This study explores the role of library research in the studio art curriculum, contributing to the scholarly discourse on the information needs of art students. Raising the concern that previous studies simplify the creative process and conflate a wide range of information needs under the umbrella term "inspiration," this study examines the role of research in student work through a content analysis of recent studio art thesis statements at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The content analysis demonstrates that studio art students are engaged in a high level of inquiry in their creative projects and that they draw from a wide range of information sources to support this inquiry, including scholarly print material. It also shows areas in which this population could benefit from library instruction
