Amy Berk

Amy Berk is an artist and art educator currently serving as an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Francisco's College of Art and Design. She has taught at the San Francisco Art Institute since 2006, held leadership roles such as Chair of the Contemporary Practice program (2011–2013), and co-founded the Meridian Interns Program in 1996. She has also been involved in the Post-Baccalaureate program at UCBX since 2004 and launched ARTIVATE in 2019, a collaborative initiative with Chris Treggiari focused on art-making and public citizenship.

Research Interests: Amy's work centers on public practice, contemporary art, feminist art, and art as a tool for activism. She emphasizes education in diverse communities, fostering creative expression for underserved youth through programs like City Studio, which she directs.

Education:

• MFA in Painting/New Genres, San Francisco Art Institute (1995)
• BA in Studio Art/English, Wesleyan University (1989)

Awards & Distinctions:

• Artist in residence at New Pacific Studio, NZ
• Gerbode Purchase Award
• Market Street Art in Transit Poster Series Award

Additional Roles: As the co-founder of the web journal stretcher.org and the artist group TWCDC.com, Amy continues to advocate for marginalized voices through art, creating safe spaces for both teens and adults to engage in creative and critical dialogue.