School of Art Welcomes New Faculty
The School of Art at UT, Knoxville is excited to introduce two new instructional faculty members.
Assistant Professor Amanda Evans joins the School of Art’s Ceramics Program. Evans is a socially engaged ceramic artist whose work manifests as participatory sculptures, performance, print and digital media, and long-term collaborative systems. She received her MFA in Art and Social Practice from Portland State University and her Post-Bacc in Ceramics from Cal State Long Beach. She has presented projects and publications at institutions including MOCA Los Angeles, Everson Museum of Art, Portland Art Museum, Museum of Fine Arts at Florida State University, Red Lodge Clay Center, and Nationale. Evans and her collaborators have been the recipients of grants and awards including the Precipice Fund, ArtsWa, UC Humanities, the ArtPlace Creative Placemaking Grant, and multiple NEA grants.
“I am honored to join the brilliant team of faculty, staff, and students in the School of Art,” wrote Evans. “As an artist and researcher, I was drawn to the excellent work being done by both the faculty and students here. As an educator, I am thrilled to be teaching at a public land grant institution, which aligns with my values of providing a high-quality, accessible educational experience to students from our region and beyond. Additionally, I am excited to contribute to Tennessee’s thriving arts ecosystem, which has a strong community engaged ethos. The School of Art at UT is an incredible place, and I couldn’t be prouder to join the faculty this year.”
Associate Professor J. Leigh Garcia is an artist born and raised in Dallas, TX who joins the SOA’s Printmaking Program. Garcia received her MFA and MA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and BFA from the University of North Texas. She has received numerous awards for her work including the Emerging Printmaker Award from Southern Graphics Council International (SGCI), New Faculty Outstanding Research and Scholarship Award from Kent State University, Gamblin Emerging Artist Award, and Arts Institute Sinaiko Frank Graduate Fellowship for a Woman in the Arts. Her work is included in over 15 permanent collections including the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH; Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Madison, WI; National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL; Mexic-Arte Museum, Austin, TX; Zuckerman Museum of Art, Kennesaw, GA; and Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita State University.
“Over the years, I’ve met many wonderful UTK students, faculty and alumni at conferences and other art spaces like Arrowmont. I’ve even had previous undergraduate students go on to graduate school at UTK, so I’m thrilled to be joining this vibrant community myself,” wrote Garcia. “I’m really looking forward to getting to know everyone, and joining in on traditions like the annual UTK Print Party and Christmas Card.”
To learn more about Professors Evans and Garcia and images of their work, visit their faculty profiles