CURRICULUM
VITAE

/ EDUCATION

MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN PAINTING, 2003 - Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois

BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS IN PAINTING/DRAWING, 2001 - Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana

/ RECOGNITION & AWARDS

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT IN TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD, 2025 Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Doha, Qatar

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT IN TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD, 2012 Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Doha, Qatar

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD, 2009 Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA

OCTOBER 2022 ARTIST OF THE MONTH, Camelback Gallery (9 artists selected)

TALENT PRIZE AWARD, 2022 Portrait – International Juried Art Competition, Art Show International Gallery

SPECIAL MENTION AWARD + ARTIST GRANT, 2021 Winter Juried Art Competition – Portrait, Art Show International Gallery

SILVER AWARD, 2021 All Abstracts Painting Competition, Camelback Gallery

FINALIST, 2022 World Wide Kitsch Annual Competition

NOMINATED FOR DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENTS AWARD IN SERVICE, 2021 Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar

IDEA FUND GRANT, 2023–24 "Artistic Intelligence: Expanding Creative Horizons with AI" Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Award: $10,000

FACULTY EXPLORATORY RESEARCH GRANT, 2020 "A Work in Progress—Pursuing Artistic Inspiration" Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Award: $5,425

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE FELLOWSHIP, 2018–19 Doha Fire Station, Qatar National, Award: $10,958

FACULTY RESEARCH GRANT, 2018 "By the Light of the Moon: A Nighttime Exploration of Disappearing Doha Cityscapes" Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Award: $3,021

FACULTY RESEARCH GRANT, 2015 "Vermont Studio Center Residency" Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Award: $2,399

FACULTY RESEARCH GRANT, 2014 "Tradigital" Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Award: $4,000

FACULTY RESEARCH GRANT, 2012 "Censored" Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Award: $5,610

PRESIDENTIAL FELLOWSHIP AWARD, 2008 Savannah College of Art & Design. Fully funded private study with Odd Nerdrum in Norway.

EMERGING EDUCATORS' FELLOWSHIP, 2010 Integrative Teaching International
ThinkTank 5

Appointed Head of Drawing Studio Curriculum (2025–26). Oversaw six sections across three instructors, developing three distinct project models and providing ongoing faculty mentorship.

Developed and led "The Collective Bloom," a cross-section collaborative drawing project engaging all six sections of Drawing Studio (~100 students).

Transitioned to Space Studio (ARTF 133, Spring 2026), designing an entirely new curriculum merging spatial design with AI tools.

Adapted all spring instruction to virtual delivery (March 2026) due to regional conflict, developing constraint-based projects maintaining learning objectives under emergency conditions.

Developed "Artistic Intelligence," VCUarts Qatar's first AI course, through the IDEA Fund Grant ($10,000). Cross-listed for Education City students.

Created "Hooded Alchemy: Transforming Falcon Burqas through Art, AI and Design." Student work exhibited at S'Hail International Exhibition and Doha Design District.

Created "Cultural Threads," integrating traditional cultural motifs into contemporary design. Student work exhibited at VCUarts Qatar Glass Gallery and Doha Design District.

Introduced "Reverso" (inspired by Gerhard Richter's "Betty"), "Unseen Selfie," "Lover's Eye," "Echoes of Time: Composing with Cyanotypes," and other projects bridging traditional and contemporary practice.

Developed "Portrait and Self-Portrait" course for the Film and Design Minor, cross-registered with Northwestern University in Qatar.

/ COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Formula 1 Helmet Design Project — Lusail International Circuit, August 2025. Led an all-star team of ten Qatari students through a two-week intensive design process inspired by the Hooded Alchemy project. Winning design by Shaima Alhashimi featured on LIC's official Instagram.

Doha Design District × VCUarts Qatar — Large-scale multi-floor installation of student work. 2025.

S'Hail: International Hunting and Falcons Exhibition — Curated exhibition of "Hooded Alchemy" student work. September 2025.

Cultural Threads Exhibition — VCUarts Qatar Glass Gallery. 2025.

3-2-1 Qatar Olympic & Sports Museum — Exhibition Design Proposal. 2025–26.

Ramadan Remixed — Doha Design District Exhibition Proposal. 2025–26.

Monster Maker Workshop — Pro bono workshop at Compass International School. 2020–21.

/ SERVICE & LEADERSHIP

Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC) — Sole Co-Chair (2025–26); Co-Chair (2024–25). Led faculty governance, advocated for end-of-service benefits, healthcare, and retirement planning.

Administrative Advisory Committee (AAC) — FAC Representative (2025–26); Member (2024–25).

