Toby Sisson

Toby Sisson is an Associate Professor of Visual and Performing Arts at Clark University, specializing in drawing, painting, printmaking, and curatorial projects. She holds a B.F.A. from the College of Visual Arts (Minnesota) and an M.F.A. from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Her work explores race, identity, and hybrid cultural traditions through abstract forms and encaustic techniques. Sisson has exhibited internationally, including at the Worcester Art Museum, Provincetown Art Association, and Teda Contemporary Art Museum in China. She has been recognized with awards such as the Hodgkins Prize (2011) and Hayden Fellowship (2015), and thrice nominated for Clark’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year.

Education:

• B.F.A., College of Visual Arts, Saint Paul, MN (2003)
• M.F.A., University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (2009)

Research Interests: Abstract art’s role in societal dialogue, race and ethnicity, material experimentation, and community-based art.

Awards & Grants:

• Individual Creative Research Grant (Higgins Institute, 2025–2026)
• Faculty Development Grant (Clark University, 2025–2026)
• Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America (Brown University, 2023)

Teaching & Mentorship: Courses include Drawing, Painting, Studio Topics, and Contemporary Directions. She advises student projects and fosters inclusive pedagogy.

Labs/Teams: Director of Clark’s Studio Art Program (2015–2024), member of the Dark Room research cluster, and board member of ArtsWorcester.