Cynthia Frank

Cynthia Frank is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Art & Art History at the University of North Carolina Charlotte (UNC Charlotte), part of the College of Arts & Architecture. She has been a full-time faculty member since 2018, teaching graphic design and contributing to the university’s academic and creative community. In parallel, she operates her design practice, Cynthia Frank Design, and collaborates with PAC3, an award-winning public art collective. Her work spans interactive sculpture, kinetic type animations, and text-based murals like those in The Wall Poems of Charlotte.

Frank holds a B.A. in English Literature and an M.F.A. in Graphic Design from Yale University. Her artistic practice merges visual art with graphic design, focusing on mixed media, text, and community-driven projects. Notable exhibitions include solo and group shows at the Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art (Charlotte, NC), Cultural Center of Cape Cod (2023), and the Mint Museum Uptown (2022).

Her research interests emphasize public art’s role in community engagement and the intersection of design with narrative storytelling. She has created site-specific installations such as the Peacehaven Community Farm Sensory Space (Greensboro, NC), recognized with a 2017 SAMA award. Frank also actively participates in nonprofit initiatives, serving on advisory boards for the Mint Museum and Central Piedmont Community College, and contributes to organizations like the Women’s Impact Fund.

Frank’s teaching spans over two decades, including adjunct roles at the Philadelphia College of Art and Yale School of Art. She mentors students in graphic design, advising on thesis projects and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Her design firm has produced work for national and local clients, blending creative innovation with community impact.