Reynolds College Blog

Emeritus art professor Keith Ekstam’s “Makeshift Ruminations” exhibit now on view

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The Department of Art and Design launches its 2026 exhibition schedule with “Makeshift Ruminations: Work from Forty Years in Ceramic Art by Keith Ekstam” at the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center.

“Makeshift Ruminations” runs from Jan. 20-Feb. 20, with a First Friday Art Walk viewing scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Feb. 6.

The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Work highlights specialization in clay

Close up of ceramic artwork on display
Some of Keith Ekstam’s artwork on display at the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center.

Keith Ekstam, who specializes in clay and ceramics, is an emeritus professor in the art and design department. He stated that he remains committed to clay as his “primary art making material” for several reasons.

“It is simultaneously one of the most fragile art media, yet also one of the most permanent and enduring,” he explained. “The simple, direct act of working with clay in one’s hands is the polar opposite of the complex, transformative nature of the kiln firing.”

For Ekstam, clay’s contradictory characteristics led him to choose it as his preferred medium.

“You get your money’s worth when working in clay,” he said.

Exhibit features work of former students

In addition to his own work, Ekstam invited several former Missouri State students to contribute their creative efforts. These alums studied ceramics with Ekstam as well as Associate Professor Kevin Hughes and Jim Hill.

“I had the privilege of teaching and working with many talented students throughout my 37 years at Missouri State,” he said. “My creative research experiences, knowledge and processes were constantly being presented to the students at all levels within the curriculum.”

The alumni artists are Steve Hilton, Keaton Wynn, Dryden Wells, Bekka Bliss, Nate Falter, Jen Falter, Tybre Newcomer, Patsy Cox, Zach Tate, Kendle Durden, Bari Precious, Teddy Osei, Craig Hartenberger and Cortney Yellowhorse-Metzger.

“These are some of the many individuals who have maintained serious careers in the ceramic arts in one form or another,” Ekstam noted. “I hope the viewers will enjoy the strength and diversity of the work made and chosen for exhibition by these alumni artists.”

For more information about Ekstam’s exhibit or about the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center, contact Jodi McCoy, director of exhibitions.

 

Photos courtesy of the Department of Art and Design.

Art and Design’s Chris Rodgers named to Teaching Artist Cohort

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Artist-in-Residence Chris Rodgers, ceramics instructor in the Department of Art and Design, has been named to the Center for Craft’s Teaching Artist Cohort.

The cohort is a six-month program that offers professional and financial support to artists who are both educators and practitioners. The honor includes a grant that provides unrestricted funding of $10,000.

Rodgers was one of only 30 artists selected for the cohort.

As a member of the cohort, Rodgers also participates in mentorship and peer-to-peer learning activities. These activities help sustain studio practices while strengthening community engagement.

Rodgers’ recognition by the Center for Craft highlights the department’s faculty who merge creative research with hands-on teaching, said Interim Department Head Dr. Mitzi Kirkland-Ives. His participation in the Teaching Artist Cohort grant program, she added, reflects the ongoing dialogue between making and mentoring that defines the department’s studio culture.

Various ceramic artwork items displayed on floor
One of the preliminary stages of Rodgers’ “Illuminated by the Moon” installation in Longquan, China. Rodgers created these 26 ceramic sculptures while in residency at Longquan Wangou.

Grant impact felt immediately

According to Rodgers, the grant’s impact began with space itself. “The first thing I did after receiving the grant was to design and build proper studio furniture,” he explained. “I now have three large tables and a shelving unit that are exactly what I need. This change has completely transformed how I work.”

The redesigned studio has made it possible for Rodgers to focus on a new series of ceramic paintings, a body of work that blurs the boundaries between sculpture and painting. He plans to continue expanding this process by using colored clay and hand-made grog. This process reveals color from within the material rather than applying it to the surface.

“The result is a tactile exchange between form and color that invites viewers to see ceramics and painting in a new way,” he said.

Busy upcoming exhibition schedule

Rodgers will present his evolving ceramic paintings in a solo exhibition in Fayetteville, Arkansas in the spring of 2026. Two larger solo shows will follow in 2027 at the Lux Center for the Arts in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Missouri State’s Brick City Gallery. “These projects would not be possible without the generosity of the Center for Craft’s Teaching Artist Cohort ,” he said. “The experience has helped me build not only better tables but a stronger foundation for my future as an artist and educator.” [Read more…] about Art and Design’s Chris Rodgers named to Teaching Artist Cohort

RCASH sets new participation record in Education Abroad programs

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The Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH) continues its impressive participation in Missouri State University’s Education Abroad program.

For the 2024-25 academic year, RCASH led in both the number of participants and percentage of graduates who engage in study abroad.

According to a report issued by Education Abroad Director Elizabeth Strong, 188 RCASH students participated in education abroad programs during the 2024-25 academic year. That number is up from 177 during the previous year.

“This growth is reflected in the percentage of RCASH education abroad participants compared to RCASH graduates in the same academic year, which is 28.5%,” Strong said.

