Art
​Department

Creativity is the catalyst for innovation

​We are eager to help students develop one of the most marketable of all skills - CREATIVITY.  Our nationally-recognized visual arts program is not just for artists. It is for students who choose to pursue and develop fluency, originality, innovation and elaboration.
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Through a sequential course curriculum over 4 years, Pius XI provides students a unique opportunity to develop their best creative selves.  The lateral thinking skills developed through our program can be applied to any subject area. Companies, colleges and universities are looking for creative problem solvers and students whose work reflects depth, focus and mastery.  An art portfolio enhances any college application!
No experience is required.  We teach skills and cultivate talent.
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Visual Arts Program Highlights:
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• Students consistently win state and national awards and honors for excellence in a variety of mediums
• Recognized by the White House six times since 1995:  Five National Presidential Scholars in the Arts chosen by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars
• 24 National Young Arts Finalists in the past 5 years
• 10 National Scholastic Art and Writing Gold Portfolio Awards and hundreds of regional gold and silver individual awards in our history

Faculty

Department Chair:  Cathy Burnett​

Danielle Gagliano
Michael Lagerman
Meghan McKale
​Alex Renier
Will Swenson


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Notable Alumni: 

Xavier Lightfoot ’18    

• Presidential Scholar 2018; Full Scholarship offers to Tufts, Maryland Institute College of Art, Kansas City Art Institute.  Attending MICA

Bryn Summers ’13        

• Scholarship to Cleveland Institute of Art.  Animator at NASA

Rose Curley ’08    

• Scholarship to Rhode Island School of Design; MFA completed at School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  Mary Nohl Fellow.

Richard Galling ’03    

• Full scholarship to Art Center BFA; Yale University MFA.  Painting Faculty at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design

David Sieren ’98    

• Scholarship to Rhode Island School of Design.  Director/Founder One Design Company-Brand Strategy and Interactive Design.  Chicago President of AIGA.

Steve Green ’97    

• Scholarship to MIAD.  Global Product Art Director for NIKE

Patrick Redmond '68 
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• Scholarship to Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD); MA University of Minnesota. Former Creative Art Director Norwest (Wells Fargo). Founder/Owner, PatrickRedmondDesign.com. Past President of AIGA Minnesota (MGDA). Included in National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Centennial Timeline.