Fritz Drury

Fritz Drury is a painter and Professor of Illustration at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he has taught drawing and painting since 1981. He holds a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from Yale School of Art. Since 2002, he has collaborated with Brown University on courses in Virtual Reality Design for Science and co-authored interdisciplinary papers at the intersection of science and art.

Research Interests: Drury’s studio work focuses on figurative oil paintings with poetic narratives derived from literature, art history, and contemporary experience. Recent works explore ideal states of human connection with the natural universe. His research also includes art-science collaboration, particularly through virtual reality applications.

Publications & Contributions: He co-authored the college textbook Drawing: Structure and Vision (2007) and has contributed to interdisciplinary papers on science and art.

Exhibitions & Recognition: Drury’s work has been widely exhibited in the U.S., including at The Painting Center and The National Academy of Design in NYC. His portrait commissions are held at Brown University, Colorado College, and the University of Rhode Island. He has been reviewed in Art in America.

Scientific Awards:

• Ingram Merrill Foundation Fellowship
• RISD’s John R. Frazier Award for Excellence in Teaching