Zoé Strecker

Zoé Strecker is a Professor in the Art and Art History Department at Transylvania University. Her work integrates ecological sustainability, sculpture, and interdisciplinary collaboration. She teaches courses such as Ceramics I-V, Sculpture I, and experimental cross-disciplinary programs like Acoustic Ecology and Immersive Sculptural Installations.

She holds an M.F.A. from Alfred University (1997) and a B.A. from Grinnell College (1988). Strecker’s practice emphasizes process-oriented techniques, including traditional timber-framing and ceramic glazing methods inherited from her artistic family. Her research explores the intersection of art and environmental stewardship, evident in her farm-based sustainability projects and collaborations with engineers at the Mother Ann Lee hydroelectric plant.

Notable awards include multiple Kentucky Foundation for Women Artist Enrichment Grants (2009, 2005, 2003) and Bingham Start-Up Grants (2010, 2011). Her work often involves large-scale public installations blending sculpture with functional elements, such as the water feature at the Longmont Museum and the baptismal sculpture at Saint Clare Catholic Church.

Strecker’s teaching philosophy centers on hands-on material exploration combined with conceptual rigor. She emphasizes the transformative potential of art-making for students, particularly in three-dimensional mediums. Her personal projects include a self-built portable timber-frame studio and collaborative garments for runway performances, reflecting her holistic approach to art and daily life.