Lucy Louise Derickson I BFA 2011, Art: Art Education and Jewelry & Metalsmithing
Lucy Louise Derickson is currently an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Jewelry and Metalsmithing/Craft Area at Montgomery College. Lucy’s passion for the visual arts has been a lifelong pursuit. From an early age, she immersed herself in art classes and enthusiastically created works using various materials.
Educational Journey and Career Path
When asked about what inspired her to pursue a BFA in Art Education and Jewelry and Metalsmithing, with a K12-Teaching Certification, Lucy shared, “All through my youth I was drawn to visual arts. I took all the classes I could in elementary and high school and was highly motivated to make artworks from a variety of materials outside of school as well. When it was time for college, I chose UWM for no specific reason (sorry!) I barely knew what to look for in an art school anyway. It was siblings that brought me to Milwaukee, which felt like a good choice after leaving the nest. There was no specific career path I was seeking, only that I wanted to work in the arts. After freshman year, I decided to take a few years away from school to collect myself. Eventually, I decided Art Education would be my track, and returned to UWM to reach that end. Early in my return I enrolled in Jewelry and Metalsmithing, and found this new medium was MY FAVORITE! After that I dual majored in Art Education and Fine Arts, with an emphasis on Metalsmithing.”
Impactful Classes and Faculty
In reflection of specific classes or faculty members that contributed to her experience and success, Lucy emphasized, “I know it sounds generic, but I really loved all my professors and classes! As an Art Ed major, I had to take introduction to everything and really enjoyed the variety of process and instruction I received. Though, I have to express that Prof. Yevgeniya Kaganovich and Dr. Kim Cosier had a huge influence on me while attending UWM. Both are absolute experts in their field, while also being upstanding people to know. Their teaching philosophies and instruction styles helped me to grow as an artist and a person. I continue to model my own teaching practice on my experiences with Kim and Yev and loved my time at UWM under their guidance.”
Advice to Students
To current and future students, Lucy offers invaluable advice, “Don’t rush through it. You will need time to simmer and reflect. Each studio class you take will influence the next. If you race through your education, you will miss out on some very important moments of discovery.”
Achievements and Contributions
Since graduating from UWM, Lucy has achieved significant milestones in her creative career. She earned her MFA from Virginia Commonweath University and secured a full-time teaching position at Montgomery College, where she now works as the coordinator of the metals area. Lucy also had the honor of returning to UWM as a Visiting Artist in 2019. Her work has been showcased internationally, and she has taught workshops at various craft schools. Additionally, she actively contributes to the non-profit organization, Ethical Metalsmith, as the Chair of the Education Committee, organizing programs that benefit students and educators globally.
Connect with Lucy
To learn more about Lucy and explore her artistic endeavors, please visit her website. You can also connect with her on Instagram: @lucyderickson and @MC_Metals.