Michael Sonnichsen
Mike Sonnichsen
Associate Professor, Art & Design Program Director of Graduate Studies
AAN 205
208-885-6851
Art and Design Program, University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 2471
Moscow, ID 83844-2471
Mike Sonnichsen’s creative research involves the techniques and approaches of printmaking, experimental photography, and light driven sculpture. These mediums and their specific biases are utilized to explore and reveal unexpected qualities involving visual perception, geometric systems, and our designed material culture. He grew up in Puerto Rico, studied architecture, photography, and various printmaking forms, and shares with students a love of hand printmaking craft and conceptual possibilities.
- M.F.A., University of New Mexico, printmaking emphasis, 2005
- Tamarind Professional Printer, Tamarind Institute, 2002
- Bachelor of Architecture, Virginia Tech, 1990
Courses
- ART 251: Printmaking I
- ART 280: Understanding Photography
- ART 350: Intermediate/Advanced Printmaking
- ART 490 BFA Art/Design Studio
- ART 500: Master's Research and Thesis
- ART 507: Art Seminar
- ART 515: Art Faculty Studio
- ART 516: MFA/MAT Art Studio
- ART 521: MFA Individual Critique
- ART 590: MFA Thesis Exhibition
- ART 597: Graduate Practicum
- Printmaking
- Letterpress and book arts
- Experimental photography
- Light-driven and found-object sculpture
- Continuing organization of the Annual Student Print & Ceramics Sale
- Faculty advisor of the Vandal Printmakers’ Guild and Print Club
- 2018 2nd Prize, "6th Biennial Footprint International Competition", Center for Contemporary Printmaking, Norwalk, CT. (Juror: Susan Tallman)
- 2018 Acquisition of 13 prints for the Artist/Printmaker Research Collection, Museum of Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
- 2018 Seed Grant, University of Idaho Office of Research and Economic Development. Project Abstract: “Domestic Objects Visually Reframed Through Hybrid Photographic and Print Processes”
- 2017 U. Idaho Alumni Award for Teaching Excellence (nomination: Shanti Friedman)
- 2016 2nd Prize, Paper Jam II Juried Show, Bone Black Gallery, Austin, TX (Juror: Gary Uribe)
- 2014 Acquisition of "Security" (Sonnichsen, 2013) for the Arts of the Book Collection, Haas Art Library Special Collections, Yale University.