Ad Hoc Committee on Governance Document Revisions — Culminated in the successful faculty-wide approval of the revised VCUarts Qatar Governance Document.

Art Foundation Program Advisory Board — Member (2024–26).

Promotion Review Committee — Member (2023–24); Chair, Teaching Sub-Committee (2021–22).

Orientation Task Force — Departmental Representative (2023–24).

Teaching and Learning Committee — Member (2021–23).

Gallery Committee — Member (2021–23).

Technology Advisory Committee — Member (2023–25).

MFA Thesis Committee — Fatima Nazir, VCUarts Qatar (2025–26).

Fifty new works across five series: Disrupted Portals (10 mixed-media drawings), Borrowed Time (2 works), Frequency Drawings (25 works), Cyanotapestries (11 works), and Orbital Networks (2 drawings).

/ RESIDENCIES

DOHA FIRE STATION ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE, 2018–2019 Ten-month residency resulting in three solo exhibitions and inclusion in "Majaz" at Mathaf Museum of Modern Art.

VERMONT STUDIO CENTER, Johnson, Vermont, 2015

STEVEN ASSAEL FIGURE PAINTING WORKSHOP, New York, NY, 2013

ODD NERDRUM APPRENTICESHIP, Norway, 2008

/ GROUP EXHIBITIONS

“TALE OF PLACE,” Convento dei Minimi, Roccella Jonica, Calabria, Italy. June 13, 2026. (Publication)

"ECHO," Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH, 2026

"DRAWN," Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH, 2024

"SOFT," Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH, 2024

"OH, KY, IN Regional Showcase," Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH, 2024

"Majaz: Contemporary Art Qatar," Mathaf Museum of Modern Art, Doha, Qatar, 2022

"Abstraction: Subverting Reality," Gallery 4, Fire Station, Doha, Qatar, 2022

"Abstract," Art Room Gallery (online), 2022

"Landscapes or Seascapes," Las Laguna Art Gallery (online), 2022

"Shades of Blue – 2022 International Visual Arts Exhibition," Camelback Gallery (online, Finalist)

"Portrait – 2022 International Juried Art Competition," Art Show International Gallery (online, Talent Prize Award), 2022

"2021 Winter Juried Art Competition – Portrait," Art Show International Gallery (online, Special Mention Award + Artist Grant), 2021

"7th Annual Figures & Faces Art Exhibition," Fusion Art Gallery (online), 2021

"All Abstracts 2021 Painting Competition," Camelback Gallery (online, Silver Award)

"Black and White," Colors of Humanity Art Gallery (online), 2021

"Wet Paint," Colors of Humanity Art Gallery (online), 2021

"3rd Annual Lines, Shapes & Objects Juried Art Competition," Fusion Art Gallery (online), 2021

"Good Vibes Only," VCUarts Qatar Gallery, 2021

"KatArt Preview," Katara Cultural Village, Buildings 19 & 22, Doha, Qatar, 2020

"Infinite Dimensions," Garage Gallery, Doha Fire Station, Doha, Qatar, 2019

"The Portrait & Self-Portrait," Bauhaus Prairie Art Gallery, Newkirk, OK, 2017

"HOME," HBKU Gallery, Doha, Qatar, 2016

"Geo Necro," ADA Gallery, Richmond, VA, 2016

"Oddities," Linus Galleries, Long Beach, CA, 2015

"Life and Death," Al Fardan Gardens Gallery, Doha, Qatar, 2014

"Wise Learning Festival," Katara Cultural Village, Doha, Qatar, 2014

"Dark," Arc Gallery, San Francisco, California, 2014

"Cloaked," Strange Wonders, Mushareb Entertainment Center, Doha, Qatar, 2014

"Tasmeen Group Show," Virginia Commonwealth University of Qatar, Doha, Qatar, 2012

"Faculty Group Show," Virginia Commonwealth University of Qatar, Doha, Qatar, 2011

"Ever Present & In Motion," Pei Ling Chan Gallery, Savannah, Georgia, 2010

"Ever Present & In Motion," ACA Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia, 2009

"Small Works Show," Chroma Gallery, Savannah, Georgia, 2008

"Foundational Studies Faculty Drawing Exhibition," Anderson Hall, Savannah College of Art & Design, 2007

"8th Annual Scholarship Gala," Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, Georgia, 2007

"Small Works," Red Gallery, Savannah, Georgia, 2007

"Square Foot III," AWOL Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, 2007

"2nd Annual Self-Portrait Exhibition," 33 Collective Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, 2007

"Anniversary Exhibition," 33 Collective Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, 2007

