Eric Clift-Thompson (He/They) is an Ohio transgender artist, storyteller, and educator whose zines combine poetry and short stories with printmaking and illustration to tell macabre fables that connect a horror niche of the LGBTQ community. His work has been featured in places such as Sean-Christopher Gallery, ROY G BIV Gallery, the cover of Botticelli Magazine, and the private collection of politician Morgan Harper. Eric’s dedication to accessibility and representation was recognized by Shawnee State University where he received the 2019 Lavender Graduation Campus Advocate Award the year he graduated magna cum laude with his BFA. He earned his MFA in Visual Arts at Columbus College of Art & Design where he also graduated magna cum laude, and is an adjunct professor at the Columbus College of Art & Design.
Eric finds inspiration in folklore, macabre aesthetics, alternative subcultures, and music- particularly the sounds and culture of early music.
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Education
2022 MFA magna cum laude, Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus, OH
2019 BFA magna cum laude, Visual Design, Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, OH
Teaching Experience
2024 Adjunct Professor, Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, OH
CORE1213.06 Intro to Drawing for Entertainment Design, Spring 2024
CORE1220.07 Intro to Drawing for Entertainment Design, Spring 2024
2023 Adjunct Professor, Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, OH
CORE1220.09 2D Creative Practices, Fall 2023
CORE1220.09 2D Creative Practices, Fall 2023
2023 Adjunct Professor, Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, OH
CORE1221.12 Visual Literacy, Spring 2023
CORE1213.04 Intro to Drawing for Entertainment Design, Spring 2023
2022 Adjunct Professor, Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, OH
CORE1110.08 Drawing Methods, Fall 2022
ILLU2031.02 Character and Environment Design, Fall 2022
2022 Adjunct Professor, Ohio Wesleyan University, Columbus, OH
Art 3571 Graphic Design I, Fall 2022
Art 3671 Graphic Design II, Fall 2022
2021-22 Teaching Assistant, Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, OH
CORE1221.06 Visual Literacy 2, Spring 2022
COMC3131.01 Comic Book Illustration, Fall 2021
Mentorship Roles
2024 Student Progress Assessment Evaluator, Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, OH
2023 Student Progress Assessment Evaluator, Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, OH
2022 Community Arts Incubator Mentor, Wild Goose Creative, Columbus, OH
Solo Shows and Exhibitions
2023 In Memoriam, Witchlab, Columbus, OH
Group Shows and Exhibitions
2023 I Love You, Say it Back, 400 West Rich, Columbus, OH
2023 The Amazing Cat Show, 400 West Rich, Columbus, OH
2022 Uplifting Our Trans and Nonbinary Family, 83 Gallery, Columbus, OH
2022 MFA Thesis Exhibition, Beeler Gallery, Columbus, OH
2022 Young Hearts 11, Sean Christopher Gallery, Columbus, OH
2021 Packed, Roy G BIV Gallery, Columbus, OH
2019 Senior Show, Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, OH, Honorable Mention
2018 Annual Student Show, Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, OH
2017 Annual Student Show, Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, OH
External Publications
2022 Familiar, Columbus Cartoon Coalition
2022 Various Art Contributions, Botticelli Magazine, Spring
2022 Various Poetry Contributions, Botticelli Magazine, Spring
2021 Cover, Botticelli Magazine, Fall
2021 Various Art Contributions, Botticelli Magazine, Fall
2021 Various Poetry Contributions, Botticelli Magazine, Fall
Self Publications
2023 The Sweet Sounds of a Vintage Death
2023 Super Creeps
2023 American Goth
2023 Vampthology, Book 2: In Memoriam
2022 My Very Best and Faithfullest Friend in the Whole World
2022 I AM GROTESQUE
2022 Girls Girls GORE
2022 Vampthology, Book 1: Cycle
Public Art
2022 Mural, Our Farm Sanctuary, Tipp City, OH
Collections
2022 Morgan Harper, Columbus, OH
Juried Fairs
2023 The Dark Market (Columbus, OH)
2023 Flavortown Zine Fest (Columbus, OH)
2022 Street Cat Zine Fest (Chillicothe, OH)
2022 CCAD Spring Art Fair & Marketplace (Columbus, OH)
2022 Columbus Alternative Art Book Fair (Columbus, OH)
Interviews
2023 Meet Eric Clift-Thompson, CanvasRebel
2023 Death, loss inform new queer vampire zine from Eric Clift-Thompson, Matter News
2023 The Endless Creative Possibilities of Zines, Arts Midwest
2023 Local Gems, Voyage Ohio Magazine
Awards & Grants
2024 CCAD Teaching Excellence Award Nominee
2023 Faculty Enrichment Grant- International Research Trip for Comic Project
2019 Lavender Graduation Campus Advocate Award, Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, OH
Presentations, Panels, and Public Speaking
2024 The Lab: Comics Reading, Guest Reader
2023 AFSCME Council 8 and CMA Workers United Solidarity Rally Speaker
2019 Panelist at Tri-State Diversity and Inclusion Conference, Morehead State University, Morehead, KY
Arts Event Organization Experience
2021-22. Art Fair & Marketplace, Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus, OH
Design Experience
2023 Print and Digital Advertisements, Photo Editing, and Vector Work, AFSCME Council 8, Columbus, OH
2023 Social Media, Signage, and Flyers, CMA Workers United, Columbus, OH
2019 Student Technical Employee and Designer, Clark Memorial Library, Portsmouth, OH
2019 Logo, LUMMA Consulting & Training Institute
2018 Branding and Materials, TAGUS: The Amazing Giants
Certifications
2017 Escalation Workshop Facilitator Certification, The One Love Foundation
References
Available Upon Request