Discover Creative Visual Storytelling with Ben Kirkby
Published: January 06, 2017 | Author: Lola Taylor | Read Time: 3 minutes
Southern Utah University’s Department of Art & Design kicks off spring semester’s Art Insights with Ben Kirkby on Thursday, January 12 at 7:00 pm at the Southern Utah Museum of Art. Kirkby, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at SUU, will present on his personal and professional design work since completing his graduate degree and share some of his current projects.
He received his BA in Photojournalism from Northern Arizona University and his MFA in Visual Communication from University of Arizona. He began defining his creative expression through the retelling of other people’s stories during his time as a newspaper photojournalist with the Arizona Daily Star. Kirkby said, “Every time I met someone new and shared their stories, I felt like I was becoming a slightly smarter and better human being.”
After his time as a photojournalist, He worked for various organizations as a web developer, web designer, graphic designer, or assistant professor, including the University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, University of Wisconsin-Stout, and Decker Outdoor Corporation. Kirkby began teaching graphic and interactive design at SUU in August 2016.
Kirkby describes his work as creative visual storytelling and hopes that those who view his work can learn something new. When asked about his artistic inspiration, he said, “I find inspiration for my art from other people's experiences or from the simple discovery of some new information that I find fascinating.”
The discovery process is the most fulfilling part of his work as an artist. He loves to learn new things and teach it to others, helping him gain a thorough understanding of the subject. Given his desire and drive to gain new knowledge, it is little surprise that Kirkby’s mantra is to ‘Never Stop Learning’.
Art Insights is hosted during the fall and spring semesters by SUU’s Art & Design faculty. Students and community members meet to experience presentations and discussions by visiting artists and art educators from around the nation who share their work and insights.
About the College of Performing and Visual Arts
The Southern Utah University College of Performing and Visual Arts is comprised of nationally accredited departments of Art and Design, Music, and Dance. The College also offers programs in Theatre Arts, graduate programs in Arts Administration and Music, as well as a Center for Shakespeare Studies. The College offers 16 different degree areas, including liberal arts Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees; professional Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Fine Arts in art and theatre degrees; and Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration, Master of Arts in Arts Administration, Master of Music Education and Master of Music in Music Technology graduate degrees. More than 60 full- and part-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring nearly 600 majors in the College. Over 1,100 students enroll each year in over 195 arts classes on the SUU campus. The College presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year. The College’s affiliate organizations include the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA), Utah Shakespeare Festival and SUU’s Ballroom Dance Company. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.
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