Derek Cracco

In the Swim: “At first, it was a bit like making art in a fish bowl, but now it doesn’t bother me,” says Derek Cracco, associate professor of printmaking, of his window-filled studio. The “abundance of natural light and having clean, dust-free workspace” helped Cracco overcome his initial reservations. So did the ready access to “active and engaging colleagues.”

Romance Language: “My works use collaged ephemera, such as romance novels, 1950s pinups, and men’s health magazines to explore society’s fantasies and fascination with romance,” Cracco says. “The imagery challenges the viewer to consider the ideals promoted by these pulp publications, and to compare them with the realities of their own lives and the concepts of romantic love.”

Learn more about Cracco and see additional examples of his work here