Education
Hyde Park Art Center's teaching artists are committed to learning. They are practicing artists who devote part of their careers to education, and help develop new course ideas to build on existing ones. The Art Center's faculty meet quarterly and are an important part of not just the education programs, but also the overall community. If you are interested in proposing a course, please follow this link to our online proposal form .
Current Teaching Artists
Greg Bae
Greg received his MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and his BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. He has shown his work in Chicago, New York, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Rome, and Salt Lake City.
Marissa Lee Benedict
Bradley Biancardi
Brad received a MFA from the University of Washington with a focus in painting and drawing and a BFA in painting and drawing from Indiana University. Brad has been teaching for over 5 years and has exhibited his work nationally and internationally in New Delhi, Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, and throughout the Midwest. Recent 2012 exhibitions include a solo show in Hyde Park Art Center's Cleve Carney Gallery, and a two-person show at Roots & Culture in Chicago. In 2011 he was a recipient of grants from Chicago's Community Arts Assistance Program, the Illinois Arts Council, and the Joan Mitchell Foundation. Brad also recently received a full-fellowship to attend the Vermont Studio Center. In addition to the Hyde Park Art Center, Bradley teaches at Triton College and Marwen.
Lee Blalock
Jeremy Bolen
Jeremy Bolen is a photographer who received his MFA from the University of Illinois at Chicago and his BA from Columbia College Chicago. He grew up moving throughout America, living in seven different states before turning 18. A recent recipient of the Provost Award for Graduate Research, Bolen will be using the award to travel to CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, in Geneva, Switzerland, continuing his collaborations with experimental high energy particle physics. Bolen’s work was recently exhibited at Catherine Edelman Gallery, Chicago, Roots and Culture, Chicago and Gallery 400, Chicago. Bolen will be exhibiting his work at Andrew Rafacz Gallery, Chicago.
Dawn Brennan
Dawn received an MFA from the University of Chicago Midway Studios and a BFA from Kansas City Art Institute. She has teaching experience at Evanston Art Center, University of Chicago, and College of DuPage. Her most recent local exhibits include CCT Gallery, Chicago; MPAC Gallery, Joliet; and Chicago’s Open Studio Program Residency.
Elke Claus
Elke received her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and her BFA from Rutgers University. She has teaching experience at Gallery 37, Anchor Graphics, and Suburban Fine Arts Center. She has exhibited locally and internationally and is the recipient of Artist Residencies at Anchor Graphics and Columbia College Book and Paper Center, as well as a CAAP Grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs.
Caro D'Offay
Kathryn Drury
William Estrada
William received his BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and holds a Special 10 K-12 Certification from the State of Illinois. He has worked with grass-roots organizations for the past 8 years and continues to participate in various community projects in the Chicago area. Wiliam works as an artist-in-residence at Telpochcalli Elementary School through C.A.P.E. and various community schools through HPAC, Pros Arts Studios, and A.R.T.
Delores Fortuna
Delores received her BFA (1970) and MFA (1972) from University of Chicago. She is adjunct Assistant Professor of ceramics at SAIC. She has exhibited at Dubuque Museum of Art; Lillstreet Gallery; Kunsthuis Ingrith Desmet, Amsterdam; Galerie Wijland, Belgium. Symposiums on porcelain include Finland,1999; Italy 2000 and 2002.
Ann Gaziano
David Anthony Geary
David Anthony Geary is an artist working in a variety of mediums. His visual training took place in New Orleans, LA at Xavier University. After finishing his studies, he remained in this uniquely attractive city to absorb as much of its great culture and heritage as he could. Communicating his perspective of the world around him through a visual language, he became fluent in many dialects of visual art. Building a career as an artist, an educator, as well as a family in New Orleans, has greatly influenced his work both visually and conceptually. The community of Evanston and the greater Chicago-land area, which he now calls home, serves as a great source of inspiration to add to his palette. Visually his work may incorporate painting, printmaking, collage, assemblage, sculpture or photography. Whatever communicates the idea best, sometimes that's all of them.
Jeff Geesa
Jeff received his BFA from Herron School of Art, has attended SVA and New School (NYC), and is currently a MFA Candidate. He has taught painting and drawing privately as well as at the Herron School of Art as part of its Saturday School program. Jeff’s work employs humor to analyze more serious topics, as well as art and comedy. He has exhibited in Indianapolis including two one person shows, as well as Baltimore and New York City.
Laura Gilmore
Michelle Harris
Michelle Harris received her Master of Fine Arts Degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art and her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Michelle Harris is a multi-media artist whose work incorporates still moving video, sound, text, repurposed/handmade objects, and custom electronics. She has been exhibited internationally, as well as throughout the United States--most recently at Roots and Culture Contemporary Arts Center in Chicago. From 1997-2006, she published a bi-monthly series of artist books that have been sold internationally. Teaching experience includes work at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, the Cranbrook Institute of Science, and the Art Institue of Chicago.
