Nate Theisen
Professor of Art+Design and Co-Chair of Art+Design Department
Art, Art+Design, Tradigital, Graphic Design

Part of Belhaven since 2002

Contact Info
601-965-1451

Education

  • M.F.A. – Painting with Sculpture Minor (2001)
    Wichita State University, Wichita, KS
  • B.F.A. – Painting (Magna Cum Laude, 1998)
    University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD
  • Apprenticeship under German Sculptor Anatol Herzfeld (1998)
    Insel Hombroich, Neuss, Germany, Feb., 1-28

Nate Theisen, professor of art, teaches sculpture, two- and three-dimensional design, and painting. He received his B.F.A. with an emphasis in painting from the University of South Dakota and an M.F.A. with a major in painting and a minor in sculpture from Wichita State University. 

He also apprenticed in Germany under sculptor Anatol Herzfeld, a student of Joseph Beuys. Previously, Mr. Theisen taught at Butler County Community College in Kansas and Wichita State University. 

His work has been shown in numerous solo, group, and juried exhibitions throughout the Midwest and South. His recent awards include a Visual Arts Fellowship Grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission; First Place at the 28th Annual Juried Exhibit in Texarkana, Texas; Second Place at the 24th Southeast Regional Juried Fine Arts Exhibition in Fort Walton Beach, Florida; and in 2015, Best of Show at the Mississippi Collegiate Art Faculty Juried Exhibition in Laurel, Mississippi.  

Teaching Experience

  • 2020-Present, Co-Chair, Art and Design Department, Belhaven University, Jackson, MS

  • 2002-Present, Professor of Art, Belhaven University, Jackson, MS      

    • Design I, II, III 
    • Sculpture I-VI 
    • Painting I-VI 
    • Perspectives on Creativity and Art 
    • Form and Meaning I-IV 
    • High Scholars: Art I-IV 
    • Art Appreciation                                   

      

  • 2011-2015, Instructor, Belhaven University Online Campus    

  • 2001-2002 , Adjunct Lecturer, Wichita State University and Butler County Community College   

Awards

  • 2021 Best of Show, 2021 Regional Art Competition, Thames Conference Center, Copiah Lincoln Community College, Wesson, MS, Juror: Dennis Sipiorski 
  • 2016 Visual Arts Fellowship Grant, Mississippi Arts Commission 
  • 2016 1st Place, 28th Annual Juried Exhibition, Regional Arts Center, Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council, Texarkana, TX 
  • 2016 2nd Place, 24th Southeast Regional Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, Mattie Kelly Arts Center Galleries, Northwest Florida State College, Fort Walton Beach, FL 
  • 2016 3rd Place in 3d category, 58th Annual Juried Show, Gadsden Museum of Art, Gadsden Art Association, Gadsden, AL 
  • 2015 Best of Show, Mississippi Collegiate Art Faculty Juried Exhibition, Lauren Rodgers Museum of Art, Laurel, MS 
  • 2000 First Place Painting Award, Elements 2000
  • 2000 First Place Mixed Media Award, Elements 2000  
  • 1999 First Place Painting Award, Elements 1999
  • 1999 First Place Mixed Media Award, Elements 1999
  • 1998 - 2000 Clayton Staples Graduate Scholarship (Consecutive Semesters), W.S.U., Wichita, KS 
  • 1998 H.J. and A.B. Gunderson Art Scholarship, USD, Vermillion, SD 
  • 1997 Oscar Howe Art Scholarship, USD, Vermillion, SD 

