Online
diana.baumbach@gmail.com
www.dianabaumbach.com
she/her/hers

BIO 

Diana Baumbach is an artist and educator currently based in Finland. She has taught at various institutions since 2003 and has led the Foundations program at the University of Wyoming since 2009. Diana also has extensive experience teaching upper division coursework in theory and practice as well as one-on-one mentorship. Diana’s creative practice uses materiality and process to reflect on her personal narrative including topics such as motherhood and trauma. Her work rooted in craft traditions (namely, paper and textiles) has been exhibited throughout the United States, the Netherlands, Finland and South Korea. Diana’s public art projects and community engagement has taken place in the Rocky Mountain West and Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY & MENTORSHIP

Diana’s mentorship is rooted in engaged pedagogy, dialogue, care and support. She is particularly interested in working with students during transitional periods in their lives, such as starting a new degree program or other significant life events. Rather than encouraging competition, she prioritize community, mutual respect and safe spaces by modeling these things herself. She structures her mentorship by meeting students where they are, scaffolding upon their existing foundation and offering opportunities to venture into uncharted terrain. She leaves space for students to explore, fumble and pose questions. In her experience, this is best accomplished by emphasizing play and curiosity which in turn build confidence.