The school offered the only painting and sculpture programs and waived tuition fees for government officials and students.

Its creation owes much to the almost lifetime devotion of Professor Silpa Bhirasri, an Italian sculptor (formerly Corrado Feroci) who was commissioned during the reign of King Rama VI to work in the Fine Arts Department.

He subsequently enlarged his classes to include greater members of the interested public before setting up the School of Fine Arts.

The school gradually developed and was officially accorded a new status and named Silpakorn University on 12 October 1943.

A new campus, Sanam Chandra Palace, was established in Nakhon Pathom Province in the former residential compound of King Rama VI.

In 2003, the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) was established, as well as Silpakorn University International College (SUIC).