and Josh Talbot.

Perspective will be on display at the Joseloff Gallery at the Hartford Art School from July 11-21, 2023, with a closing reception on Friday, July 21 from 6:00-8:00 PM.

06/22/2023

Debuting this year’s sketchbooks, with cover design by 2015 alum and visiting faculty ! We’re looking forward to seeing the doodles our students will fill these up with during the upcoming summer residency 🌈.

11/17/2022

Considering whether our program is a good fit? Take advantage of two upcoming events to learn how we'll help you reach your career goals.

Links to register here: https://linktr.ee/illustrationmfa

07/22/2022

06/14/2022

Debuting this year’s sketchbooks, with cover illustration by class of 2021 alum . We’re so proud of Doug’s work and can’t wait to get these in the hands of our group this summer.