| "The Art Teacher" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Rufus Wainwright | |
| from the EP Waiting for a Want | |
| Released | June 29, 2004 |
| Length | 4:00 (Waiting for a Want)[1] 3:51 (Want Two)[2] |
| Songwriter(s) | Rufus Wainwright |
| Producer(s) | Marius de Vries (Want Two) |
"The Art Teacher" is a song written and performed by American-Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. It originally appeared on his extended play (EP), Waiting for a Want, released by DreamWorks Records in June 2004 as a preview of his fourth studio album, Want Two, which was released by Geffen Records in November 2004. The lyrics in the piano ballad describe a middle-aged woman's recollection of an unrequited love for her teacher. The song explores gender and sexuality, and its music has been compared to work by Philip Glass.
"The Art Teacher" has received a generally positive reception, and appears on other releases in Wainwright's discography, including Live at the Fillmore, a concert film accompanying Want Two. The song also appears on Vibrate: The Best of Rufus Wainwright, a greatest hits album, and the live album Rufus Wainwright: Live from the Artists Den, both of which were released in 2014.