A total of 434 Missouri State students participated in education abroad programs during 2024-25.

In addition, of the 316 faculty-directed activities, 140 were led by RCASH faculty.

Panzer and Geibler named 2026 Education Abroad Faculty Fellows

Two RCASH faculty members have been named to the 2026 Education Abroad Faculty Fellow cohort. They are Associate Professor Dr. Sarah Panzer, from the Department of History, and Assistant Professor Dr. Robert Geibler, from the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Other Missouri State faculty named to the cohort are Alison Alaimo (McQueary College of Health and Human Services), Mandy Benedict-Chambers (College of Education), Leslie Echols (McQueary College of Health and Human Services), Asif Ishtiaque (College of Natural and Applied Sciences), Nancy Kageyama (Darr College of Agriculture) and Kristen Thornton (College of Business).

RCASH schedules robust Education Abroad activity for 2026

RCASH Dean Shawn Wahl said he continues to be impressed by faculty engagement with Education Abroad.

“Their collaboration across academic areas to deliver impactful learning experiences for our students is inspiring,” he said. “This collaboration is the essence of Missouri State as the Public Affairs University.”

Several RCASH faculty have already scheduled Education Abroad activities for 2026, Strong noted.

  • 2025 Education Abroad Faculty Fellows Nikki Ferry and William Harwood — Greece
  • 2025 Education Abroad Faculty Fellow Jeff Loughary (coordinated with Dr. Tonia Tinsley) — Morocco
  • Leslie Seawright — United Arab Emirates
  • Jonathan Newman and Rhonda Stanton — United Kingdom
  • Cameron LaBarr — Australia and New Zealand
  • Antoinette Barffour — Ghana
  • Vadim Putzu — Italy
  • Gwen Walstrand and Marcus Howell — Italy
  • Luis Lombilla — Mexico and Spain
  • Jason Shepard — Ecuador [“Eight Missouri State students enjoy studying in Ecuador“]
  • Vanessa Rodriguez de la Vega — Peru
  • Holly Holladay and Cristina Pippa — United Kingdom
  • Amy Muchnick — United Kingdom

Learn more about Education Abroad

 

Art and Design to host Polish designers for book talk Oct. 6

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Missouri State University’s Department of Art and Design will welcome special guests from Poland Oct. 6 to discuss the work of emeritus professor Roman Duszek.

The event will be held at 2 p.m. in Strong Hall 300. It is free and open to the public.

Co-authors Tomasz Bierkowski and Mariusz Wszołek will discuss their book “Visual Thinking,” a bilingual publication honoring Duszek’s teaching and career. Bierkowski and Wszolek are both professors at SWPS University in Wrocław.

Iwona Zalewska-Duszek is an emerita of the art and design department and will attend on Roman’s behalf.

Visit revives long-standing working partnership

Black and white image of older man
Roman Duszek

The visit builds on years of exchanges between Missouri State and art and design academies in Poland. The department has hosted a number of artists and educators in the past, including Bierkowski, Lesław Tetla, Marta Bożyk and Marcin Bialas.

“For us, the visit to MSU is particularly important. There could be no better place to tell the story of the professor and the book dedicated to him,” Bierkowski said.

In addition, faculty members have led workshops abroad through Erasmus+ partnerships. Students have also participated in this exchange, with work exhibited in Kraków and Katowice.

[Read more…] about Art and Design to host Polish designers for book talk Oct. 6

Rebecca Oh joins Department of Art and Design

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Missouri State University’s Department of Art and Design is excited to welcome Rebecca Oh as a new faculty member.

“We’re excited to add another vibrant perspective to our studio faculty,” said Dr. Mitzi Kirkland-Ives, interim department head of art and design.

Oh’s professional work combines painting and sculpture to explore questions of identity, belonging and personal autonomy within cultural and social frameworks. Often, her art bridges personal experience with larger conversations, she explained.

“These explorations have taught me the value of process, experimentation and risk-taking, which are lessons I bring to the classroom,” Oh said.

Teaching emphasizes creativity and critical thinking

Painting of young man in bedroom
“Homework” painting by Rebecca Oh. Oil on canvas. Photo credit: Rebecca Oh.

In her teaching, Oh said she emphasizes critical thinking and creativity to build inclusive, student-centered spaces. She encourages students to take risks, develop their voices and see their art as a way to engage with the world around them.

“I hope to bring a spirit of openness, curiosity and dialogue to both the university and the surrounding community,” she said.

Oh has already noticed how students’ different majors shape their perspectives in class. She enjoys those differences and sees opportunities for collaboration across areas of study. That mix of voices, she said, strengthens the learning experience and makes the department a more dynamic place.

Looking ahead, Oh remains focused on adjusting to her first year at Missouri State. She hopes to stay intentional with both her teaching and her studio practice while settling into the community.

 

News edited by the Reynolds College Communications Team.

Sam Barnette is a writer for the Department of Art and Design. She holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from Missouri State’s Department of Communication, Media, Journalism and Film. She is working toward an MS in Data Science and Analytic Storytelling at Truman State University.