Ten Ringling College of Art and Design Illustration students created a series of biographical sketches for the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) based upon the lives of ten women artists whose work is featured in the Museum’s collection. With aligned missions to inspire creativity and provide platforms for professional experience, the project was a collaboration between SAAM and Ringling College’s INDEX program.  As winners of the INDEX competition, the ten students created short comics comprised of 12 to 16 frames apiece to convey the story of each of the ten women artists, some of whom may not have received the attention they deserved in their lifetimes.

The ten winning students were chosen from the 29 Illustration students that entered the Ringling College INDEX competition. Each winning student received a $1,000 award and the opportunity to gain professional experience by working on Drawn to Art: Ten Tales of Inspiring Women Artists. All ten comics are viewable at americanart.si.edu/art/art-comics.

“This INDEX project with the Smithsonian American Art Museum has been a phenomenal career-advancing opportunity for our students,” said Ringling College of Art and Design President Dr. Larry R. Thompson. “Working to tell the stories of these important women artists has drawn upon our students’ talent, creativity and ability to work collaboratively with faculty advisors and Smithsonian American Art Museum staff, providing valuable professional experience prior to graduation. We are very impressed with, and proud of, their work.”