What degree did these famous artists do at university?

If you’re considering studying Fine Art it’s only natural to wonder where your degree might take you.

02 December 2025

'When I Sleep' © Tracey Emin | White Cube | Frieze London 2019

Many of today’s most influential artists started their creative journeys at university, where they developed their skills, experimented with ideas and built the foundations of their careers.

From Turner Prize winners to global art icons, here’s a look at what some famous artists studied at university and how their education helped shape their success.

Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol studied commercial art at the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh (now Carnegie Mellon University), graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1949.

His background in commercial illustration heavily influenced his later Pop Art work, including iconic images of Marilyn Monroe and Campbell’s soup cans.

Georgia O’Keefe

Georgia O’Keeffe, often called the Mother of American Modernism, studied at several institutions during her life.

She attended the Art Institute of Chicago, the Art Students League of New York, University of Virginia and Columbia University.

Tracey Emin

Tracey Emin is one of the UK’s most well-known contemporary artists.

She studied at Maidstone College of Art, which is now a part of UCA, where she graduated with a first class degree in Printmaking. She later went on to complete a master's degree at the Royal College of Art.

Emin credited Maidstone College of Art as a greatly influential time in her life.

Her autobiographical and confessional work, including My Bed and Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963–1995, often showcases her vulnerability and has helped propel her to the status of a household name.

 

Tracey Emin

Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst studied for a BA in Fine Art at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Hirst, along with Emin, Hirst became a central figure in the Young British Artists (YBA) movement. In the years since he has credited Goldsmiths as being a great time in his life that helped to evolve his artistic style.

Banksy

Banksy is one of the world’s most famous street artists – and also one of the most mysterious.

There is no public record of Banksy attending university. However, in 2022, he was awarded an honorary degree from UCA in recognition of his impact on the global art scene.

His career shows that there are many routes into the art world. While formal education can be hugely valuable, creativity, persistence, and originality are just as important.

Graduation 2022 - the seat reserved for Banksy

More famous people who studied Fine Art

Many creatives who work across different industries also began with Fine Art degrees:

  • Meryl Streep: the three-time Academy Award winner has a Master of Fine Arts from Yale School of Drama (1975).
  • Gerard Way: the lead vocalist and co-founder of the rock band My Chemical Romance studied at the School of Visual Arts. His time there influenced his work, later influencing his creation of superhero comic book series The Umbrella Academy.
  • Cate Blanchett: another Academy Award winner, Blanchett studied Fine Arts at National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).

These examples show how studying a Fine Art degree can lead to careers in acting, music, illustration and beyond.

More advice for Fine Art applicants 

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