Art & Art History

Teaching Assistant Professor in Illustration and/or Computer Animation School of Art & Design, Studio Art Program University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign   The School of Art & Design at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign invites applications for a full-time, non-tenure-track Teaching Assistant Professor position in Illustration and/or Computer Animation within the Studio Art Program. We seek two dynamic artist-educators whose practices engage traditional and digital media in the service of storytelling, expression, and creative communication. This unified search reflects our program’s commitment to cultivating interdisciplinary learning while also maintaining disciplinary clarity. Candidates may apply for either the Illustration or the Computer Animation position, or both, depending on their area(s) of expertise. This search supports growing curricular demand and student interest in both illustration and animation at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The successful candidate(s) will contribute to our vibrant studio community and help shape future curricula that advance critical, inclusive, and cross-disciplinary creative practices. About the School of Art & Design Located within the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the School of Art & Design is home to a diverse and vibrant community of artists, designers, and scholars. We support interdisciplinary and socially engaged creative practices and offer a range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Our Studio Art program emphasizes both technical excellence and conceptual rigor, encouraging students to explore the intersections of art, technology, and culture. For more about our programs and values, visit art.illinois.edu. Application Guidance To ensure clarity in review and evaluation, applicants must indicate in their cover letter whether they are applying for:

• The Illustration position, • The Computer Animation position, or • Both positions.

Applicants should tailor materials accordingly, highlighting their qualifications for the relevant role(s). Position 1: Teaching Assistant Professor in Illustration We seek an accomplished illustrator whose dynamic, versatile practice engages both traditional and digital media. The ideal candidate will demonstrate expertise in several of the following areas:

• Foundational drawing (gesture, perspective, and anatomy) • Collage and mixed media • Digital painting and coloring (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate) • Serialized storytelling and storyboarding • Visual development for games/media • Traditional media, including ink, watercolor, and gouache • Freelance or commission-based illustration practices

The successful candidate will develop curricula for both the Master's program in Game Studies and Design and the undergraduate minor (offered in person and online) through collaborative efforts between the School of Information Sciences and the School of Art & Design. They will also work across disciplines, particularly with colleagues in the College of Fine & Applied Arts and Information Sciences, on initiatives related to visual storytelling and game development.   Position 2: Teaching Assistant Professor in Computer Animation We seek a digital or computational artist with a robust practice in animation, game development, and narrative media. Ideal candidates will demonstrate expertise in at least two of the following areas, with openness to a broad, interdisciplinary approach:

• 2D and 3D animation workflows • Digital painting and texturing • 3D modeling, rendering, and rigging • Storyboarding and narrative design • Game engine integration (Unity, Unreal) • Freelance or commission-based media production

The successful candidate will develop curricula for both the Master's program in Game Studies and Design and the undergraduate minor (offered in person and online) through collaborative efforts between the School of Information Sciences and the School of Art & Design. This includes shaping an inclusive, forward-looking animation curriculum that integrates technical fluency, cultural critique, and media experimentation. They will also collaborate across disciplines, particularly with colleagues in the College of Fine & Applied Arts and the School of Information Sciences, on initiatives related to visual storytelling and game development. Courses May Include The following are representative courses taught within the Illustration and New Media concentrations. Exact course assignments will be based on expertise and program needs:

• Beginning Illustration
• Composition and Storytelling
• Digital Coloring
• Advanced Illustration
• Observational Drawing
• Visualization Drawing
• Expressive Drawing
• Life Drawing
• Beginning & Intermediate Painting
• Image Practice
• Time Arts I
• The Art of 3D Imaging
• Interaction I
• Graduate Studio (Online, MS in Game Development)

  Minimum Qualifications (Both Positions)

• Terminal or advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., studio art, illustration, animation, game development, computational media) • Professional experience in relevant creative industry sectors • Demonstrated experience teaching or mentoring in both academic and/or professional settings • Technical fluency with industry-standard software and digital workflows • Engagement with contemporary critical discourse in media, culture, and storytelling

