Blair Thomas

Blair Thomas is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), specializing in puppetry and performance art. He serves as Artistic Director of the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival (founded 2015) and leads the Ellen Van Volkenberg Puppetry Symposium. Active since 1985, he has designed puppets for major institutions like the Metropolitan Opera and co-directs the Chicago Puppet Studio. His work spans theater, film, and public spectacles, emphasizing large-scale outdoor performances.

• Education: BA from Oberlin College (1985), MA in Art History from SAIC (2023), Dharma Teacher Ordination (Maitreya Buddhist Seminary, 2009).

Research interests focus on blending historical and contemporary performance practices, including Renaissance spectacles and protest art. His productions, such as Moby-Dick and Buried Alive with Edgar Allan Poe, explore narrative through puppetry and immersive environments. Awards include two UNIMA-USA honors and recognition from the Illinois Arts Council.

Teaching emphasizes outdoor puppetry and collaborative spectacle creation, as seen in courses like Without Walls - Puppetry In the Outdoors. Past roles include founding and leading Redmoon Theater (1989–1998), producing over 20 touring shows, and serving on the Jim Henson Foundation Board.