School of Visual Art and Design

News

USC media arts alumni shape Columbia’s filmmaking scene

Four USC media arts alumni are shaping Columbia's film scene—turning passion into legacy while mentoring the next generation of storytellers.

USC celebrates 2025 Governor's Award for the Arts winners

The South Carolina Arts Commission has named USC School of Visual Art and Design alumnus Wade Sellers (Media Arts, ’96) a recipient of the 2025 Governor’s Awards for the Arts—one of the state’s highest honors recognizing outstanding achievement in the arts. An acclaimed independent filmmaker based in Columbia and a 2020 SVAD Distinguished Alumnus, Sellers launched his career shortly after graduation and quickly became a sought-after lighting director and gaffer in the commercial and corporate film industries.

How a USC media arts graduate empowers youth through writing

USC media arts graduate Elizabeth Perlman empowers youth through creative writing, channeling her passion for storytelling and lessons from her alma mater into her students at the Intuitive Writing Project.

Former USC football player Garrison Gist shows us his Charlotte murals

Garrison Gist played fullback for the Gamecocks. Now the School of Visual Art and Design graduate is scoring big as a muralist and painter.

From Shakespeare to Startups: New classes incorporate AI in the Arts and Sciences

The University of South Carolina's College of Arts and Sciences is integrating AI into its curriculum across disciplines, with courses that explore AI's applications, ethics, and impact. English, philosophy, design, and psychology professors are leading classes that help students critically engage with AI--from analyzing Shakespeare to navigating ethical questions. Supported by the McCausland Innovation Fund and the Provost's AI Teaching Fellowship, these courses prepare students to use AI thoughtfully in their fields.