Exhibitions- Solo and Group

  • 2023 ArtWork, Bitsy Irby Gallery, Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center, Jackson, MS, (catalogue)
  • 2021 In Sight, Collage, 806 Larson Street, Jackson, MS, Sept 10-22
  • 2014 Faculty Showcase Exhibition, Gallery, Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center, Jackson, MS
  • 2010 Belhaven Faculty Exhibition, Gallery, Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center, Jackson, MS
  • 2006 WORK/PLAY: Faculty and Student Theme Show; Gallery, Bitsy Irby Visual Arts & Dance Center, Jackson, MS
  • 2005 Solo, The Figurative and the Concrete, Stephens Gallery, Walton Fine Arts Center, University of the Ozarks, Clarksville, AR
  • 2005 Construction: Faculty and Student Exhibition, Belhaven University, Jackson, MS
  • 2004 Pop!: Faculty and Student Exhibition, Belhaven University, Jackson, MS
  • 2003 Solo, Untitled Exhibition, Bessie Lemly Gallery, Belhaven University, Jackson, MS
  • 2002 Transience, Faculty and Student Exhibition, Belhaven University, Jackson, MS
  • 2002 Faculty Exhibition, Erwin B. White Gallery, BCCC, El Dorado, KS
  • 2001 Solo, Thesis Exhibition, Clayton Staples Gallery, W.S.U.
  • 2000 Visual Arts Guild Exhibition, Rhatigan Student Gallery, W.S.U., Wichita, KS
  • 1998 Solo, Thesis Exhibition, Warren M. Lee Center for the Fine Arts, Main Gallery, USD, Vermillion, SD
  • 1997 Stilwell De Refusé, Feb. 16, Warren M. Lee Center for the Fine Arts, USD
  • 1992 From Text to Context, Sioux City Art Center, Sioux City, IA (catalogue)

Exhibitions- Invitational

  • 2020 Alchemy, The Cedars, Jackson, MS, Curator: Rebecca Garrison
  • 2016 Mississippi Invitational Exhibition, Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson, MS, Juror, Marisa Pascucci
  • 2015 The Art Faculty of Jackson, Invitational Exhibit, The Cedars, Jackson, MS
  • 2014 The Jackson Show, Art Space 86, Banner Hall, Jackson, MS
  • 2011 Mississippi Showcase; Gallery, Bitsy Irby Visual Arts & Dance Center, Jackson, MS
  • 2010 4th Annual Jackson Arts Collective Showcase, Commons Gallery, Jackson, MS
  • 2009 Reconnecting: A USD Alumni Exhibition, University of South Dakota, Warren M. Lee Center for the Fine Arts Main Gallery, Vermillion, SD
  • 2005 Inaugural Exhibition: Mississippi Invitational; Gallery, Bitsy Irby Visual Arts & Dance Center, Jackson, MS
  • 2004 Reconnecting: A USD Alumni Exhibition, Main Gallery Warren M. Lee, Center for the Fine Arts, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD
  • 2001 Posted: No Realism, Invitational Exhibition, Dirt Gallery, Kansas City, MO
  • 2001 Wichita State University Faculty Biennial, Ulrich Museum, W.S.U.
  • 2000 Bi-Annual Graduate Group Exhibition, Clayton Staples Gallery, W.S.U., Wichita, KS
  • 1997 NDSU / USD Drawing Exhibition, Fargo, ND

Exhibitions- Juried

  • 2024 50th Annual Bi-State Art Competition and Exhibition, Meridian Museum of Art, Meridian, MS, Juror: Brent Funderburk
  • 2023 Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, First United Methodist Church, Alexandria, LA
  • 2022 48th Annual Bi-State Art Competition and Exhibition, Meridian Museum of Art, Meridian, MS, Juror: Ronna S. Harris
  • 2021 2021 Regional Art Competition, Thames Conference Center, Copiah Lincoln Community College, Wesson, MS, Juror: Dennis Sipiorski
  • 2016 5th Annual Cedars Juried Art Exhibition, The Cedars, Jackson, MS, Juror: Sam Gore
  • 2016 58th Annual Juried Show, Gadsden Museum of Art, Gadsden Art Association, Gadsden, AL
  • 2016 51st National Juried Artists Exhibition, Miriam Barranger Gallery, St. Tammany Art Association, Covington, LA
  • 2016 TRAHC's 28th Annual Juried Exhibition, Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council, Texarkana, TX
  • 2016 Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival, First United Methodist Church, Alexandria, LA
  • 2016 Southworks, 21st Annual Art Exhibition, The Oconee Arts Foundation Gallery, Watkinsville, GA
  • 2016 24th Southeast Regional Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, Mattie Kelly Arts Center Galleries, Northwest Florida State College, Fort Walton, FL
  • 2015 4th Annual Cedars Juried Art Show, The Cedars, Jackson, MS
  • 2015 Mississippi Collegiate Art Faculty Juried Exhibition, Lauren Rodgers Museum of Art, Laurel, MS
  • 2010 Faith as Art | Art as Faith, Brandenburg Galleries, Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, IL
  • 2010 25th Annual Juried Art Exhibition, Carnegie Center for the Arts, Dodge City, KS
  • 2000 Elements 2000, Rhatigan Gallery, W.S.U., Wichita, KS
  • 1999 Elements 1999, Rhatigan Gallery, W.S.U., Wichita, KS
  • 1998 Fred Wells 22 National Juried Exhibition, Apr. 1 - 25, Elder Gallery, Rogers Center for the Fine Arts, Lincoln, NE (catalogue)
  • 1998 Wilber Stilwell Awards Exhibition, Feb. 6 - 27, Warren M. Lee Center for the Fine Arts, Main Gallery, USD (catalogue), Vermillion, SD
  • 1997 South Dakota Artists Juried Art Show, Nov. 17 - Dec. 27, Gale Randall Memorial Gallery and East Gallery, Oscar Howe Art Center, Mitchell, SD
  • 1997 Wilber Stilwell Awards Exhibition, Warren M. Lee Center for the Fine Arts, Main Gallery, Feb. 1 -23, USD (catalogue), Vermillion, SD

