معرفی
Sean Downey is an Associate Professor of Art and Director of the Low-Residency MFA program at Maharishi International University (MIU) in Fairfield, IA. He has been a long-standing educator in fine arts, previously serving as Senior Lecturer in Fine Arts at Brandeis University since 2007 and mentoring in MFA programs at Lesley University and New Hampshire Institute of Art.
His academic background includes a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute and an MFA from Boston University.
Downey's research and artistic practice explores the intersection of digital and analog media, particularly how virtual reality, photogrammetry, and 3D scanning inform contemporary painting. His work investigates the relationship between personal and collective memory, time, and perception, often juxtaposing autobiographical elements with historical artifacts and period spaces. He is deeply engaged in how translation across media alters meaning, especially as digital imagery re-enters the physical world through oil painting.
His recent creative output includes solo and group exhibitions across the U.S., such as Why Each Perfumed Flower (2022), Transmutations (2017), and The Work on Paper Show (2017), reflecting a sustained engagement with painting, curation, and interdisciplinary exploration. His exhibitions often explore symbolic, existential, and cultural themes, blending personal narrative with broader historical resonance.
His scientific and artistic honors include:
- James and Audrey Foster Prize (2015, with kijidome)
- MacDowell Colony Fellowship (2015)
- Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist Fellowship (2014)
- Blanche E. Colman Foundation Award (2013)
- Theodore and Jane Norman Award for Faculty Scholarship (2017, 2011/12)
- Ucross Foundation Residency (2010)
As a mentor and visiting critic, Downey has advised students at Boston University, Dartmouth College, Rhode Island School of Design, Massachusetts College of Art, and Montserrat College of Art. His curatorial work includes founding kijidome, a collaborative initiative that curated exhibitions like Green Dream and S01E01, emphasizing experimental and interdisciplinary formats. He has received support from multiple artist residencies and fellowships, underscoring his national recognition in the visual arts community.
He maintains an active studio practice and continues to exhibit nationally, contributing significantly to contemporary discourse in painting and new media.
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