Visual Arts

Goals

The goals of the Visual Arts Department are to engage the imagination, foster academic and creative learning, develop disciplined effort, and build self-confidence through the use of varying mediums, resources, and hands-on techniques. 

Instructors

Visual Arts are a vital part of the Bloomfield Hills High School experience, with nearly half of the school’s population currently enrolled in an art course. For more than 35 years Visual Arts Department instructors have actively subscribed to the artist/teacher concept of arts instruction and practicum. All BHHS art teachers are highly qualified and many are still practicing artisans. Our instructors tailor their classes so they equally satisfy the needs of all students, whether they are taking art for personal exploration or preparing for a career in art. Click here to view the instructor profiles.

Curriculum

Our art curriculum has diverse course offerings that provide in-depth, media-specific experiences in well-equipped studio classrooms. The art curriculum at BHHS is unique because most of its courses are non-sequential and do not require prerequisites. This means that students can take any art course they want, in any order they want. In addition, most courses are open to students of all grades, and students can repeat the same course for additional credit.

Students maintain a sketchbook/notebook and develop and refine a portfolio of their visual artwork. Following successful completion of any Visual Arts course, students may re-enroll for additional credit. Greater depth or acceleration will be required at the discretion of the instructor.

We believe that all students deserve to have a high-quality art experience. We offer a wide variety of 2D and 3D courses, as well as higher-level courses such as Advanced Placement Studio Art and International Baccalaureate Art for the Diploma Programme.

In the Visual Arts Department, students have many opportunities to compete in art competitions and exhibit their artwork in campus, local and national venues. Bloomfield Hills High School students earn many awards in contests such as the:

• BBAC Student Art Awards
• Jewelers of Birmingham High School Competition
• NAIAS High School Poster Competition
• Photographers Forum 
• Robert CJ Traub Scholarship Competition
• Scholastic Art Awards

Scholastic Art Awards

Bloomfield Hills High School consistently dominates the Southeastern Michigan Scholastic Art Awards, placing in the top 5 schools for most awards in this highly competitive region. Each year, we have many national Scholastic winners whose art is exhibited in New York City and who are honored at Carnegie Hall. 

Visual Arts are a vital part of the Bloomfield Hills High School experience, with nearly half of the school’s population currently enrolled in an art course. Visiting artists and representatives from art colleges and university art departments across the United States present and facilitate lessons throughout the school year. They will also meet with Bloomfield Hills High School students and others interested in undergraduate instruction in the visual and/or performing arts.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our young people to make direct contact with key personnel who make important decisions on admissions and scholarships.  

Bloomfield Hills Schools students have been accepted the following art colleges and universities:

• College for Creative Studies
• Columbia College of Art & Design
• Savannah College of Art & Design
• University of Michigan - Stamps School of Art & Design
• Wayne State University

The Robert C.J. Traub Memorial Scholarship Travel Fund began in 1956. The purpose of the Scholarship is to contribute to the general cultural enrichment of the recipients and not primarily to advancement of their technical education in art or music. The Traub judging panel is comprised of BHS teachers, administrators, and Ms. Lucy Bates. Ms. Bates, granddaughter of C.J. Traub and his wife, Elizabeth, established the scholarship 59 years ago to benefit Bloomfield Hills students. Ms. Bates travels from her home in California to Bloomfield each year to be involved in the art and music adjudication and awarding of the scholarships.

The initial fund was created by a gift with the Fund to continue in perpetuity. Each year, all the income realized from the trust fund is distributed equally among the winners. In 1957, the first year of Traub competition, the fund provided two scholarships of $700. Since 1999, four scholarships have been awarded, two at Lahser and two at Andover. This year, Bloomfield Hills High School awarded one scholarship to each of the winning candidates, one in art and one in music.

Learn more about the Robert C.J. Traub Memorial Scholarship Travel Fund.