We welcome applicants whose research and creative practices expand or challenge dominant narratives in the fields of illustration and animation. This may include, but is not limited to, work that engages with underrepresented histories, global perspectives, emergent media, or innovative modes of storytelling and image-making. We are particularly interested in candidates whose teaching and practice demonstrate sensitivity to a wide range of cultural frameworks, lived experiences, and ways of knowing. Appointment Information This is a 100% full-time Teaching Assistant Professor position, appointed on a nine-month basis. The expected start date is August 2026. The budgeted salary range for the position is $62,500–$70,000. Final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints. Application Procedures & Deadline Information Applications must be received by 11:59 pm (Central Time) on December 1, 2025. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. Required materials:

• Cover letter (indicating Illustration, Computer Animation, or both) • Curriculum vitae • Teaching statement • Portfolio of creative work (PDF or link to online portfolio) • Samples of student work (if available) • Names and contact information for three references

For further information about this specific position, please contact Bobbie Clegg at bjclegg@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137. The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio, depending on the position. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits. The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify. Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.

Assistant/Associate Professor in User Experience and User Interface Design (Tenure-Track)

School of Art & Design

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign   The School of Art & Design, housed within the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, invites applications for two full-time tenure-track faculty positions in User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) Design at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, with an anticipated start date of August 16, 2026. These positions will play a central role in the development and instruction of the BS in Computer Science + Design degree, a collaborative program that bridges design and technology. Faculty will contribute to three programs including Graphic Design, Industrial Design and Studio Art to foster interdisciplinary teaching and research. We seek a candidate with a terminal degree (MFA, PhD, or equivalent) in a field engaging art, design, and computation. The ideal candidate will be both a practicing artist/critical designer—with a strong record of public engagement through exhibitions, installations, and/or performances—and a researcher whose writing and publishing investigate the social, cultural, and aesthetic dimensions of computation. Candidates should demonstrate expertise in computational media and contribute through creative interventions in areas such as but not limited to: • Artificial Intelligence as medium and cultural system • Platform culture, computational logics, and interface aesthetics • Digital rights, privacy, and ethics of computation • Race, gender, and technology • Algorithmic bias, equity, and social justice • Design for Accessibility • Bio-art, Art–science, Data Visualization, and emerging crossover disciplines, including Behavioral Sciences • Code as art We are looking for an artist-designer-researcher whose creative practice and critical inquiry together advance new ways of engaging with computation, interface, and interaction in their wider cultural, social, and political dimensions. Context: The School of Art & Design The School of Art and Design supports interdisciplinary and socially engaged creative practices and offers a range of programs, including undergraduate and/or graduate degrees and concentrations in Art Education, Art History, Fashion, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Design for Responsible Innovation, New Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Studio Art. Our School emphasizes both technical excellence and conceptual rigor, encouraging students to challenge themselves and use their creative skills in building a better, more just and sustainable world. In all areas, student and faculty work is supported by state-of-the-art labs for traditional and contemporary media, including spaces for digital imaging and printing, audio-visual production, rapid two- and three-dimensional prototyping, and darkroom photography. Facilities for bookbinding, letterpress, printmaking, and fashion design are also available. Teaching Responsibilities: The teaching load includes two courses per semester. The successful candidate will teach courses that position computation as an artistic and critical design medium, ranging from introductory coding for creative practice to advanced, research-driven practice and method-based seminars. Areas of teaching could include (but are not limited to): computational art, critical interface design, interactive art, data art, information art, net art, and related emerging practices. The candidate will contribute to both undergraduate and graduate curricula, mentor students across disciplines, and help shape the evolving identity of computational art and critical design within the School of Art and Design. Minimum Qualifications • Terminal degree (MFA, PhD, or equivalent) in a relevant discipline. • Evidence of an active creative practice with a strong record of public engagement through exhibition, installation, and/or performance. • Evidence of critical research through writing, publishing, or equivalent scholarly contributions that engage computational media, design, and the arts. • Demonstrated potential for excellence in teaching, mentoring, and curriculum development at both undergraduate and graduate levels. • Commitment to fostering an inclusive academic environment and contributing to the diversity of the School and University. Preferred Qualifications: • PhD in relevant discipline. • Familiarity with and a critical perspective on historical approaches to experience design. • Practice, teaching, and/or research that connect to one or more of the following areas of design: Gender and Design, Equity and Design, Indigenous Design  Knowledges, and Design Futures. • Familiarity with liberatory pedagogical approaches. • A critical perspective on social biases embedded in technological systems. • Experience teaching in a program that integrates Design, Technology, and Science. Application Materials: • A cover letter addressing qualifications and research/creative practice. • Curriculum vitae. • Portfolio of scholarly and creative work. • Research Statement. • A teaching portfolio, including a teaching statement, one or two sample syllabi, and (if possible) student work. • Names and contact information for three references.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Assistant/Associate Professor position, appointed on a nine-month basis. The expected start date is August 2026. The budgeted salary range for the position is $75,000 to $80,000 at the Assistant Professor level and $88,000 to $95,000 at the Associate Professor level, for a nine-month service basis. Final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessment of available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on December 8, 2025. Interviews may begin prior to the initial closing date; however, the review of applications will continue until suitable candidates are identified. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact Bobbie Clegg at bjclegg@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.  

