Lisa Daria Kennedy

Lisa Daria Kennedy is an Associate Professor and Program Area Chair in the Illustration Department at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), a leading public college of art and design in Boston, MA. She plays a key role in shaping the curriculum and mentoring emerging illustrators.

• Education: MFA in 2D (2013), Massachusetts College of Art and Design
• BFA in Illustration (1998), Massachusetts College of Art and Design
• BA in Graphic Design (1995), Roger Williams University

Her research and creative practice centers on illustration, daily painting, and narrative art, with a strong emphasis on disciplined, consistent creation. She is the founder of the Embrace the Practice® movement, reflecting her commitment to painting every day for over 5,800 consecutive days. Her work spans graphic medicine, plein air painting, and editorial illustration, often exploring personal and universal narratives through visual storytelling.

The selected publications and media features highlight a sustained engagement with the artistic community, focusing on themes of creative discipline, color theory, and the professional life of an illustrator. Her work has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens, books on daily painting, and regional press, underscoring her influence in both academic and public spheres.

Her honors include:

• Making a Mark Award – Best Picture of the Year (2011)
• Making a Mark Award – Stickability Award (2010)
• Faber Birren National Color Award Finalist (2008)
• Atlanta International Giftshow – Best In Show (2001)

Lisa actively mentors students through her leadership in the Illustration program and her industry experience. She has served as Design Editor for the Mount Hope Literary Magazine since 2011 and maintains a broad client base across education, healthcare, and retail sectors. Her work is held in corporate collections such as Intralinks and Newton Wellesley Hospital, as well as in private collections across the United States, Canada, Australia, Asia, and Europe.

She is an advocate for creative entrepreneurship and integrates real-world practice into her teaching. Her studio practice and public exhibitions reinforce her role as a working artist-educator deeply embedded in both academic and professional illustration communities.