Professional Experience

  • 2020 Co-Developer, Bachelor of Arts in Art (Traditional/Digital Studies), Belhaven University
  • 2020 Cofounder and Supervisor of the Maker Campus, Belhaven University
  • 2013 Sculptor for The Adventures of Momotaro, Mississippi Puppet Arts Theater Production, Jackson, MS
  • 2012 Private Art Instructor
  • 2007-2011 Course Developer, Belhaven University Online
  • 2010 Supervising Art Assembler, "The Aftermath" by H.C. Porter, Mississippi Center for the Arts, Jackson, MS
  • 2006-2007 Course Developer, World Culture, High Scholars Program, Belhaven University Online Campus
  • 2005 Guest Artist / Instructor, University of the Ozarks, Clarksville, AR
  • 2005 Presenter, Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA) Conference, Slide Night, Los Angeles, CA

Jury Experience

  • 2017- Present Judge (Panel), Christian Home Educators Connection (CHEC) Art Show
  • 2018 Judge (Metal and Glass), Chimneyville Arts Festival, Jackson, MS
  • 2017 Grant Panelist, Visual Arts Fellowship Grants/ Artist Roster Applicants, Mississippi Arts Commission, Jackson, MS
  • 2010 Judge (panel), Mississippi World Trade Center 3rd Annual Young Artists Showcase, Jackson, MS
  • 2008 Judge (panel), Mississippi World Trade Center 1st Annual Young Artist Showcase Nov. 13- Jan.30, Jackson, MS

Academic Appointments / Professional Service

  • 2021-2023 Tenure Review Council, Voting Member, Belhaven University
  • 2020-Present Education Review Council (ERC), Voting Member, Belhaven University
  • 2020 Institutional Representative for Belhaven University to the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
  • 2020 Renaissance Art Festival, Faculty Consultant
  • 2020 Bitsy Irby Digital Fabrication Lab, Founder and Designer, Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center
  • 2002-Present Art and Design Department Studio Manual (Writer and Editor)

Other Experience

  • 2020-Present Fabrication Lab Manager and Technician (FDM and S.L.A. printers, V.R. sets, 3D Scanners, Laser Cutters, Drawing Machines, Vinyl Cutter, heat transfer press, C.N.C. Machines, Computing hardware and software), Belhaven University
  • 2007- Present Sculpture Studios Manager and Technician (woodshop, metal shop, ceramics, glass, plaster rooms), Belhaven University
  • 2016-2017 Contributing Author for the Belhaven Homeschool Companion
  • 2015 Work and writing featured in Void Magazine, Issue I, Sept.
  • 1999-2001 Art Framer, Artworks Picture Framing, Wichita, KS
  • 1996-1997 Maintenance, University of South Dakota
  • 1993 Woodworker, Custom Woodworks, Sioux City, IA
  • 1992 Construction, R. Johnson Construction, Sioux City, IA