Stephanie J. Woods
MFA Studio Art 2015
BFA Studio Arts 2013
Stephanie J. Woods almost didn’t make it to UNC Greensboro, and once she got there, she almost didn’t stay:
“I chose UNCG because I’m from Charlotte, and I wanted to take advantage of the in-state tuition. Many of my peers spoke highly of UNCG, which encouraged me to apply. Interestingly, I was initially denied admission but later received an email saying there had been a mistake, and I was accepted—something I am truly grateful for.”
Unsure of what she wanted to study, Woods left UNCG after the first year to explore options at a community college and other universities. But she says she always felt drawn back:
“Even though I initially didn’t consider pursuing a degree in art, the beautiful architecture of the Gatewood Building kept calling to me. Eventually, I discovered my passion for sculpture, which led me to finish my degree at UNCG and to continue on to graduate school. That experience profoundly changed my life.”
Woods credits School of Art professors with providing guidance and encouragement:
“My professors were refreshingly honest and unfiltered, which I deeply appreciated. They provided candid feedback about my work, helping me understand what I needed to do to progress and how my pieces could resonate beyond my personal perspective. The encouragement I received during challenging moments also shaped my journey as my professors celebrated my successes while holding me accountable to dive deeper into my practice.”
Woods says her professors prepared her in many ways for the career she has now as a multi-disciplinary artist and educator:
“Mariam Stephan (Professor of Painting) provided the honesty I needed, pushing me to refine my practice and prepare for job interviews by highlighting nuances that I could improve upon. She has paved the way for my teaching career as an interdisciplinary professor, offering invaluable guidance on which classes I should teach during my time in and out of graduate school. I am incredibly grateful for her support.
“Barbara Campbell Thomas (Director of the School of Art and Professor of Printmaking, Painting, and Drawing) helped me find my voice as an artist and reassured me that it was okay to pursue my unique path. Her constant encouragement has been invaluable and is something I strive to bring into the classroom now as a professor at the University of New Mexico.”
Asked about her favorite memory of campus, Woods says it’s the time she spent in the ceramics studio:
“It was there that I truly dedicated myself to art and grasped what it meant to be an artist. I would spend all day in the ceramics classroom, often arriving at 6:00 am and staying until evening. I even went in during holidays! The School provided incredible access, which was vital for someone like me who was just starting to learn about art:
“Nikki Blair (Professor of Sculpture and Ceramics) played a crucial role in helping me secure funding for my first artist residency, an experience that opened my eyes to community and collaboration with other artists. Since that first opportunity, I have attended numerous residencies. Plus, Nikki always made sure I had plenty to eat—thanks, Nikki! —especially since I spent long hours in her lab!
“I also met my husband in the ceramics lab, making that a highlight of my time at UNCG.
“Another unforgettable experience was studying abroad in Australia during graduate school. It was fully funded and marked my first trip overseas—an experience that was truly life-changing.”
Story by Terri W Relos
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Stephanie J. Woods is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she serves as an Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Art at the University of New Mexico. Born in Seneca, South Carolina, and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, she cultivates an artistic practice that focuses on preserving and celebrating her culture.
In 2021 Woods was selected to attend the Black Rock Senegal artist residency in Dakar, Senegal. Additionally, in the same year, she was awarded the 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art by the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, South Carolina. Woods has also been honored with several other awards, residencies, and fellowships, including the 2022 Harpo Prize, the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts Residency, the Fine Arts Work Center Fellowship, ACRE Residency, the McColl Center for Art + Innovation, Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists’ Residency, and the Penland School of Craft.
Her work is featured in permanent collections at the Virginia Museum of Fine Art, the Gibbes Museum of Art, and the Mint Museum, among others. Additionally, she has been featured in BOMB Magazine, Art Papers, Lenscratch, Burnaway, and the Boston Art Review.
Bio provided by Stephanie J. Woods
