معرفی
Isla Hansen is an Assistant Professor of Art at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Art, part of the College of Fine Arts. She is currently an artist-in-residence at the Mattress Factory Museum and co-directs programming at The Folly Tree Arboretum, a non-profit in Springs, NY dedicated to environmental storytelling. Previously, she held teaching roles at UCLA Design Media Arts and The Ohio State University’s Department of Art and Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design. Her work merges sculpture, installation, and performance to critique industrial production’s displacement of human labor and explore themes of play, labor, and technology’s impact on creativity.
Education:
- MFA: Carnegie Mellon University
- BA: Columbia University
Her interdisciplinary research focuses on the relationship between bodies and technology, using materials like wood, wool, and digital fabrication to highlight the ‘myth of automation’ and the hidden labor in technological systems. The Play Object Project—a collaboration with CMU’s Children’s School—investigates play’s role in bridging cultural divides and fostering creativity. Her Folly Tree Arboretum initiatives emphasize environmental storytelling through artist residencies, puppet shows, and educational programs.
Scientific Awards & Grants:
- Rauschenberg Foundation Artist in Residence
- Daedalus Foundation Fellowship
- American Austrian Foundation Seebacher Prize
- Frank-Ratchye Fund for Art at the Frontier Grant
- CMU College of Fine Arts Fund for Research and Creativity Grant
- First Place Professional Award (2014)
Advising & Grants: While Isla does not currently list formal advisees, her work has been supported by significant grants and fellowships, including the Rauschenberg Foundation residency and the Daedalus Fellowship. The Play Object Project, funded by the Center for the Arts in Society, demonstrates her commitment to collaborative research in play and education.
Labs & Teams: She leads the Play Object Project and collaborates with the Folly Tree Arboretum, where she directs a children’s camp and artist-in-residence program. Her academic and artistic partnerships include collaborations with the Children’s School (directed by Sharon Carver) and artists like Chase Ceglie (music), Imin Yeh (sculpture), and Tucker Marder (co-founder of the Arboretum).
