Bio
Sullivan Potter is an undergraduate student at Ohio University pursuing a BFA in Drawing & Painting with a focus in Appalachian Studies. He anticipates graduating in Spring 2026.
Raised in southeastern Ohio, Sullivan’s Appalachian upbringing shapes both his identity and artistic practice. His work explores the complexities of regional representation, engaging themes of nostalgia, environmental subject matter, and cultural imagery. Through colored pencil, handmade paper, and site-specific materials, he embraces and critiques the misunderstood identities of “rednecks” and “hillbillies” while reclaiming authentic Appalachian perspectives. Each artwork is envisioned as a love letter to Appalachia, balancing cultural memory with critical reflection.
Sullivan remains committed to vitalizing creativity within Appalachia, having served as Arts & Tactile Skills Director at Camp Hugh Taylor Birch and as Appalachian Arts & Culture Intern at Wellston Intermediate School. Currently, Sullivan serves as a Gallery & Exhibition Assistant at Majestic Galleries in Nelsonville, OH, and as an Illustration Co-Director for THREAD Magazine in Athens, OH. Furthermore, Sullivan anticipates serving as an Arts & Handicrafts Instructor at The Summit Bechtel Reserve near Fayetteville, WV in Summer 2026.
Sullivan maintains an active exhibition record throughout Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia, and has published visual work in Untelling (Hindman Settlement School) and Pine Mountain Sand & Gravel. His prose appears in Testament: A Rural Anthology (Backwoods Literary Press), and he was recently selected for the Cranberry Basecamp Artists-in-Residency Program in Richwood, WV.
Cirriculum Vitae
HONORS & AWARDS
2022 – Present — Spears Appalachian Scholarship, Ohio University
2025 Provost Undergraduate Research Funding Award, Ohio University
Fall 2025 Student Experiential Learning Award, Ohio University
Sina Sidwell Rogers Prize in Fine Arts, Undergraduate Juried Exhibition 2025
Juror’s Award, Undergraduate Juried Exhibition 2025
Juror’s Award, Interpretations of the American Dream Exhibition
Dean’s List – Fall Semester, Ohio University
Juror’s Award, Interpretations of the American Dream Exhibition
Best in Show, OHillCo Art Exhibition 2025
The Sharon Davis Stubbe Award, OHillCo Art Exhibition 2025
People’s Choice Award, Headwaters Arts Festival
2024 Workplace Excellence Award – Student Affairs, Ohio University
Dean Paul Schofer Academic Award
Special Talent Award – Anonymous Scholarship
President’s List – Spring & Fall Semester, Ohio University
2023 President’s List – Spring & Fall Semester, Ohio University
2022 President’s List – Spring & Fall Semester, Ohio University
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2025
“Feathered Friends & Fine Art Exhibition,” Maumee Bay State Park Lodge, Toledo OH
“Member’s Exhibition 2025,” Majestic Galleries, Nelsonville, OH
“Honors Gallery Walk,” Ohio University Honors Tutorial College, Athens OH
“Undergraduate Juried Exhibition 2025,” Ohio University Art Galleries, Athens OH
“National 2025 Juried Exhibition,” Majestic Galleries, Nelsonville OH
“The Senior Experience,” RTEC Galleries, Athens OH
“Interpretations of the American Dream,” The Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens OH
“Voices of a Region: Trillium Project’s 2025 Juried Exhibition,” Appletun Gallery, Portsmouth OH
“The Apple Festival Invitational”, Markay Cultural Arts Center, Jackson OH
“OHillCo Art Exhibition 2025”, The Depot, Wellston OH
“Ohio Division of Wildlife’s 2025 Artists for Wildlife Juried Art Show,” Ohio State Fair, Columbus OH
“Ohio Valley Theater Group-- Appalachian Arts Showcase,” Ohio Valley Theatre, Ashland KY
“Headwaters Arts Festival,” Harlan County Visitors Center, Harlan KY
“A Taste of Athens... Ohio!” ArtsWest Gallery, Athens OH
“A Protest of Images,” Ohio University College Green, Athens OH
“Ohio University Pride Art Show,” Donkey Coffee, Athens OH
2024
“Folk and Nature” Mohican State Park Lodge, Perrysville, OH
“Goodbye, Siegfried Print Exhibition,” College of Fine Arts’ Siegfried Hall, Athens OH
“Undergraduate Juried Exhibition 2024,” Ohio University Art Galleries, Athens OH
“The Apple Festival Invitational,” Markay Cultural Arts Center, Jackson OH
“Foothills Art Festival 2024,” Parks Edge Event Center, Jackson OH
“art his[STORIES] & art [BOOK]ish,” Majestic Galleries, Nelsonville OH
“The OHillCo Art Show 2024,” The Depot, Wellston OH
“Ohio Division of Wildlife’s 2024 Artists for Wildlife Juried Art Show,” Ohio State Fair, Columbus OH
2023
“Undergraduate Juried Exhibition 2023,” Ohio University Art Galleries, Athens OH
“Foothills Art Festival 2023,” Parks Edge Event Center, Jackson OH
“The OHillCo Art Show 2023,” The Depot, Wellston OH
2022
“Undergraduate Juried Exhibition 2022,” Ohio University Art Galleries, Athens OH
“Ohio University Art Ambassadors Fall Salon,” Ohio Univeristy Art Galleries, Athens OH
“The OHillCo Art Show 2022,” The Depot, Wellston OH
“Foundations: First Year Exhibition,” Ohio University Art Galleries, Athens OH
RESIDENCIES
2025 “Cranberry Basecamp Artist Residency,” Richwood WV
PUBLICATIONS
2025
“Untelling: Winter Issue 4,” Hindman Settlement School
“Bulletin of the Bizarre: Issue 1,” Bulletin of the Bizarre Literary Magazine
“Enmeshed: Issue 1,” Enmeshed Literary Magazine
“Testament: A Rural Anthology,” Backwoods Literary Press
“Pine Mountain Sand & Gravel: Issue 28 MOUNTAIN” Pine Mountain Settlement School
“Untelling: Winter Issue 2,” Hindman Settlement School
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2025 — Appalachian Arts & Culture Intern, Wellston Intermediate School, Wellston OH
2024 — Handicraft & Tactile Skills Director, Camp Hugh Taylor Birch, Yellow Springs OH
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2025 – Current — Illustration Director, Thread Magazine, Athens OH
2025 — Gallery & Exhibition Assistant, Majestic Galleries, Nelsonville OH
2025 — Studio Assistant, True Pigments, Athens OH