The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio, depending on the position. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits.

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The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.

Mew Lingjun Jiang (BFA 2018 Art History + Studio Art). Currently, a fifth-year doctoral candidate in the History of Japanese Art, writing about karuta Japanese playing cards and working with Profs. Akiko Walley and Glynne Walley at the University of Oregon. An NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) TV program Jiang participated in during her Japan Foundation Fellowship in Japan has been made available in English and online.  

The School of Art and Design Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition will show the work of nearly 100 students in all disciplines of the school — art education, art history, graphic design, industrial design and studio art, which includes fashion, new media, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. The exhibition opens May 10, with a reception at 4 p.m., and runs through May 17. To read more about our artists read the article in the Illinois News Bureau: Seniors in art and design to show their work at Krannert Art Museum.  

Sharayah L. Cochran (Art History) is a 2024–2025 Humanities Research Institute (HRI) Graduate Fellow. She was featured on the HRI blog in an interview where she discusses her research project which examines the injurious potential of documentary photographs.

Robyn Farrell is Senior Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs at The Kitchen in New York where she oversees the exhibition, performance, and publication program. Recent exhibitions include The Kitchen in Focus featuring Sheryl Sutton at 47 Canal (2024), Desire Inc. (2024) with Lynn Hershman Leeson and Patricia Domínguez's Tres Lunas Mas Abajo (Three Moons Below) (2024) as part of The Kitchen's Video Viewing (VVR) Program. From 2013-2023 she worked at the Art Institute of Chicago, most recently as Associate Curator in the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art. Farrell served on the curatorial teams for over fifty exhibitions including Kara Walker: Rise Up Ye Mighty Race! (2013), Kemang Wa Lehulere: In All My Wildest Dreams (2016), and Andy Warhol—From A to B and Back Again (2019). She curated and co-curated numerous exhibitions during her tenure in Chicago, notably the 2021 exhibition with Barbara Kruger, THINKING OF YOU. I MEAN ME. I MEAN YOU, the Chicago presentation of Gregg Bordowitz: I Wanna Be Well (2019), Christine Sun Kim: Cues on Point (2023), and Maren Hassinger: This Is How We Grow (2023). Farrell has contributed to publications and artist monographs, spoken widely on contemporary and time-based media, and is an internationally recognized scholar on the work of German filmmaker and video art pioneer Gerry Schum, including his landmark art on television broadcasts such as Land Art (1969). Farrell holds a BFA in Art History from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and an MA in Art History from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she has served as a visiting lecturer and moderator for the Gene Siskel Film Center. 

Sharayah Cochran, Art History was recently named as a Humanities Research Institute Graduate Fellow. Grace Eunhyn Bae, Art Education and Samantha Jenae Jones, Design for Responsible Innovation, were named as Graduate Fellows of the Interseminars Initiative, 2024-2025 CONGRATULATIONS!  

