the biography

of SEAN HOTTOIS M.F.A.

 

Sean was born in 1975 to professional theatrical
artists of accomplishment. They provided Sean with a
rich artistic world in which to grow. As prolific artists,
mother and father brought Sean and his brother to
work with them often. His mother specialized in performing
musicals and therefore sang and danced almost every
day. Sean's father is a stage and lighting designer who
frequently put his sons to work helping to execute his
designs. Sean was heavily influenced by the
summers he spent handling all the raw elements of
the theatre world. The family work he participated
in ran the gamut from mixing tempera by hand to
shielded metal arch welding set structures. Performing
a couple of song and dance numbers was even
thrown in for good measure. This was a professional
art world experience not available to most children.

 

From the age of six Sean was paid to perform a large
variety of stage craft tasks. He worked as a spotlight
operator. audio technician. gaffer. stage hand, stage
manager, carpenter, set painter, lighting designer,
and electrical journeyman, to name a few. Sean felt
that he never wanted to make a living in theatre even
though he continued his professional theatre
experience until college.

 

Sean experimented with many majors and student
activities at the University of Louisville in Louisville,
Kentucky. Sean then examined the fine arts department
at UofL. USing the artistic skills he developed as
a child. he gained entry into both the interior design
and graphic design programs.

 

During these intense years of activity and growth Sean
took the opportunity to participate in an experimental
study program in Portugal. He was immersed in a
significantly different culture and design style for
one full semester. This experience transmuted his
perception of what life and deSign could be. He
returned home with a refreshed view of the art world
and refocused his efforts with a different insight into
his work. He tutored several younger students which
implanted a love for teaching.

Sean finished his undergraduate career making the
Dean's list. leading a few student organizations. and
graduating with a Bachelors of Science degree in
interior design as well as a Bachelors of Arts degree
in graphic design.

 

Upon graduating. he began a full time job as Graphic

Designer & Marketing Coordinator at Genlyte Thomas LLC
in Louisville. He also kept his part time positions of
Production Assistant and Stage Manager at WDRB TV
Fox 41 in Louisville.

 

After working in his chosen profession for three years
he began to see the limits of his current positions. With
this concern, and a desire to teach. Sean sought out a
graduate design program which was radically different
from his previous experiences. He was excited to find
such a school at Fort Hays State University.

 

During his time at Fort Hays State University, he
received an Award of Excellence from Photographer's
Forum. 2nd Place & Honorable Mention from the
R.O.A.R., a professional juried art exhibition. as well
as an exhibition invitation for the 2006 North American
Graduate Art Survey.

 

After graduating from Fort Hays State University in
2005, Sean Hottois continued his professional design
career in the Louisville area. While doing so, he sought
and received offers for college level teaching positions.

 

After careful review of the welcome offers, Sean
chose to accept a full time faculty position with the
Department of Art & Design at Zayed University in the
U.A.E. He full filled his role as Assistant Professor of
Graphic Design while helping to expand the curriculum
of the Art & Design department at Zayed University.

 

Currently Sean is engaged in his appointment as
Assistant Professor of Communication Arts & Graphic
Design at the University of Saint Francis in Fort
Wayne. Indiana. While there he has written and
implemented a new concentration in web design.