Tonya López-Craig

Tonya López-Craig is an Associate Teaching Professor in Visual Arts at the University of California, Merced. She holds positions in the Global Arts Studies Program within the School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Arts. Her academic journey includes studies at the University of Georgia and California State University, Los Angeles, where she received honors such as Cum Laude, Phi Kappa Phi, and ABI Woman of The Year. A multidisciplinary artist, her work spans sculpture, photography, and mixed-media, with notable exhibitions and publications in national/international scholarly contexts.

Her research focuses on cultural intersections in art, including chapters on Shirin Neshat’s self-orientalization and Alina Troyano’s performance art. She teaches courses in sculpture, design, and art history, and serves as Executive Director of the UCM Art Gallery since 2008. Her awards reflect her academic and artistic excellence, including Dean’s List recognition and inclusion in Who’s Among Students in American Universities.