ArtsGala

Andrew Dailey '05, Art

"I know that the support these scholarships provide will foster the creative efforts of a new wave of student talent and dedication."

Tell us more about you and your life, your profession, and your successes.

After receiving my B.F.A. from Wright State in 2005, I went on to obtain an M.F.A. with a concentration in painting and drawing from Miami University in 2009. I taught as an adjunct art professor at Wright State, Miami University at Middletown, and The University of Dayton. In 2011, I was honored to receive an Individual Excellence Award from the Ohio Arts Council. I actively create art and show my artwork at a local, regional, and national level including an exhibition in Pilsen, Czech Republic. In December 2018, I showed a large-scale site-specific drawing at the Dayton Visual Arts Center and have another similar piece on view at the Neon Heater Gallery in Findlay, Ohio.

Right now, I work as the cultural arts program supervisor for the City of Kettering, Ohio—primarily at Rosewood Arts Centre. There, I oversee the art educational and art galleries programs, as well as supervise more than 50 contracted art instructors and regular staff throughout the year. I’m an active member of the Dayton Visual Arts Center, Americans for the Arts, and the Ohio Arts Education Association. In 2016, I was honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award from Wright State University’s Department of Art and Art History.

What is your favorite Wright State memory?

On-campus, my favorite memories were the friendships and mentors I found as a student. Another favorite memory was participating in the Department of Art and Art History’s ambassador program to Italy in 2004. That was a vastly transformative experience for me both as an artist and as a person.

What did receiving the ARTSGALA scholarship mean to you?

Receiving the ARTSGALA scholarship has meant an awful lot to me. At the time, it lifted some of the burden of paying tuition. That allowed me to work my job a little less and focus on my studies more. For me, that time was huge. It was also an acknowledgment that I was on the right track as an art student. That recognition came at a time when I was learning a lot and, as a result, was a little insecure about who I was as an artist. Receiving the scholarship was a big boost to my confidence that had a lasting effect long afterward.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I am happy to see the ARTSGALA program is in its 20th year. I know that the support these scholarships provide will foster the creative efforts of a new wave of student talent and dedication.