Linda Helmick (she, her, hers) earned her Ph.D. in Art Education at Indiana University and currently works as an Assistant Professor of Art Education at the University of Missouri in Columbia. She is an artist/researcher/teacher who grounds her work in the belief that creative expression is a basic human right that should be accessible for all. She promotes creativity as a powerful force for change, healing, and transformation. Her areas of expertise include critical creative work with underserved populations and building art education/art therapy wellness and self-care curricula to better serve those who have experienced trauma. Linda creates art to enhance her own human understanding and to find greater ways to contribute to the world as an artist/researcher/teacher through the life she lives and the marks she makes in creative partnership with others. Her goal is to create work that is honest and at times beautiful. She says, “I love entering my studio every day, walking in and making something from nothing”.

Areas of Expertise

• Critical creative work with homeless and incarcerated populations
• Building art education/art therapy curricula for those who have experienced trauma