Jeriah Hildwine
Fellowship recipient at Vermont Studio Center and Hoffberger School of Painting. Solo exhibitions include: Foyer Gallery, Sacred Grounds, Hey Juan’s. Group exhibitions include: Reese Bullen Gallery (HSU), First Street Gallery, Walters Art Museum, and MICA Fox 3 Gallery. Teaching experience includes, Maryland Institute College of Art and Humboldt State University. MFA from Hoffberger School of Painting, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA); BA in Studio Art and History from Humboldt State University (HSU).
Sara Holwerda
BFA, University of Michigan School of Art and Design. Teaching experience includes Ann Arbor Art Center. Exhibitions and performances include Duderstat Center Gallery, All About Furniture (MI), 555 Gallery (Detroit), and the Annual Ann Arbor Film Festival.
Ahmed Ibrahim
Ahmed received his BFA in Mural Arts from Helwen University in Cairo, Egypt. He worked as part of the Sabry Mansour artist team designning and installing four large mosaic murals at the Ahram Canadian University in Cairo, as well as a project in Helwen University's Festivals building. His work has been exhibited nationally and overseas.
Shannon Kerrigan
BFA, The School of The Art Institute of Chicago. Professional experience ranges from maintaining a welding shop to producing handmade paper invitations in her studio. Shannon has worked for some of Chicago’s preeminent Arts Organizations including; Artsbridge, ARC Gallery, Chicago Public Art and Redmoon Theatre. A decade of teaching experience includes: Gallery 37, A.R.T., The Chicago Park District and Lillstreet. Since joining the Hyde Park Art Center in 2000 Shannon has been an artist in residence in over a dozen schools in a variety of programs. Currently the Curriculum Developer and Lead Artist at the University of Chicago Charter High School Woodlawn Campus. Last year Shannon completed two commissions for private collectors and her metal work was included in shows at HPAC and The Chicago Art Source.
Christine LaRue
Candice Latimer
Candice Latimer received her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2011, where she was a recipient of grants and scholarships. She has exhibited work in Chicago, in her hometown Kankakee, IL, and Michigan City, IN. Most recently, she has contributed to the Brooklyn Art Library's Sketchbook Project (www.sketchbookproject.com). She has worked in the darkroom at the Hyde Park Art Center since 2004 and las lately branched out into other departments through out the center including ceramics and painting.
Deanna Mance
Deanna Mance has been a practicing artist for ten years whose work involves a process of spontaneity through drawing, collage, painting and printmaking. She has teaching experiences as an arts educator at The Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, The Hill House Association and Hyde Park Art Center. Deanna has exhibited nationally as well as internationally in London, U.K. and has received awards from exhibits in The State Museum of Pennsylvania, The Carnegie Museum of Art and is the recipient of the Pittsburgh Public Schools Purchase Award. She has recently exhibited at the Pittsburgh International Airport and the Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh.
Randall Miller
Zoe Nelson
Zoe received her MFA from Columbia University (NYC) in 2009 and her BA from Barnard College (NYC) in 2006. She was awarded the Josephine Paddock Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship to spend four months at the Pont-Aven School of Contemporary Art (France). Zoe received and Ellen Battell Stoeckel Fellowship to attend Yale's prestigious Norfolk Summer Program (2005). This past year, she was awarded a Community Arts Assistance Program grant, and she has been selected for the 2011 and 2013 Midwest editions of New American Paintings. Her work has been recenlty exhibited at Lloyd Dobler Gallery (Chicago), Roots and Culture Contemporary Art Center (Chicago), and NurtureART (Brooklyn).
Sarah Nishiura
Received her MFA from Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and has been exhibiting her work in galleries internationally for over 15 years, including SACI Gallery in Florence and Inside Arts in Chicago. Although she works in textile and fabric at HPAC, she has experience with a variety of media, including printmaking and painting.
Ahmed Ozsever
B.F.A. Herron School of Art and Design, Indianapolis IN. Working from his studio on Chicago’s west side, Ahmed utilizes a variety of media, such photography, video and constructed sets, to produce conceptual works of art that have been exhibited locally and nationally, including exhibits at Flash Gallery in Colorado, Big Car Gallery in Indianapolis and Herron’s Marsh Special Projects Gallery. In addition to art making, Ahmed designs and builds furniture with Green Sawn Furniture Design and heads up the coffee roasting program for Dark Matter Coffee Company.
Aaron Ranier
Aaron was the recipient of the Will Eisner Comic Industry Award for Talent Deserving Wider Recognition in 2005, and was nominated for the best Children's Album Eisner in both 2005 and 2011. He was also one of four illustrators honored with the Maurice Sendak fellowship in 2010.
Hardy Schlick
MFA, University of Chicago, studied with Ruth Duckworth and Hiroake Morino. Teaching experience includes adult and children’s ceramic classes at the Hyde Park Art Center for over 25 years, the South Side Arts Partnership, the Bridgeport Partnership, and the Hyde Park Art Center’s community outreach programs.
