The MFA in Fibers and Material Studies offers an in-depth exploration of critical topics such as cultural appropriation, sustainability, feminism, globalization, and the often-overlooked contributions of women and people of color in textile history. Through a combination of coursework, research, and hands-on practice, students engage with these complex issues while developing the material knowledge and critical skills to lead thoughtful conversations in creative communities.
When you choose the Fibers and Material Studies program, you’re not just pursuing a traditional education; you’re stepping into a transformative journey that will empower you to think critically, explore new possibilities, and challenge the status quo.
We emphasize material exploration through the lenses of identity, power, and environmental responsibility so that you gain the tools to make meaningful contributions to the field.
You will benefit from a variety of art history courses, diverse electives, and seminars that delve into the latest trends in fibers and the broader art worlds. Influential visiting artists and personalized programs are carefully selected for each cohort, ensuring students receive mentorship that supports their artistic growth. The Fibers and Material Studies program equips you to succeed, lead, and shape a fulfilling career path.
The Tyler School of Art and Architecture features its own admissions team, who can provide you with the information you need to make the best decision for your educational and career goals.
The Fibers and Material Studies program at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture is a two-year, 60-credit program leading to the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree that pushes students to refine their aesthetic and embrace a broad definition of material exploration in relation to relevant global issues. Under the mentorship of an influential and diverse faculty and visiting artists on the cutting-edge of creative practice and critical inquiry, students find a compassionate, inclusive environment primed for experimentation, interdisciplinary collaboration and independent study.
The MFA in Fibers and Material Studies is built on three guiding principles—transformation, exploration, and innovation—that shape our approach and guide the student experience.
When you choose the Fibers and Material Studies program, you’re not just pursuing a traditional education. You’re stepping into a transformative journey that will empower you to think critically, explore new possibilities, and challenge the status quo. This program is designed to push the boundaries of what’s possible in fibers and materials, allowing you to work with cutting-edge techniques and explore topics that have real-world significance.
The MFA in Fibers and Material Studies offers an in-depth exploration of critical topics such as cultural appropriation, sustainability, feminism, globalization, and the often-overlooked contributions of women and people of color in textile history.
Tyler’s Fibers and Material Studies studios are equipped with advanced tools and technologies that empower students to research, experiment, innovate, and expand the boundaries of traditional fiber techniques.
Tyler Fibers and Material Studies graduates stand out for their critical thinking and deep material knowledge. Equipped with advanced technical and conceptual skills, they go on to shape the future of fiber across a range of careers, including:
Tyler’s Fibers and Material Studies studios are equipped with advanced tools and technologies that empower students to experiment, innovate, and expand the boundaries of traditional fiber techniques. These state-of-the-art resources support students in bringing their visions to life and advancing their artistic practice.
Our alumni represent the Tyler Fibers and Material Studies program worldwide. We maintain a support network as they teach, design, and practice their craft globally.
Ryan Scails is a multidisciplinary artist based in Philadelphia, PA. His work examines the nuances of materiality within the built world and how intentional shifts in details can give humans context in ways that confront the limits of their bodies. By using fiber to create hyper specific structural relationships, his work highlights the potential in substantive engagements between the human body and our environment. In a manner that leans heavily on the sequential harmony of physical labor his work seeks to foreground pre-colonial technologies by riffing on fractured schematics, glyphs, and vernacular tools to sift through the imperial aggregate. His most recent exhibitions include To Prepare A Place For You at Temple Contemporary (Philadelphia, PA), Martin's End at Tiger Strikes Asteroid (Philadelphia, PA), Graphite Stew at Upper Market Gallery (San Francisco, CA). Ryan has attended residencies at MASSMoCA, Textile Arts Center - Brooklyn, and the John Michael Kohler Arts Center Arts/Industry program.
Lena Kolb was born and raised in South Philadelphia where she currently lives. The focus of her art practice is using weaving, dying and image making to reflect on the power of fantasy and memory to shape our understanding of the world and our place within it. She currently is a professor in the Fibers and Material Studies departments at Tyler School of Art and Architecture.
MFA ’24
Brendan O’Shaughnessy is a Chicago-based sculptor and researcher driven by concerns of climate change, biocapitalism, industrial extraction, and luxury consumerism. With an expansive material approach that includes gelatin, algae, satin, and steel, his sculptures question what is ‘natural’ and what is ‘artificial’ in our increasingly troubled world.
O’Shaughnessy has exhibited his work in galleries in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Maximiliansforum in Munich, Germany. He received his MFA in Fiber and Material Studies at the Tyler School of Art + Architecture in 2024. In addition, he received a BFA in Sculpture and a BS in Natural Resources / Environmental Science with a concentration in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology in 2022 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
“The Fiber & Material Studies program at Tyler completely transformed my practice — it welcomed me into the exciting and ever-expanding journey of material research. Materials have agency; they are active agents in the art-making process. This relationship to materials continues to sustain my curiosity and creativity.” - Brendan O’Shaughnessy, MFA ’24
"In choosing the Fibers and Material Studies graduate program, I stepped into a fascinating and brilliant community of highly specified, incredibly thoughtful artists, makers, and educators. I’ve never learned so much, so quickly, with so much joy. My peers in the graduate program continue to be resources and guides that I draw on as I continue my career in the arts."
“My time in the Fibers and Material Studies MFA program at Tyler was shaped by a deeply supportive community of faculty and peers. I appreciated that the program fostered interdisciplinary research and collaboration, while also providing dedicated time for discussion and collaboration with the Fibers cohort. Having the time and freedom to independently explore materials, techniques, and research while receiving guidance and encouragement from faculty was invaluable to my growth as an artist.”
“The Fibers and Material studies program offered an environment that encouraged personal and artistic growth. I found myself challenged and consistently pushed throughout my time as a student. I received constant mentoring and grace; we laughed, we cried and celebrated. I left the program with an understanding of how to better enter the professional and academic spaces I longed for, while also developing a confidence around my studio practice. The Fibers program has truly created a monster with how much they have taught me.”
“The Fibers and Material Studies program at Tyler encouraged me to deeply learn materials and their unique potentials through experimental research. This research has guided and strengthened my practice in ways I could have never predicted. Upon completing the Masters program, I feel confident that I can sustain curiosity in a lifelong studio practice.”
“Over the past two years in the Fiber and Material Studies program at Tyler, I’ve had an incredibly enriching experience. As an international student, I found a deeply supportive and understanding community, both among the faculty and my peers. This reflects the department’s strong commitment to fostering a united and inclusive environment. In terms of my artistic practice, this program has completely transformed how I view and approach art. The department’s emphasis on experimentation encouraged me to explore diverse methods of thinking and making, which has significantly expanded my creative skills and confidence. I’ve learned to take more risks in my work and trust the process, even when outcomes are uncertain. This growth would not have been possible without the encouragement and critical dialogue provided by this unique academic environment.”
Our students enter the world as innovators and cultural producers. They possess problem-solving skills, tenacity, and the drive to thrive in nearly any industry with creative capital that distinguishes them from most competitors. Additionally, they have a network of practitioners, including alumni, professors, and peers, from whom they can draw resources throughout their careers.
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Our dynamic, multidisciplinary faculty bring expansive approaches to material, identity, and place, and foster an environment that encourages critical thinking, play, and personal exploration—supporting students as they develop their voices and visions.
