BIO

Dannell MacIlwraith is an artist, designer, and Associate Professor of Art & Design at Kutztown University. Her creative practice focuses on collage in analog, digital, and animated forms. She works with layering, fragmentation, and reconstruction to encourage creative release. Her collage work has received national and international recognition, including awards from the UDA Annual International Design Competition and Creative Quarterly. Her work has been published by AIGA, Slanted magazine, and Mastering Type by Dr. Denise Bosler. She has exhibited in numerous juried shows, including at the John B. Aird Gallery, MICA, and The Reece Museum. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, experimenting with artistic practices, practicing yoga, and spending time with her husband, son, and rescue dog, Mallory Ting.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My practice explores the intersection of analog, digital, and animated collage through layered compositions that embrace chance and experimentation. By combining typography, juxtaposition, and visual fragmentation, I create works that transform “happy accidents” into intentional narratives. Each piece pushes the boundaries between art and design, inviting viewers to reconsider the familiar through playful disruption and layered meaning. Rooted in process, my work celebrates the unexpected while challenging conventional ways of seeing.