SUU's Matthew Pedersen Earns 2025 Design Arts Fellowship
Published: June 12, 2025 | Author: Kol Gibson | Read Time: 3 minutes
Matthew Pedersen, an Assistant Professor of Theatre in Costume Design and Technology, has been awarded a prestigious 2025 Design Arts Fellowship from the Utah Division of Arts & Museums (UDAM). The fellowship includes a $5,000 unrestricted award and recognizes artists in Utah whose creative work demonstrates exceptional skill, innovation, and promise.
Chosen by a panel of nationally recognized arts professionals from outside the state, the fellows are selected through a rigorous two-tier review process based on application narratives and work samples from the past five years. Pedersen’s submission included images of costume designs and wearable art from productions like SUU’s Cabaret (2023) and Julius Caesar (2024), alongside pieces that reflect a deeply personal and evolving artistic vision.
“I’m incredibly honored to receive the 2025 Utah Artist Fellowship,” Pedersen said. “This recognition affirms my dedication to the craft and arrives at a pivotal moment in my journey as an artist and designer.”
Pedersen’s career includes collaborations with The Metropolitan Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Steppenwolf Theatre, ESPN, Netflix, and Broadway productions, as well as his work as an educator. Despite his accomplishments, this was the first time he had applied for an award based solely on his merit as a wearable artist. “I’ve always been anxious about putting my work up to that level of scrutiny,” he admitted, “but I’ve grown more confident as an artist.”
Initially applying under the Theatre category, Pedersen was encouraged by Utah Arts & Museums to resubmit under Design Arts on the day of the deadline while attending a conference. He hurried back to his hotel room to revise his materials and submit just in time.
The call announcing his win came from UDAM’s Jason Bowcutt. Pedersen was at work when he received it and rushed into the office of his colleague, Britannia Howe, to celebrate. “It was a thrilling moment,” he said. “This support allows me to take creative risks that working artists rarely get the freedom to explore. I am grateful to the Utah Division of Arts & Museums for this opportunity, which will undoubtedly propel my career forward and inspire continued growth in my practice.”
Pedersen also spoke of the deeply personal nature of his work. “My identity as a queer artist is stitched into everything I do. I will never stop telling stories of all the people who fought for me to be able to win support like this and be unafraid. Queer folks dominate the world of design, and we have for centuries. We’re not going anywhere!”
When asked what advice he has for young artists, he said that there is no one key to success. “It’s never just one thing. There are a million things that can go wrong, but there is always a way to make it happen. This is true in life and design. You come up with a dream and you solve problems and challenges until you realize that dream. You have to love the process–the stitches, the rips, the heartbreaks, and the triumphs.”
Through his artistry, advocacy, and mentorship, Pedersen continues to stitch connection, courage, and community into the heart of costume design.
About the College of Performing and Visual Arts
The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 41 academic programs including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, filmmaking, music, and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 900 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year which are complemented by the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) and Shakespeare Studies at SUU, and is affiliated with the Tony award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF). Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) making SUU the first public university in the state of Utah to be accredited by all four associations. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.Tags: Theatre Faculty College of Performing and Visual Arts Theatre Dance and Arts Administration
Contact Information:
Kol Gibson
435-865-8667
kolgibson@suu.edu