Suzanne Sebold-Suso
BFA, School of the Art Institute of Chicago. MA in Education, Northeastern Illinois University. Director of Arts Across the Atlantic. Has also taught at Gallery 37, Chicago Public Schools, and the Chicago Park District. Received Community Arts Assistance Program Award, and exhibits locally.
Carl Sweets
Carl Sweets received a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from Kent State University in 1999, a B.F.A. in Photography from Columbia College Chicago in 2005, and an M.F.A. from Pratt Institute in 2007. Previous to his career as an artist, Carl worked in the Technology sector for dot com, engineering, and fortune 500 consulting. Amalgamating his backgrounds in Technology and the Arts, Carl now instructs courses in Photography, Video, Stop-Motion, and Computer Arts at SAIC, South Suburban College, Hyde Park Art Center, and CAPE. Carl is an internationally exhibiting artist working primarily in Photography and Video.
Aurora Tabar
AURORA TABAR sat down to write a conventional bio but it ended up sounding stupid and boastful. Mostly she wants to say that she is interested in movement, healing, repetition, home, history, community, discomfort, meditation, stillness, and slowing down. She is exploring the connections between these things and sharing her findings with others. Her current project, a collaboration with Sara Zalek, is called HUG. The two hug continuously for an hour every week in downtown Chicago to promote physical affection and healing through touch. Also it’s fun.
Mary Tepper
BFA, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and studied at Nottingham Polytechnic, Nottingham, England. Seventeen years of teaching and collaborating with art organizations and institutions. Exhibited at Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, Robert C. Williams Paper Museum, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Crane Paper Museum, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Santiago, Chile. Permanent mosaic tile installations in private and public locations including multiple Chicago Public Schools, The Living Room Cafe, and in Havana, Cuba.
David Trost
BFA, Penn State University; MFA, SAIC. A studio artist who works primarily in clay, Trost teaches at Lillstreet Art Center, Evanston Art Center, Harold Washington College, and SAIC. Solo and group exhibitions include Terra Incognito, Chicago Cultural Center, Gross Park Sculpture Invitational, Lillstreet Art Center, and Harold Washington College.
Vera Videnovich
Attended the Art Institute of Chicago. Trained as knitting instructor through Craft Yarn Council. Was taught to knit by her father at age 7, became part of a long line of knitters and weavers in her family. Produces line of clothing using wool sheared from her own sheep, which she hand-spins and dyes using natural materials. Has led knitting groups throughout Chicago.
Susan Volk
Jessi T. Walsh
Jessi is an interdisciplinary performer who investigates the concept of gesture through movement, sculpture and sound/video. She creates peepshows concerning the grotesque and the cyclical nature of human behavior. She co-curates Scary Movie Party, bringing handmade horror films to Chicago since 2004. She may or may not be in a German New Wave band called MIT GAS. She works on local indie films doing production design, costume and special effects makeup. She investigates motion in her threadbare movement series. Her background in marine biology compels her to treat the classroom as a mad scientist art-making laboratory. She holds a BFA in Studio Art from FSU in 1996 and is an MA candidate in Interdisciplinary Arts at Columbia College Chicago.
Melissa Weber
Former Teaching Artists
Kate Adams
Ani Afshar
Alison Balcanoff
Alice Baum
Michelle Bolinger
Erin Burk
Ruth Busch
Tim Branson
Paola Cabal
Holly Cahill
Sergio Ceron
Elizabeth Chisholm
Linda Cohn
Carrie Cooper
Ollie Dantzler
Melanie Dorson
Shawn Dubay
Meredith Eastburn
Adam Ekberg
Megan Euker
Brad Farwell
Dan Gamble
Theaster Gates
Maria Gaspar
Aron Gent
Daniel Godston
Ada Rima Grybauskas
Katy Hollander
Roxane Hopper
Amanda Innis
Brian Johnson
Sarah Johnston
Katherine Jost
Sarah Kaiser
James Kao
Alessandra Kelley
Friedhard Kiekeben
Mie Kongo
Basia Krol
Kirstin Leenaars
Anna Lehner
Katharine Lion
Debbie Lekousis
Jessica Lowery
Frank Maugeri
Helen McElroy
Krystal Meisel
Carol F. Mason Metzger
Justine Nagan
Nicole Nava
Darrell Roberts
Kean Sea Park
Meg Peterson
Mark Phillips
Emily Pick
Karen Plater
Anna Ressman
Valerie Richards
Kelly Rider
Olivia Schreiner
Mary Serbe
Laura Shaeffer
Mark Siska
Deb Sokolow
Martin Soto
Allison Spicer
Ryan Swanson
Ann Toebbe
Anthony Trinchera
Ben Turcotte
Shoshanna Utchenik
Omar Vera
Valerie Wallace
Joel Wanek
Dale Washington
Ivan Watkins
Mark Werle
Rachel Welling
Julian Williams
Justin Witte
Rebecca Zemans
