Lydia Humphreys
Lydia Humphreys is an artist from Joplin Mo, where she got her Bachelor of Fine Arts emphasis in painting, at Missouri Southern State University. Currently, Humphreys is a Master of Fine Arts candidate at Wichita State University in Kansas. She is the graduate advisor for ShiftSpace Art Gallery and the gallery coordinator for the Clayton Staples Gallery.
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Humphreys is currently studying post sexual trauma through a variety of media and collaborative processes that provide individuals with a platform to share their story through body autonomy. These methods provide various ways for the audience to grow empathy by learning symptoms, phrases, and behaviors of post trauma. The products of these collaborations act as a visual protest to a world that has so willingly ignored the voices of individuals who have encountered sexual trauma.
Statement:
Society’s lack of empathy towards individuals who have suffered from trauma, particularly sexual assault and rape, is appallingly problematic. I am interested in addressing this problem by giving people insight into the emotional reactions from such an event.
My practice centers on consent, bodily autonomy, and control. These elements are undermined through a traumatic sexual encounter. My work restores bodily autonomy through my collaborative process of body printing; where I assist the individual in documenting and reclaiming the pose they were assaulted in. The recorded dialogue and anonymous "Sharing your story" provide individuals a space where they regain control of their narratives by choosing what to share and how to frame it. Throughout each process I ask for consent and in turn give the individual control on whether or not the artwork is shown or sold. This control lasts for as long as the artwork is in my possession.
Many survivors describe the isolation that follows sexual trauma as haunting, and find society’s lack of understanding exhausting. The theft of consent, bodily autonomy, and control are all factors that deter people from healing and my process aims to correct these factors.
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Education:
2019 - Present, MFA, Wichita State University Graduate Program, KS.
2015 - 2018, BFA, Missouri Southern State University, Joplin MO.
2012 - 2013, Crowder College, Webb City MO.
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International Experience:
2019, Spring Study Abroad in Australia
2016, Study Abroad, Summer in Sweden.
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Awards and Honors:
2019 - 2021 Graduate Teaching Assistantship, Presented by Wichita State University, KS.
2020, Ulrich Museum of Art Scholarship, Presented by Ulrich Alliance, KS.
2018, Art Department Scholarship, Presented by Missouri Southern State University, MO.
2017, Theater Performance Award, Presented by Missouri Southern State University, MO.
2016, Art Department scholarship, Presented by Missouri Southern State University, MO.
2016, US Bank scholarship, Presented by US Bank Joplin MO.
2016, Theater Performance Award, Presented by Missouri Southern State University, MO.
2016, Travel Abroad Scholarship for Summer in Sweden, Presented by Missouri Southern State University, MO.
2015, Theater Performance Award, Presented by Missouri Southern State University, MO.
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Exhibitions:
2020, December Group Show, Jones Gallery, Kansas City MO.
2020, Just Like a Woman, Cultural Center of Cape Cod, Online Group Exhibit.
2020, Defying Oppressive Memories, Cadman Art Gallery, Solo Show, Wichita KS.
2020, The Spice Girls, Looking Glass Cadaman Art Gallery, Wichita KS.
2020, Sandbox Soup, Group Installation Show, Shiftspace Art Gallery, Wichita KS.
2020, January Group Show, Jones Gallery, Kansas City MO.
2019, The Newbies, Project Space Gallery, Wichita, KS.
2019, Historic Preservation Month, Group Show, Joplin Public Library, Joplin MO.
2019, Themed Australia Semester Show, MSSU Spiva Art Gallery, Joplin, MO.
2019, AKMA Juried Undergraduate Exhibition, Albrecht Kemper Museum, St. Joseph, MO.
2018, Senior Exhibit, Missouri Southern State University Spiva Art Gallery, Joplin, MO.
2018, Spiva Membership Show, Spiva Center for the Arts, Joplin, MO.
2018, Solo Exhibit, Bookhouse Cinema, Joplin MO.
2017, Spiva Membership Show, Spiva Center for the Arts, Joplin, MO.
2017, Portraits, Solo Exhibit, Post Art Library, Joplin MO.
2016, The Search, Solo Exhibit, Art Walk, Frosted Cakerie, Joplin, MO.
2016, Body Prints, Solo Exhibit, Art Walk, Frosted Cakerie, Joplin, MO.
2016, Summer in Sweden Exhibit, Joplin Public Library, Joplin, MO.
2015 - 2016, Student Exhibit, Focal Point Art Gallery, Joplin, MO.
2016, Group Exhibit, Instant Karma, Joplin MO.
2016, Group Exhibit, Friday Wine Share, Infuxn Art Gallery, Joplin, MO.
2016, Vivid Magazine Holiday Party, Solo Exhibit, Downtown Joplin Alliance, Joplin, MO.
2016, No Barren Wasteland, Group Exhibit, RSVPaint, Joplin, MO.
2016, Pop Up Restaurant, Group Exhibit, Focal Point, Joplin, MO.
2015, Group Exhibit, Friday Wine Share, Infuxn art Gallery. Joplin, MO
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Professional Experience:
2020 - Present, Clayton Staples Graduate Coordinator, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS.
2019 - Present, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS.
2019 - Present, ShiftSpace Art Gallery, Graduate Advisor, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS.
2019 - 2020, Clayton Staples Gallery Assistant, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS.
2018 - 2019, Joplin Public Library Makerspace Assistant, Joplin, MO.
2018, Grisaille Painting Demo, Missouri Southern State University, MO.
2017, Summer Art Camps & Classes, Instructor, Spiva Center for the Arts, Joplin MO.
2017, Boys and Girls Club, Painting Class, Joplin MO.
2017, Private Drawing Tutor, Joplin MO.
2017, MSSU Paint in the Oval Class, Joplin MO.
2016 - 2017, RSV Paint, Instructor, Joplin Mo.
2015 - 2017, Theater Department Graphic Designer, Missouri Southern State University, MO.
2016, Graphic Designer, Downtown Joplin Alliance, MO.
2014 - 2016, Downtown Joplin Alliance, Intern, Art Committee, MO.
2015 - 2016, Focal Point Art Gallery, President, Joplin MO.
2015 - 2016, Gallery Assistant, Missouri Southern State University, MO.
2015, Blasters Mural, Joe Becker Stadium, Joplin MO.
2015, Art Feeds, Teacher, Joplin schools, MO.
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Memberships:
2017 - 2018 - Spiva Center for the Arts , Member, MO.
2015 - 2016, Focal Point Art Gallery, Student Group, Joplin MO.
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Bibliography:
“Clean Margins,” Harbor Review, June 2020.
“Exhibitions Feature Works by Recent Graduates”, Crossroads Magazine, Summer 2019 Edition.
Gaytan, Victoria, Graduate’s Work on Display at the Albrect-Kemper Museum, The Chart, 04/24/2019.
Blixt Art and Design Publication MSSU, Volume 12, 2018, Page 6.
“Reception Marks Opening at Joplin Public Library,” Joplin Globe, 10/10/2017.
Sullivan, Jill Halbac , “Lydia Humphreys New Portrait Series,” Post Art Library Blog, 08/02/2017.
MSSU Blixt Art and Design, Volume 10, 2016, Page 24.
Ericksen, Ashley , “Mural Celebrates Joplin’s Ties to Baseball”, Crossroads Magazine, 2015.
Younker, Emily , “MSSU Art Students Complete Baseball Mural For Joe Becker Stadium,” Joplin Globe, 28/02/2015.
“Mural Celebrating Joplin’s Baseball History to be Unveiled At Joe Becker Stadium,” MOSO Minutes, 28/02/2015.