Billy Renkl

Billy Renkl is a Professor in the Department of Art & Design at Austin Peay State University. He holds a BFA in Visual Communications from Auburn University and an MFA in Drawing from the University of South Carolina. His practice spans illustration, drawing, collage, and mixed media, with a focus on literary collaborations and conceptual narratives.

Renkl’s work has been exhibited in major institutions including The Jule Collins Smith Museum, The Foley Gallery (NYC), and the Tennessee State Museum. Notable projects include illustrating Margaret Renkl’s books Late Migrations and The Comfort of Crows , as well as commissions for The New York Times , SouthWest Airlines, and Klutz Inc. His art often explores themes of memory, environmentalism, and cultural identity through layered collages and interdisciplinary techniques.

Recent works like The Comfort of Crows (2023) integrate sound art, archival materials, and literary themes, while his Field Notes series (2023) combines altered manuscripts with clamshell box art for Vanderbilt University’s special collections. Renkl’s practice bridges fine art, commercial illustration, and academic research, emphasizing cross-disciplinary creativity.