Faculty

Karen Wirth is a professor and the vice president of academic affairs. Her work explores the relationships between words, objects, and space through artist’s books, sculpture, public art, and critical writing. 

Her work has been exhibited extensively in collections in the U.S., including the Smithsonian Institution and the Walker Art Center, and in Africa and Europe through the U.S. State Department. And her public art projects include conceptual design for the Hiawatha light-rail transit stations and the Gail See Staircase at Open Book in Minneapolis.

Wirth’s artist's books are in many public collections, such as the Museum of Modern Art Library, the Getty Center, and Yale University. And her writing has been in many journals and magazines, including the Journal of Artists’ Books and Places magazine. 

Wirth has been awarded Bush, McKnight, and Jerome fellowships and an American Council on Education Leadership Fellowship. She received an MFA in sculpture at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities and a BFA in art education at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.