Faculty and staff

Shel Stefan (they) received a BFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Notre Dame (1996) in South Bend, Indiana, USA, and an MFA in Studio Art from Maine College of Art & Design (2006) in Portland, Maine, USA. They have published, lectured, and exhibited their artwork in the USA, Canada, Italy, and China.

Born in Chicago and a member of the LGBTQI2+ community, they have taught Visual Arts at the university for 15+ years and believe that art is a tool for social change and a vehicle for social and poetic justice. 

For over 2 decades, Stefan’s art practice has been rooted in an investigation of queer selfhood, making art and ideas that examine, redefine, and/or revel in notions of queer identity, gender, body, sexuality, and subculture.

Stefan has served at UFV as Department Head of Visual Arts (2015-2019), President’s EDI Task Force Member, SoCA Standing Committee Chair for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion + Human Rights, and Artist Mentor for the BLM Social Justice Art Project (2021). 

Stefan’s current teaching focus is in Figure Drawing and Figure Painting at UFV and they serve as a member of the UFV Senate, currently representing the Humanities for the College of Arts.

Foundations, Drawing, Painting, Community Arts Practice, Figure Drawing, Figure Painting