As the University’s largest and most varied academic unit, the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) is comprised of artists, learners, performers, scholars, scientists, and teachers across 21+ departments, programs, schools, and centers and acts as a central hub where many of the University's disciplines intersect. Nearly all 6,000 undergraduates at the University take liberal arts courses with us, and about one-third of these students declare a first major in a CAHSS program. Most of our departments, programs and schools offer masters or doctoral programs. CAHSS scholars, artists, instructors, staff, and students collaborate in a shared quest for knowledge about the human condition and the development of skills to improve our local and global communities. The diverse scope of CAHSS allows our students to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed at nearly any career in today’s global society.
The University’s School of Art & Art History (SAAH), accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, has offered instruction in Art and Art History since 1880. SAAH offers undergraduate programs in Studio Art and Art History, graduate programs in Art History, and contributes to the University’s Common Curriculum.

The Studio Art program emphasizes both discipline-specific and multidisciplinary practices, encouraging students to develop strong visual language, technical skills, and conceptual approaches. Faculty support fluidity across media and foster dialogue among a community of artists and peers. Current offerings include Ceramics, Foundations, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture. The program fosters career readiness through such opportunities as the Professional Practice course, internships, exhibitions, and more.

Studio Art plays a central role in DU’s liberal arts mission, preparing students to think critically, create with intention, and engage meaningfully with contemporary society. The program cultivates curiosity and exploration while equipping students with the conceptual and technical tools to sustain lifelong artistic inquiry.

Position Summary

The University of Denver’s School of Art and Art History (SAAH) invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Painting and Drawing, and Everett Anton Singer Fellow in Painting beginning Fall 2026 (September). This position is funded in part by the Everett Anton Singer Fellowship in Painting, named for artist and DU alumnus Tony Singer.

We seek an expansive artist-scholar deeply engaged in contemporary painting and drawing practices, as well as a dynamic educator with a passion for undergraduate teaching, to steward and provide leadership in the Painting & Drawing program.

The ideal candidate will engage with traditional approaches in painting and drawing while also challenging historical frameworks and demonstrating a critical, contemporary voice within discipline. They should be responsive to the elasticity of interdisciplinary art practices and foster innovative technical and conceptual methodologies.

This position will strengthen faculty leadership in Painting & Drawing, shaping a forward-thinking vision for collaborative and multidisciplinary curriculum, facilities and technology, and undergraduate student recruitment. The successful candidate will uphold rigorous standards in foundational drawing while enriching the existing curriculum with innovative and experimental advanced-level courses. The successful candidate will prepare students to create, analyze, and strategically use images, equipping graduates to navigate and shape a future increasingly impacted by AI-generated imagery. The candidate will contribute to students’ professional growth and career readiness, preparing them to thrive in rapidly evolving creative fields.

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellence in teaching, creative activity and scholarship fueled by a deep engagement with contemporary painting and drawing methods. Areas of expertise may include, but are not limited to: figuration and abstraction, traditional and experimental mark-making, digital processes and experimentation, time-based media, installation, community-based practices, illustration, design, critical AI, and expanded field practices.

Essential Functions

• Pursue a creative research agenda that results in high-quality creative research with a trajectory for national/international exhibition and/or publication record.
• Teach 5 in-person undergraduate courses over three quarters each academic year: 2 Painting courses, 2 Drawing courses, and 1 Common Curriculum or Studio Core course.
• Employ best practices through the University of Denver's current course management system (Canvas) to provide essential course information to students
• Hold regular in-person office hours
• Advise undergraduate students regarding SAAH program requirements.
• Oversee four studio classrooms and twelve personal student studios, totaling approximately 12,500 square feet, in collaboration with other faculty and with part-time support from SAAH’s Studio Technician.
• Contribute to University, College, departmental, and program service.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced scholarly expertise in the fields of painting and drawing.
• Deep knowledge of contemporary topics and critical discourse within Contemporary Art.
• Excellent undergraduate teaching skills with the ability to teach foundational and advanced painting and drawing practices, techniques, as well as courses in the Studio Core and DU Common Curriculum.
• Ability to foster professional development and career readiness for students.
• Ability to interact constructively with all populations of faculty, staff and students.
• Excellent skills in oral and written communication.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience teaching undergraduate courses in painting and drawing at multiple skill levels.
• MFA in Art or related field at the time of appointment.
• Demonstrated record of professional accomplishments appropriate for the rank of assistant professor such as exhibitions, grants, awards, and publications.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2-3 years undergraduate-level teaching experience.
• Demonstrated teaching and research excellence in painting and drawing practices, and innovative contemporary discourse and engagement.
• Developing record of professional accomplishments at the national level such as exhibitions, grants awards, and publications.

Working Environment

• Standard office environment.
• Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

• Ability to work in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

Work Schedule
While the University's administrative offices are open Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, faculty schedules vary from term to term and are based on courses taught, service commitments, and research agendas. The University's academic calendars are posted on the registrar's website (the law school is on a semester system and has a different academic calendar).

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) December 15, 2025.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $78,000-$82,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:

1. Curriculum Vitae that indicates exhibition history and courses you have taught before as an instructor. 
2. Cover Letter explaining your research agenda, interest in and qualifications for this position. (1-2 page)
3. First PDF containing the following:
   • Statement of creative research and a link to artist website. (1 page)
   • Teaching philosophy including methods to engage students. (1 page) 
   • Syllabi: 3 sample syllabi with project assignments.
4. Second PDF containing the following:
   • Portfolio of artwork: 20 images of creative works (detail images count towards the total image count). May include up to 3 video links which are included in the total image count (max length of 2 mins total between all videos). Please include title, year, medium, dimensions, and 1-2 sentence description for each artwork.
   • Teaching portfolio: 10 images of student work. Please include student name, year, medium, assignment title, course, and 1-2 sentence assignment description for each artwork.

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.