Chelsea Brtis

Chelsea Brtis is an Assistant Professor of Digital Illustration in the Department of Art & Art History at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Their work focuses on interdisciplinary research combining environmental politics, animal-human dynamics, and inclusive representation through digital media. They previously taught at Virginia Commonwealth University and held roles as a character artist and lead 3D modeler on the Virtual Anderson Gallery project. Brtis holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Iowa State University and an MFA in Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication from the University of Texas at Dallas.

• Education:
• Bachelor of Architecture, Iowa State University
• MFA in Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication, University of Texas at Dallas

Research explores empathy-building through games such as Together (focused on pandemic experiences) and Local Goods (examining consumer environmental impacts). Their practice bridges game studies with critical theory, emphasizing digital tools as vehicles for social commentary.

Notable projects include collaboration on the Virtual Anderson Gallery and development of award-recognized interactive games that merge artistic expression with environmental advocacy.