We had the good fortune of connecting with Mia Mulvey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mia, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I have always been interested in being an artist. I did take a short detour: one summer in college I took an Anatomy and Physiology class and loved it! When I went back to school in the fall, I changed my major to pre-med, but after a year my love of art drew me back. I have kept my interest in science, but art has allowed me the freedom and ability to think about things from a wider, more creative perspective.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My artwork explores the recording of time, climate change, and our relationship to remote landscapes through forms such as ancient trees, ice, and geology. I have been fortunate to be able to do field research in locations such as Scandinavia, the western US, and the Arctic Circle.

In an effort to honor the “ground truth” of specific locations, my process involves utilizing technology to sculpturally record and investigate the environment: as a way to see. Such technologies include 3d scanning (photogrammetry), digital photography, audio recording and 3D printing. My work is grounded in the sculptural use of clay (ceramics) but I also work with other materials such as paper, felt and salt.

I am most excited about fieldwork as a part of my art practice. I love being outdoors, exploring different landscapes, and learning about how different systems and ecologies work This summer I will be returning to Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Circle, for an artist residency. While there I plan to do some 3D-scanning, field recording, hunt for glacial clay, and explore sculptural actions with large objects made from paper and fabric… Oh, and search for micrometeorites.

Alongside being an artist, I have also been an educator. I didn’t initially set out to be a teacher, but I have done a lot of it. After I completed my undergraduate degree at ASU, I taught art in elementary and middle school for 5 years before going to graduate school at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. Eventually, I returned to Colorado (I grew up in Louisville) where I am a Professor at the University of Denver. I am always exploring new things and while I have been there for (gulp) 20 years I feel like it has been 3!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love a good road trip and being outside. We’d head south to do some hiking around Pagosa Springs (V-rock Trail), explore Mesa Verde (take a cliff dwelling tour!) and then make our way to Crested Butte. I would end with a night of food and drink back in Denver on South Pearl St in the Platte Park neighborhood.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There have been a lot of people along the way who supported my path. My parents, husband, and children have always been there for me; believing in my ideas and interests and my ability to pursue my passions. I love books, so I’d also give a shoutout to one of my favorites, The Mapmaker’s Dream by James Cowen.

Website: MiaMulveyStudio.com

Instagram: @miamulveystudio

Image Credits
Images 1-4: Wes Magyar 5-8:

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