Join us for an artist-led workshop about collaboration with Cory Knedler & Young Ae Kim, both featured in our current exhibition, An Invisible Current: Engaging with History.
Featured Image: Cory Knedler and Young Ae Kim, Loadstar Lasso, Mixed Media, 12”x18”
Cory Knedler is an artist, educator, and arts leader based in South Dakota. He earned a BFA in Printmaking and Art Education from Fort Hays State University and an MFA in Printmaking from the University of South Dakota.
Knedler served as Chair of the Department of Art at the University of South Dakota for 25 years and continues to teach as Professor of Art Education. During his tenure, he advanced departmental resources, technologies, and student opportunities. He is the founder of the South Dakota College Art Association, served as South Dakota Affiliate for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, and frequently adjudicates regional exhibitions. He is an active member of the College Art Association, National Art Education Association, and continues to serve as a visiting evaluator for the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Since 2010, Knedler has directed the Oscar Howe Summer Art Institute; a summer residency program that offers high school students intensive workshops in contemporary Native American fine arts, with an emphasis on Native culture, history, and traditions. Under his leadership, the Institute has received support from the NEA, Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, South Dakota Arts Council, and private donors.
Knedler’s contributions were honored with the 2023 South Dakota Governor's Award in the Arts for Outstanding Service in Arts Education. As an artist, he is known for his collaborative practice and has exhibited in over 100 juried and invitational exhibitions, including at the Mid-America Print Conference, Brussels National Museum, and South Dakota Art Museum.
Young Ae Kim is a UX & UI researcher, graphic designer, educator, illustrator, painter, and international speaker originally from Seoul, Korea, and currently based in South Dakota. With over 18 years of global experience in graphic and product design, she has worked with major international clients including Samsung, LG, Hyundai, Nike, Belvita, Citi Bank, Baskin Robbins, and Sanford Health. Her expertise bridges innovative design with human-centered research, particularly in information architecture, wayfinding systems, and emotional UX/UI design.
Kim is a Professor of Graphic Design at the University of South Dakota, where founded South Dakota’s first and only MFA in Graphic Design. She holds an MFA in Graphic Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design and a Ph.D. in Human Factors Psychology with a UX/UI focus from the University of South Dakota. Her academic research examines how visual design can generate and sustain positive emotional responses across the user journey. She has presented internationally at leading conferences in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
An award-winning designer and grant recipient, Kim is a member of professional organizations including AIGA, HFES, and AHFE. Her current creative practice includes paintings that blend Asian pop culture imagery with contemporary, news-driven themes, challenging cultural narratives through color, symbolism, and character illustrations.