Exhibition by Bethanie Irons
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of PhD, Art Education.

Reception & Curator Talk: Friday, August 24, 4:30-6:30pm

Exhibition Statement:

“Friends with Benefits” is an exhibition by University of Missouri student Bethanie Irons, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of PhD, Art Education. This exhibition focuses on the marriage between materiality and technology and examines how artists, teachers, and researchers can embrace the potentials of engagement with online art communities. Through this collaboration, thematic lines of inquiry and collections are shared, re-orienting the thought process of the viewer and establishing them as both a participant and maker of content and cooperative experiences.

Biography:

Bethanie Irons is an artist, educator, and curator. She earned her BFA in painting from the University of South Dakota and her MFA in painting from the University of Missouri. She is currently a PhD student in Art Education at the University of Missouri, with an emphasis in college teaching and teaching with technology.  Bethanie has shown her work internationally, including exhibitions in Germany, United Kingdom, and Australia and has been featured in numerous print publications including New American Paintings and Friend of the Artist. Since 2015, she has curated the online-only gallery PLEAT, featuring artists from around the world, including the Philippines, Australia, Germany, and United Kingdom.