Eleanor Conover

Eleanor Conover is an Assistant Professor of Visual Arts at Bowdoin College, affiliated with the Edwards Center for Art and Dance in Brunswick, Maine. Her artistic and academic work explores the intersections of painting, materiality, and environmental time.

Education:

• MFA in Painting and Drawing, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University (2018)
• AB in History and Literature, Harvard College (2010)

Her research engages deeply with the physical conditions of painting as a metaphor for ecological and geologic time. Working across historical painting languages and perceptual representations of light and space, her process-based practice investigates environmental experiences in diverse landscapes—from coastal regions like the Aleutian Islands to urban environments such as Philadelphia. This interdisciplinary approach integrates visual art with environmental inquiry.

Her recent exhibitions highlight a strong national presence in contemporary art spaces, including venues such as White Columns (NY), Abattoir (OH), List Gallery at Swarthmore College (PA), Hudson House (NY), and Bad Water (TN). These works reflect ongoing explorations into how material processes mirror natural transformation over time.

Scientific and Artistic Honors:

• 2022 Donald J. Gordon Visiting Artist, Swarthmore College
• 2020–21 Alice C. Cole ’42 Fellow, Wellesley College
• Post-MFA Teaching Fellowship, School of Art, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Her artistic practice has been supported by prestigious residencies including The Sam and Adele Golden Foundation (NY), Cow House Studios (Ireland), and the Joseph A. Fiore Art Center (ME), underscoring sustained engagement with creative development and scholarly exchange. While no formal advising roles are listed, her fellowships and visiting artist positions indicate mentorship and pedagogical involvement. External support through competitive residencies and fellowships demonstrates recognition of her contributions to contemporary visual arts.

Artistic Research Environments:

Eleanor Conover has developed her work within dynamic artistic laboratories such as artist residencies and academic studios, including the Joseph A. Fiore Art Center and Cow House Studios, where interdisciplinary collaboration and environmental immersion shape her creative output.