Paul Wittenbraker (Retired Faculty)
Professor from 2015 to 2025
Department of Visual and Media Arts
Department Chairperson from 2021 - 2024
Visual and Media Arts Department
Professor from 2015 to 2024
Visual and Media Arts Department
Associate Professor 2003-2015
Visual and Media Arts Department
Assistant Professor from 1996 to 2003
Visual and Media Arts Department
Area Coordinator
Visual Studies and Foundations
Email: [email protected]
Biography
Paul Wittenbraker received his BA from Wabash College and his MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art. Before joining Grand Valley State University, he served as Director of the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts in Grand Rapids.
At GVSU, he founded Civic Studio in 1999, a pioneering project exploring the intersections of art, community, and public space, for which he received a Michigan Campus Compact Award. He also led the development of the Visual Studies studio major, establishing a curriculum that continues to expand the scope and relevance of contemporary art education.
In addition to teaching and advising in Visual Studies, Paul taught Making and Meaning in Foundations, inspiring generations of students to engage deeply with creative practice and critical inquiry. His research and creative work focus on public space, technology, and culture, and the role of policy in shaping cultural institutions.
Paul retired from GVSU in 2025 after more than two decades of teaching, leadership, and innovation in the arts.
Education
MFA, Cranbrook Academy of Art
BA, Wabash College
Works
Mundus Imaginalis: Intermondo. The project includes objects and images in the GVSU DeVos Center Complex.
Plasticspace project: Scrap
Drawing for Civic Studio "On the River" project.