The Allbritton Art Institute offers a high-quality education in the visual arts at the University of St. Thomas (UST). Through the generosity of Barbara Allbritton and the late Joe Allbritton, the Institute subsidizes national and international field-study courses that pertain to subjects in nineteenth-century and modern and contemporary art history, allowing qualified students the rare opportunity to study and learn – at little cost to themselves – in front of original works at major museums and monuments in important cities in Europe and America. By bringing world-class artists and scholars to campus, the Institute significantly influences the intellectual and cultural life of the UST and wider Houston community.
The history of art is not a means unto itself; at the Allbriton Art Institute@ UST, students learn to engage with complex methods, contextual thinking, and a variety of world cultures separated by time and space. In addition to providing students with a solid foundation for advanced study in art history and related disciplines, Institute resources and faculty help to empower students to become cosmopolitan, introspective, and thoughtful members of society who are prepared to engage with issues facing the nation and the globe. Our students are prepared to enter several professional capacities where insight, discernment, and critical thought are prized skills.