Priscilla Briggs

Associate Professor

Art and Art History

As a practicing artist, my work has evolved with my life experiences. I first realized my passion for the photographic image as a college student, when I spent every spare cent I had to buy film and photo paper. Since then, my work has evolved from portraiture to a more concept-driven approach to art-making. Lately, I have focused on themes related to the excessive consumption characteristic of capitalist societies. This focus emerges from a concern for the environment and global economic inequities, as well as an interest in how identity and values are shaped or influenced by advertising and consumerism.

Since graduating with a BA degree from Carnegie Mellon, my career path has been varied. Before coming to teach at Gustavus four years ago, I had many experiences teaching studio arts to students of all ages and diverse backgrounds. I enjoy teaching within the liberal arts mission of Gustavus and guiding students in their experience of the visual arts as both an intuitive and intellectual process.

Currently, I teach both Digital and Darkroom Photography, Video Art and Interactive Media at Gustavus. My own video works have been screened in venues such as the Charles Theater in Baltimore, MD, the Women's Caucus for the Arts International Film Festival in Boston, MA, and the School of Visual Arts in New York, NY. My various installation works have been exhibited at the Manchester Craftsman's Guild in Pittsburgh, PA, Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MN, and the Minnesota Center for Photography in Minneapolis, MN.