A Northwest Indiana Life in the Spotlight: David Klamen

A Northwest Indiana Life in the Spotlight:  David Klamen

David Klamen, dean of the school of the arts at Indiana University Northwest (IU Northwest), lives in Chicago, Illinois. Klamen got his bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana, where he studied studio arts as well as philosophy. 

When it came time for graduate school, Klamen had received support from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for his Master of Fine Arts degree. Once he was out of graduate school, Klamen began his journey with IU Northwest, starting off as an assistant professor in the mid to late 1980s.

“I have stayed connected with IU Northwest this entire time,” Klamen said. “I went through a variety of promotions where I also hold the title of Chancellor's professor.”

Klamen is also a studio artist, who creates art and then presents and exhibits his pieces in galleries for people to view and purchase.

“I've exhibited my work in quite a few countries,” Klamen said. “My work has been exhibited around the world, and I often have gone to the openings of the exhibitions and spent some time working with my colleagues in Italy more than in any other country.”

Klamen is primarily a painter and works with a wide range of materials from oil and acrylic paints to watercolor.

“I'll switch to whatever medium is necessary to explore the idea that I'm focused on,” Klamen said. “The most recent body of ceramic sculptures are also an extension of this idea.”

Klamen’s art impacts his community by encouraging people to think outside the box, as well as inspiring their own creativity. He also serves the community as an educator, sharing his knowledge and life experiences with his students and colleagues.

“My studio work influences and expands the community well beyond Northwest Indiana and the Midwest, both in terms of asking them to contemplate some of these epistemological questions associated with the work and to challenge their imaginations to understand what I'm doing,” said Klamen.

Theorists and philosophers heavily influence Klamen’s work. Charles Sanders Peirce was one of Klamen’s primary influences. One of Klamen’s favorite aspects of being both an artist and an educator is being able to surround himself with other artists and educators.

“I get to work with a lot of brilliant people who are experts in different areas of knowledge,” Klamen said. “I'm routinely exposed to people who know a lot of things that I don't know. There’s always an opportunity to learn from amazing people.”

When Klamen is not working, he enjoys playing his guitar. 

“It's something I do every day and I've done every day for decades,” Klamen said. “I don't have any interest in playing publicly, but it's very much a part of my daily life and it's been a great hobby for me.”

Klamen offers a word of advice to aspiring artists and anyone who is interested in a career in the arts.

“Immerse yourself in the arts community in order to understand the merits of your work or your own growth and creative identity,” Klamen said. “It's important to have the opportunity to see and learn from other people as well – connecting yourself to the wider arts community to understand expanded context and the voices of others goes a long way.”