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Sympathy to the Family and Associates of Art Professor Shelley Gipson

04/27/2023

JONESBORO – The university community today expresses sympathy to the family, colleagues and students of Shelley Gipson, professor of art, who died Tuesday.

Gipson earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Stephen F. Austin State University, then a Master of Fine Arts at Texas Christian University. After teaching at two other institutions, Gipson joined the faculty at Arkansas State University in 2003. Her teaching specialties were printmaking and drawing.

Nationally known as a printmaker, Gipson’s work was represented in more than 80 group exhibitions in the United States and internationally, and she had nine solo exhibitions, including at Fort Worth and Houston in her home state of Texas.

Her research interests included digital printmaking, photographic techniques in print, and non-toxic printmaking. For several years she led the Department of Art + Design’s Second Saturday activity, a monthly community outreach event that brought both youngsters and alumni to campus to explore various types of prints. Her professional affiliations include the Southern Graphics Council and the Mid-America Print Council.

Survivors include her husband, Michael, and two daughters. The obituary is online.

memorial for Shelley will be on Monday, May 1 at 5p in the Fine Arts Center (exact location TBD).

The Department of Art + Design will conduct a memorial service in celebration of Shelley’s life at 5 p.m. Monday, May 1, at the Fine Arts Center. Individuals will be invited to speak informally about how they will remember her.

Also, the clock tower of the Dean B. Ellis Library will be lighted scarlet the same evening, in memorial tribute to Gipson and her contributions to A-State and higher education.

photo of Shelley Gipson
Shelley Gipson, 1973-2023