Lea Bult
For the past few years I have been consulting with the Human
Trafficking Clinic at the University of Michigan and use this resource
to inform my work. While attention is finally being paid to victims of
international trafficking, their exploited American counterparts are
often criminalized for their victimization. Working with the clinic was
a galvanizing force in my life, and has emboldened me to utilize my
creative ability to visually depict the scenarios I encountered.
Children in the sex trade make up a substantial percentage of
human trafficking victims. They exist in America, just as they do in
other countries, and they can often be found in our own
communities. Even more unsettling is the fact that these children
are often incarcerated on charges for prostitution, and the johns
and pimps who exploit them encounter little consequence. I am
particularly frustrated by this aspect of the prison industrial
complex, and am motivated to make work about it.
I draw much of my inspiration from graphic novels and illustration. I
am interested in how these mediums are usually classified as falling
outside the boundary of fine art. On the contrary, I feel that there is
a place for such work within this establishment. By removing the
drawing aesthetic from its original context, and expanding it to a
larger scale, I invite the viewer to consider the capacity of
illustrative work.
Education/CV:
EDUCATION
2012 University of Michigan School of Art and Design
2005 Kendall College of Art and Design
MFA in Painting
BFA in Photography
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2015 Adjunct Faculty - Albion College; Albion, MI
Creative Process: 2D
2014 (Spring Term) Studio Mentor and Artist in Residence - Albion College; Albion, MI
2012 - present Adjunct Faculty – Washtenaw Community College, Ypsilanti, MI
Intro to Oil Painting
Intro to Acrylic Painting
2012 - 2014 Instructor -Ann Arbor Art Center; Ann Arbor, MI
2012 Workshop Instructor – University of Michigan Museum of Art
2009 - 2012 Graduate Student Instructor- University of Michigan School of Art and Design
Foundation Drawing
Intro to Figure Drawing
Drawing and Painting in Plein Air
Intro to Collage and Abstract Painting
Portrait Drawing
Drawing from the Collection
Art and Design Perspectives: Society
Art and Design Perspectives: The Creators
2010 - 2011 Graduate Student Instructor University of Michigan School of Art and Design
BFA Thesis: Integrative Process
2010 Workshop Instructor- The Greatmore Studios; Cape Town, South Africa
2005 Instructor and Counselor - Interlochen Center for the Arts; Interlochen, MI
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2014 The Northwest Ohio Community Art Exhibition (Juror)
Bowling Green State University; Bowling Green, OH
2013 - 2015 Director of Exhibitions - Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor, MI
2009 - 2014 Curator and Collaborator - Gallery Project ; Ann Arbor / Detroit
2011 Guest Curator -Work Gallery; Detroit, MI
Curator for the exhibit, Altered Ground, which featured 15 national artists.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2014 Out of Sight - Bobbitt Visual Arts Center, Albion College, Albion, MI
2012 Urban Vessels: MFAThesis Exhibition - Slusser Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2014 Unseen - Eastern Market; Detroit, MI
2013 8
Temp - Ypsilanti Art Incubator, Ypsilanti, MI
th Annual Emerging Artists Exhibition, Bridgeport Art Center; Chicago, IL
Drones - Cornerstone Pointe in the Eastern Market; Detroit, MI
2012 Clandestine - Work Gallery; Detroit, MI
Annual All Media Juried Exhibition - Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor, MI
rd
Place Award
3
2011 Image as Metaphor Juried Exhibition - Riverside Gallery. Ypsilanti, MI
Best in Show Award
Annual Human Rights Art Exhibition - South Texas College Art Gallery; McAllen, TX
2010 Think Small Juried Exhibition - Lawrence Street Gallery; Detroit, MI
Best in Show Award
State of the Union - First Fridays. Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art;
Chicago, IL (Interactive performance piece involving several artists)
Aganza, Across the Continents - Greatmore Studios; Cape Town, South Africa
Thupelo 2010- Interventions Greatmore Studios, Cape Town, South Africa
(Collaborative project with Thupelo artists and Cape Flats residents)
2009 Annual Student Juried Exhibition Slusser Gallery; Ann Arbor, MI
Richardson Award
Ann Arbor Artists Juried Exhibition - University of Michigan League
Best in Show Award
2008 Forth from its Hinges - 3660 Plaza Drive, Ann Arbor, MI
2005 Wee - Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts. Grand Rapids, MI
2003 Strength of a Community, Women Make a Difference
2002 Undergraduate Exhibition
2000 National Portfolio Day Exhibition - Kendall Gallery; Grand Rapids, MI
Second Place Award
(Fundraiser for Girl Scouts of America)
Kendall College of Art and Design; Grand Rapids, MI
People’s Choice Award
Michigan State University Museum of Art; East Lansing, MI
Foundation Recognition Award
Key Award – Portfolio
AWARDS / GRANTS
2014 Leon Levy Foundation Grant - New York, NY
Ann Arbor Awesome Grant - Awesome Foundation for the Arts and Sciences
Phillip C. Curtis Fellowship - Albion College; Albion,MI
2011 Rackham Reseach Grant - University of Michigan
2010 Smucker-Wagstaff Grant - School of Art and Design, University of Michigan
International Research Grant - School of Art and Design, University of
Michigan
2009 Richardson Award - School of Art and Design, University of Michigan
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2015 MacDowell Artist Colony - Peterborough, NH
2014 Phillip C. Curtis Residency - Albion College; Albion, MI
2010 Visiting Artist Residency - The Greatmore Studios; Cape Town, South Africa
PUBLIC LECTURES
2014 Out of Sight: Slavery in America Today
Spring Arbor University 2nd Annual Human Trafficking Conference
Out of Sight: Slavery in America Today
Bobbitt Visual Arts Center, Albion, MI
2011 Slavery In America Today: A Creative Interrogation
Stamps Auditorium, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
2010 Creative Interventions: Thupelo 2010 - Cape Town
Guest Speaker Series, Ann Arbor Civic Center
REVIEWS
2015 Sculpture Magazine In the Shadows
http://blog.sculpture.org/2015/03/11/in-the-shadows/ 3 March 2015
2014 Sentinel Tribune BGSU Exhibit Honors Late Blooming Artist
2013 MLive Art Review: Ann Arbor Art Center Annual Exhibition blends
www.sent-trib.com/arts_and_entertainment 1 July 2014
Albion Pleiad Artist in Residence Explores Human Trafficking in U.S.
www.albionpleiad.com 17 February 2014
established artists with new talent. www.mlive.com 10 November
2013
2011 Detroit News From Ruin to Beauty, Thursday, 10 February 2011
2010 AnnArbor.com Gallery Project Exhibit Examines What's Faux Real
2009 Arts Lounge Change: Art Exhibition at Gallery Project
www.annarbor.com 10 August 2010
People’s Post, Cape Town On Show, 10 July 2010
www3.arts.umich.edu/lounge 24 January 2009
