Michael Barnes, Northern Illinois University Professor in the School of Art and Design, has been selected as a Presidential Research, Scholarship and Artistry Professor.
The award was created in 1982 to recognize faculty excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, artistry and engagement at NIU. Recipients of the award are selected on the basis of significant and sustained scholarly or creative work, including the achievement of national or international reputation in their individual fields.
Barnes is a world-renowned printmaker, scholar and researcher whose work has played a critical role in NIU’s graduate printmaking program earning a ranking of 19th in the nation by US News and World Report out of 2700 leading institutions surveyed.
He has had more than 40 national and international solo exhibitions and well over 140 national and international group and juried exhibitions. His work has been acquired by a number of significant public and private collections and he is represented by three national commercial galleries.
In the summer of 2018, Barnes was in residence at the Müncher Künstlerhaus, Steindruck München in Germany for two months producing artwork, followed by a solo exhibition in Munich, and then a solo exhibition at the Musée du Pays d’Ussel in France. His recognition internationally has resulted in invitations for NIU printmaking students and alumni to participate overseas in internships, particularly at the Atelier le Grande Village studio in France over the past four summers.
“In his teaching he creates a community that is welcoming, diverse and rigorous,” said Douglas Boughton, Interim Director of the NIU School of Art and Design. “Through his own professional experiences and artistry, Michael has built the connections that students need to succeed as both fine and applied artists at the regional, national and international levels.”
Barnes has been invited to lecture about his work and conduct workshops at more than 80 institutions and has served as a board member on both of the major professional organizations for his field (Southern Graphics Council International, and the Mid-America Print Council.)
Carmon Colangelo, Dean of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis said, “Michael’s work is well known nationally and internationally within printmaking circles. His provocative imagery and illustrious drawing style are easily recognizable.”
Lynne Allen, professor of art, printmaking at Boston University said, “His accomplishments are admirable, and he stands head and shoulders above others at this point in his career. His contribution to his discipline shows no signs of slowing down and I expect him to continue at this breakneck speed into the foreseeable future.”
Barnes is the fifth faculty member from the School of Art and Design to win this award, joining Jeff Kowalkowski (2014), Lee Barnes Peck (1998), Benjamin Mahmoud (1989), and David F. Driesbach (1982) who was Barnes’ predecessor as head of the printmaking program.
