Tracy Steepy

Tracy Steepy is a Professor in the Jewelry + Metalsmithing department at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where she has taught for 19 years and is currently on sabbatical for the academic year 2025–26.

Her educational background includes:

• BFA from Indiana University Bloomington
• MFA from SUNY - New Paltz

Professor Steepy's research focuses on jewelry as a conceptual and material format, with specialized investigation into resin's inherent color properties as vehicles for meaning. Her recent artistic output includes Topographies Never Traveled exhibited at Sienna Gallery (Lenox, MA) and Diptych: Grey and Black at PLATINA (Stockholm, Sweden), demonstrating her exploration of color theory within contemporary metalsmithing contexts.

She pioneered RISD's partnership with Marzee Gallery (Nijmegen) to establish the first graduate-curated satellite gallery in Amsterdam, creating significant professional pathways for emerging artists. As founder of Arch Street Studios in Providence, RI, she cultivates collaborative spaces for artistic innovation and community engagement beyond traditional academic settings.