Cody VanderKaay

Cody VanderKaay, an Associate Professor of Art, was born and raised in North Metro Detroit. He received his BFA from Northern Michigan University and MFA in Sculpture from the University of Georgia’s Lamar Dodd School of Art and has been making and exhibiting artwork since 1999.

Much of VanderKaay’s artwork is composed of essential elements and streamlined forms. The errata of his art making – evidence of process and the messy curiosity that underlies and supports his practice – is sometimes the artwork itself. His body of work collectively illustrates how factors like closeness and interaction shape the dynamics among individuals, objects, and environments over time, with a particular emphasis on domestic and private contexts.

VanderKaay has exhibited at numerous venues across the country including the Atlanta Contemporary (GA), District of Columbia Arts Center (D.C.), Wayne State University (MI), Virginia Commonwealth University (VA), Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center (OH), Muscarelle Museum of Art (VA), Snug Harbor Cultural Center (NY), and Soo Visual Arts Center (MN), and has been featured and reviewed in various publications such as Art Papers, Detroit Sequential, New American Paintings, Sculpture Magazine, and There Magazine, and is included in permanent collections such as the Francis J. Greenburger Collection and New York University Fales Library Special Collection, and was an artist-in-residence at the Joshua Tree Highlands (CA), Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts (NE), and Jentel Arts (WY) residency programs.

VanderKaay had the honor of serving as a Doris and Paul Travis Professor for the humanities from 2019-2022. He is the recipient of two OU Faculty Research Grants and currently holds the position of Studio Art Program Director for the department of Art, Art History and Design.