Art Professor, Lynn Richardson, Recognized with Distinguished Faculty Award

Keene State College Selects Lynn Richardson as Recipient of 2015 Faculty Distinction in Research and Scholarship Award

Professor Selected for Her Artistic Examination of Relationships Between Governments, Corporations and Physical Environment

Keene State College is pleased to announce Lynn Richardson, associate professor of art, as the recipient of the 2015 Faculty Distinction in Research and Scholarship Award. The award honors faculty members who have, over a significant part of their tenure at Keene State, engaged in research and scholarship that is recognized by their professional peers and that represents an effort above and beyond that required for promotion and tenure. Richardson is the 13th recipient of the award.

Since 2007 when she arrived at Keene State, Richardson has exhibited her work in 26 solo shows and 30 group shows. In addition to showing her work, Richardson has been invited to deliver over 25 artist lectures and workshops. As a result, she has earned a reputation that spans the globe, having shown her work across the United States and Canada, as well as in Sweden, Taiwan, and China. Richardson has won numerous residencies and grants that have supported the extensive research that informs her artistic practice.

“My art practice is centered around an examination of relationships between governments, corporations and the collateral effects of this association on our physical environment. Currently my work continues to focus on the complexities of this affiliation and the impact on the natural world,” said Richardson. “I am honored that my practice is being recognized by Keene State. I am looking forward to expanding my work and Keene State helps to make it possible.”

Richardson is admired for her installation work across a variety of media, from large-scale, modular sewn pieces, to large cast resin pieces based on her work with 3D printers, from digital displays to motors and motion detectors. The chair of the Keene State Art Department, Rosi Bernardi, describes Richardson’s work as “sly, smart, and always witty,” arguing that Richardson works “in the realm of the marvelous to hammer home her very serious cultural critique.”

In addition to being widely admired for the “complexity and meticulousness” of her artistic practice, Richardson is also widely recognized as a mentor to student artists. With many of her installations, she trains students to install her artwork. Jarod Charzewski, an associate professor of art at College of Charleston, spoke with a group of students who had the opportunity to work with Richardson and “they agreed the experience working with Lynn was the best they had because she actually let them learn how to do things that other artists would not.” He said Richardson clearly demonstrates “the commitment and focus it takes to become a professional artist.”