"Viewpoint National Juried Competition," The Kavanaugh Gallery, St. Charles, Illinois, Best of Show, 2007

"Alumni Exhibition," Barsema Hall, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 2006

"Photo/Digital Exhibition," 33 Collective Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, 2006

"Square Foot II," AWOL Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, 2006

"ECC/WCC Instructors Art Exhibit," Campbell House Art Gallery, Geneva, Illinois, 2006

"NIU Faculty Exhibition," Norris Cultural Arts Center, St. Charles, Illinois, 2006

"Spring Gathering," Titzer Art Studios, Terre Haute, Indiana, 2006

"It's a Small World," Hue Art Gallery, Madison, Wisconsin, 2004

"Square Foot," AWOL Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, 2004

"DNA: Art & Science—The Double Helix," Contemporary Art Museum, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 2004

"Contemporary Abstractions," Orleans Street Gallery, St. Charles, Illinois

"New Faculty Exhibition," Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove, Illinois, 2004

"AI.Vant-Garde: Reimagining Creativity at the Intersection of Art and AI." RAWABET Conference Series, Northwestern University in Qatar, 2025. Invited Speaker.

"Generative AI in Teaching and Learning." Education City-wide Faculty Panel, VCUarts Qatar, 2024. Invited Panelist.

"Artistic Intelligence" Workshop. Northwestern University in Qatar, 2023. Invited Workshop Leader.

Guest Lecture, "3D Computer Animation." Northwestern University in Qatar, 2024. Invited.

"Teaching Through Culture." Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science, Evansville, IN, 2022.

"Law & Tech Talk: AI, Art and the Law." Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), 2021. Invited Guest Speaker.

"Teaching Through Culture." 2nd Arts & Humanities Conference, IISES, Florence, Italy, 2017. Presenter and Panel Chair.

"Teaching Through Culture." CAA, First Frames Panel, New York, NY, 2017.

"Cross-Pollination: An Interdisciplinary Foundations Experience." MACAA, University of Cincinnati, 2016.

"Is There Such a Thing as a Bad Drawing?" FATE Biennial Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2015. Panel Co-Chair.

"Impulse and Incentive: Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations." ThinkTank 8, Integrative Teaching International, Bozeman, Montana, 2014.

"Measuring Creativity: The Role of Assessment in the Arts." NESA Council of Overseas Schools, American School of Doha, 2014. Institute Leader.

"Facebook: Extending the Classroom." FATE Biennial Conference, Savannah College of Art & Design, 2013.

"ReDesigning Design Curriculum." 7th International Conference on Design Principles and Practices, Chiba University, Japan, 2013.

Keynote Speaker, "Re-Designing Design Curriculum." Pic Art Conference, American School of Doha, 2013.

"Building a Curriculum: From Mission to Outcome." ThinkTank 7, Integrative Teaching International, Chicago, Illinois, 2012.

"Why Drawing," for "Drawing Muchness" Panel. Southeastern College Art Conference, Savannah, Georgia, 2011.

Multiple presentations. FATE Biennial Conference, St. Louis, Missouri, 2011. Panel Chair.

"From Adjunct to Full-Time Employment: A Survival Guide." FATE Biennial Conference, Portland, Oregon, 2009.

"Measuring Abroad: Assessing Students Effectively On the Go." MACAA Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2008.

Multiple presentations. 7th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, 2008.

Multiple presentations. 6th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Arts & Humanities, 2008.

Multiple presentations. MX International Design Conference, Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, Mexico, 2007.

/ PUBLICATIONS

"Living Network." In Tale of Place: Roccella Jonica, edited by Stella Colaleo, Michael Hersrud, Eman Makki, and Simone Muscolino. Sonic Jeel / VCUarts Qatar Institute for Creative Research, 2026. pp. 45–46. Published.

Studio Visit Magazine, Vol 37 & 38, Summer Edition, 2017

"VCUQatar's Students Get to Explore the Hidden Meanings Behind Art." Qatar Foundation Telegraph, p11.

"Searching for Home in Drawings and Sketches." Gulf Times, Community Cover Story, p10–11.

"Grotesque Faces," FACT Magazine, February 2012, Volume 1, Issue 10

"DaVinci Re-Imagined," The Foundation Magazine, February 2012, Issue 38

"Jesse Payne's Grotesque Heads," Juxtapoz (online), November 21, 2011

Two Featured Drawings, Strathmore Promotional Catalog, 2010

Jesse Payne, Strathmore Featured Artist: 400 Series Bristol Smooth, Strathmore Promotional Flyer, Winter 2009

"Fleshing Out Leonardo's Grotesque Heads," American Artist Magazine, Fall 2009