Heather Freeman

Heather Freeman is a Professor of Digital Media in the Department of Art & Art History at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, affiliated with the College of Arts + Architecture. Since joining UNC Charlotte in 2006, she has contributed to digital media education through interdisciplinary projects blending traditional and digital technologies.

• BA in Fine Art and German Studies, Oberlin College (1997)
• MFA in Studio Art, Rutgers University (2000)

Her research integrates science, magic, mythology, and popular culture into digital art, animation, and interactive works. She explores symbolic forms across media, including video art, 3D modeling, and game design, with a focus on public humanities projects like Familiar Shapes and the podcast Magic in the United States.

The latest projects, such as her NEH-funded podcast on magical practices in the U.S., highlight her work in digital storytelling and cultural history. Earlier publications, like The Moving Image Workshop, emphasize pedagogical innovation in animation and motion graphics.

• National Endowment for the Humanities Grant (2023) for Magic in the United States podcast series
• Awards for international screenings of animations and films

Freeman has led Charlotte Night Owl Interactive, a games and XR cooperative, and previously worked as an art director, graphic designer, and editor in New York and New Jersey. She has taught at Allegheny College, The University of Kentucky, and Clemson University since 2001.