The department’s own Jessica Jacobs (Assistant Professor) and Sandra Kumorowski (Assistant Professor) have been collaborating on a project that examines the success of artists through their personal marketing techniques. In March, the culmination of this project will be their presentation at the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association (PCA/ACA) Conference in Seattle, WA on their findings.

This collaborative research sheds light on the paradigm shifts and critical moments that have shaped the trends of personal marketing and brand building for artists over the last 100 years. One of the highlighted artists in this project include Raphael, the 15th century Italian painter and architect who gained popularity with his audience by featuring politicians and philosophers in his paintings. A more contemporary artist featured is Murakami, a Japanese contemporary artist who solidified a partnership with the fashion powerhouse Louis Vuitton to expand his brand.

The collaboration between Jessica and Sandra has truly enriched our department by bringing together faculty with differing, yet complimentary expertise to investigate a new topic in marketing, something that is most certainly integrated into the classroom. Their backgrounds in art history from the arts management and marketing perspectives encourage students to create their own self sustaining careers.