Description

Position Overview

The Department of Visual Art in partnership with departments in Earth Sciences and Environmental Studies at the University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS) is pleased to invite applications for the Lance Williams Residency in the Arts & Sciences. We are looking for artists in all disciplines with affinities for art and science research, interdisciplinary correspondence, collaboration, and practice. The successful candidate should be eager to incorporate the vast resources of the university and the greater Lawrence and Kansas City region into the context of both their studio practice and classroom. The candidate will teach undergraduate level classes in the Fall and Spring term of their residence, further their creative work and research while on campus, and deliver a public presentation about their activities during their residency.

This visionary gift from the Lance Williams Opportunity Fund provides an honorarium of $42,000 to support the candidate throughout the duration of their 9-month, two-semester long residency. The Department of Visual Art also offers the fellow the opportunity to teach up to two undergraduate courses as a lecturer and will be compensated for $5,000 per 3-credit hour course (in addition to the honorarium offered above). Class offerings will be based on department needs but may include an Art and Ecology course that is cross listed in Sculpture and Environmental Biology, or the option to teach a Special Topics course to be determined by the candidate's interests and research.

The candidate will be given a studio space in the Department of Visual Art and the opportunity to further develop their art practice in the community of students, other visiting artists, and faculty members across several departments. Examples of facilities the visiting artist will have access to include the Interdisciplinary Ceramic Research Center (ICRC), the KU Biological Field Station as well as facilities within the Department of Visual Art such as the Sculpture Area, Common Shop and VAST Lab.

Candidates are required to have an MFA or equivalent professional experience, one-year minimum teaching experience, a well-developed portfolio and exhibition record. They should be conversant in contemporary art issues and studio practices, enthusiastic about teaching in a multicultural setting and engaging with a diverse range of researchers.

KU's excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other's success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things. Must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.

The dates for this 9 month-long, two semester appointment are August 18, 2026, to May 16, 2027.
Initial review of applications will begin April 20th, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.

Job Description

Artist-in-Residence (60%) - Develop and create an inspiring and cohesive body of work that explores intersections in the Arts and Sciences.

• Work actively in the studio daily.
• Serve as a role model to students by exhibiting good judgment, developing appropriate student/mentor relationships, and abiding all KU policies.
• Purchase all supplies and materials relevant to studio practice with no expectation that supplies will be provided by the Department of Visual Art.
• Leaves facilities at Chalmers Hall, ICRC and Slawson Hall in the condition in which they were found. All broken equipment costs come out of A.I.R.'s budget and negligent use of facilities may result in lack of reappointment, where relevant, or disciplinary action.

Teaching (40%) $5,000 per 3-credit hour course

• Teach a minimum of one course per semester, and a maximum of two courses per semester, as a lecturer in the Department of Visual Art.
• Courses can include (but not limited to) Fundamentals of Sculpture (ART 122), Visual Art Foundations (ART 103), Drawing I and II and Special Topics course in Art + Ecology (Sculpture 330/630 and Environmental Studies 330/630).
• Work with Chairperson, Graduate and Undergraduate Directors, as well as relevant faculty across departments, to identify students with interdisciplinary interests in the Arts and Sciences.
• Develop assignments, administer critiques, evaluate student work, provide feedback to students, and assign grades.
• Adhere to departmental, college and university policies.
• Faculty members prepare for and attend all class meetings, hold regular office hours for students enrolled in classes taught. In case of absence, the lecturer must make arrangements with the Department for a substitute to teach class. Classes should not be canceled.
• Foster interdisciplinary engagements between students in Ecology/Environmental Studies and Visual Art.

Required Qualifications

1. MFA or terminal degree in a related field.
2. Demonstrated interest and investment in interdisciplinary Art and Science research and practice.
3. Excellence in both the technical and conceptual aspects of contemporary artmaking.
4. Demonstrated ability to teach across and between disciplines in Visual Art and Sciences.
5. Excellent organizational skills.
6. Demonstrated evidence of active studio work and exhibition history.

Additional Candidate Instruction

Evaluation of the following required documents will be made through:

1. Letter of application (1 page maximum)
2. CV
3. An artist's statement (1 page maximum)
4. A teaching statement (1 page maximum)
5. Contact Information, including full name, affiliations or title, and email address for up to three references.
6. Research Portfolio. Provide a single PDF containing 10 images, videos, or audio files of artwork. For audio and video, please provide a link to media hosted online, such as YouTube, Vimeo, or SoundCloud. Provide a brief description of each image including title, media, year of project. (If your file is larger than 5MB, please email as an attachment to visualart@ku.edu with "Lance Williams Residency in the Arts & Sciences" as the subject.)

Initial review of applications will begin April 20, 2026 and continues until the position is filled.

Disclaimer

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and procedures and is the Title IX Coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY. Reports can be submitted by contacting the Title IX Coordinator as provided herein or using the Title IX online report form and complaints can be submitted with the Title IX Coordinator or using the Title IX online complaint form.