About the Author

Keriann Kirkeng

I’m Keriann Kirkeng, a high school visual art teacher in Wisconsin currently working with students in grades 9-12, and I also teach K-8 summer school clay classes. I currently teach a range of studio courses including Art Foundations, drawing, painting, photography, ceramics, and sculpture. I received my Bachelor of Science in Art Education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where I also did Undergraduate research in Color Theory and intaglio printmaking with the artist Swietlan Kracznya in Barga, Italy.

My path into art education was lovingly shaped for eight years by working in the world of adapted art education, where I developed the love of both accessible artmaking and community engagement. Before transitioning to my current high school role I worked in arts programming at the university level, helping develop creative experiences that connected artists, educators, and audiences. This background continues to influence my teaching today. I am always looking for ways to help connect my students with the world beyond the four walls of my classroom—or better yet, beyond the school—so they can see themselves as a part of the larger cultural and creative world.

I first felt connected to The Art of Education community while I was a new teacher and AOE was primarily a digital magazine source. At the time, I was the only teacher in my district, and AOEU was the only place I could find new perspectives, practical ideas, and gain a sense of community that I deeply needed. I attended one of the early digital conferences and listened to the podcasts religiously.

Over the past decade plus of teaching, I’ve discovered how much I enjoy learning about new approaches to teaching art, developing curriculum, and writing about art education. I am especially interested in how art educators can use shared experiences to help their students connect their creativity to the world around them. Over the past several years, I have also begun sharing my ideas and lessons with other art teachers through my writing and enjoy connecting my classroom to the greater art ed community.