By 1812Blockhouse
The Ohio State University has named Kate Shannon, associate professor in the Department of Art at Ohio State Mansfield, as its 2025-26 Artist Laureate. Beginning July 1, Shannon will serve a one-year term during which she will lead community-based art initiatives across the state. Recognized for her dynamic approach to photography and community engagement, she becomes the third faculty member to hold this prestigious appointment.
“Kate’s talent lies in empowering community members to share their narratives,” said Lisa Florman, Vice Provost for the Arts. “She has made a profound impact through her work with historical photographs and community engagement, and as Artist Laureate, she will continue to be an exemplary ambassador.”
A Campus Celebrates Its Own
Shannon’s appointment is a source of pride at Ohio State Mansfield, where she’s been a creative and academic force since 2009.
“Kate Shannon is the ideal professor — generous, talented, humble, and brilliant,” said Jason Opal, dean and director of Ohio State Mansfield. “We’re thrilled and honored to have Ohio State’s Artist Laureate on our campus.”
In addition to her teaching and creative work, Shannon co-manages the Conard Art Gallery alongside Professor John Thrasher and is known for her cross-disciplinary collaborations, including recent partnerships with biologists at the Mansfield campus.
Workshops Rooted in History and Innovation
As Artist Laureate, Shannon will host a series of hands-on workshops statewide, inviting Ohioans to connect with the legacy of photography. Using early photographic techniques such as cyanotype — a 19th-century process that creates vivid blue images without a camera — Shannon will help participants create their own art inspired by local history.
The workshops will also feature historic photographs and engage participants in discussions about how photography shapes memory and culture. Shannon plans to involve local historians, archivists, and community members, encouraging them to contribute family photos and stories to celebrate Ohio’s visual heritage.
Digital Tools Meet Historical Archives
Shannon’s own work reflects her dual focus on historical media and modern technology. Her digitally manipulated photographs have been exhibited nationally, and she recently curated an exhibit of 19th-century American photographs at Ohio State’s Rare Books & Manuscripts Library.
She’s currently developing a new project funded by the Greater Columbus Arts Council that uses digital tools to reinterpret historical photographs — a creative effort that underscores her commitment to blending tradition with innovation.
Artistry, Pedagogy, and Recognition
Throughout her career, Shannon has earned accolades for both her scholarship and teaching, including the 2013 Ohio State Mansfield Award for Excellence in Scholarship and the 2010 Award for Excellence in Teaching. She teaches a range of courses in photography, digital imaging, and expanded media, and continues to experiment with integrating AI into her classroom practice.
Artist Laureate Program: A Growing Tradition
Launched in 2023, the Ohio State Artist Laureate program aims to expand the university’s arts presence across Ohio. Each year, a new Artist Laureate leads public-facing artistic programming rooted in their discipline. Previous honorees include Nyama McCarthy-Brown (Dance) and Kevin McClatchy (Theatre, Film, and Media Arts), whose projects reached regional campuses and community partners throughout the state.
With her appointment, Kate Shannon brings a new lens to the role — one that reveals the enduring power of images to connect us with the past and with each other.
Source, Photo: OSUM
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