Art History graduate student, Sharayah L. Cochran, has been named a 2024-25 Humanities Research Institute (HRI) Campus Fellow! Read the full announcement in HRI's news release. Congrats Sharayah!

Skeena Reece is a Tsimshian/Gitksan and Cree artist based on the West Coast of British Columbia.  She has garnered national and international attention, most notably for Raven: On the Colonial Fleet (2010), a bold installation and performance that was presented as part of the celebrated group exhibition Beat Nation and debuted at the Sydney Biennale.  Her multidisciplinary practice includes performance art, spoken word, humor, “sacred clowning,” writing, music, video/film, photography, and visual art.  She studied Media Art at Emily Carr University.  She was the recipient of the Reveal - Hnatyshyn Award (2017), British Columbia Award for Excellence in the Arts (2012) and The VIVA Award (2014). For Savage (2010), Reece won a Leo Award for Best Performance in a Short Film.  She performed at the 17th Sydney Biennale, Australia. Recent exhibitions include Interior Infinite at the Polygon Gallery (2021) and the Women and Masks Research Conference for Boston University, Massachusetts.  Currently, she is working on a pottery collection for York University. EVENTS (all open to the public) Art & Design Visitors Series talk Reece will share a curated review of her favorite works.  A reception will follow. Room 210 Levis Faculty Center, 919 W Illinois St, Urbana, IL Thursday, February 1 | 7:00-9:00 p.m. THESE ARE ALL MINE! Anticolonial sticker-making workshop in collaboration with the Native American House. Art and Design, Room 9 Monday, February 5 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. "Access Granted" Is it a performance?  An installation?  A presentation?  Come find out…  A reception will follow. Spurlock Museum, 600 S Gregory St, Urbana, IL Thursday, February 8 | 5:30-8:00

Art History professor Hermann von Hesse has been awarded a 2023 National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship and was featured in a U of I News Bureau article.

1992 History of Art alumna, Nora Gainer, is our 2024 School of Art & Design Convocation Speaker. The ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 12, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Foellinger Auditorium. Nora Gainer Doherty is the second oldest of the five Gainer sisters - all graduates of University of Illinois.  Currently the head of civic relations and partnerships at the Art Institute of Chicago, she credits the University of Illinois for her formative foundation that launched her career, albeit winding, in arts and culture. During her junior year she spent a semester in Siena, Italy and began her lifelong obsession with travel in general, and Italy in particular, where she lived for two years after graduation.  Following an early career in the hotel industry that sent her traveling all over the world, she found her way back to her home city and through the doors of the Art Institute where she currently cultivates creative partnerships across Chicago and Illinois, reinforcing the museum’s role as an integral part of daily life for all Chicagoans. “My mother always sought out beauty, in small ways and big ways—whether it was fresh flowers on a table or taking us to museums around Chicago.  She believes everybody should have access to it, and this shaped my values. She’s also a firm believer that our only real obligation on earth is to ease the way of others. Beauty and service have always been my core road maps for life.” shares Nora.  Nora and her husband Ferdia Doherty co-own Farm Bar Lakeview and Farm Bar Ravenswood in Chicago and are the proud parents of Bébhinn (15), Aonghus (13) and Maude (10). Graduates, please visit the Convocation page for more information.

Professor Oscar Vázquez received a 2023-2024 Fulbright Global Scholar Award. The Fulbright Global Scholar Award allows U.S. academics and professionals to engage in multi-country, trans-regional projects. As a truly worldwide award, U.S. scholars will be able to propose research or combined teaching/research activity in two to three countries with flexible schedule options; trips can be conducted within one academic year or spread over two consecutive years.

Art History alumna María del Mar González-González was recently featured in an article at Southwest Contemporary. Read the article here.

 

The Livestream link to the 2022 School of Art & Design Convocation:  https://ensemble.illinois.edu/Watch/ArtDesignConvocation2022