Their independence was declared after a dispute with the Memphis Art Association's director, Florence M. McIntyre, who disapproved of their acceptance of modernism.

In its opening, the college hired a total of eleven African American teachers, despite the pervasiveness of racial discrimination nationally in 1961.

Later, the position of the Memphis Academy of Art's first president was assigned to Dr. Jameson M. Jones, in 1976.

Under new leadership, a milestone was reached when computer technology was merged with art by new Academy president John S. Slorp in 1982.

Soon after, the Memphis College of Art reached its end on May 9, 2020, with its final Commencement Ceremony.