We had the good fortune of connecting with Hannah Moulen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hannah, what’s the end goal, career-wise?
My ultimate goal, first and foremost is to maintain an artistic practice. I hope that creating things never takes a “backseat” to anything else professionally. Knowing that universities often encourage their faculty and staff to continue personal research while they inspire students to follow similar passions. For this reason, I think that a higher education institution is where I hope to land a job.

When I was a kid I always though I would follow in my parents’ footsteps and become a high school teacher. I am licensed to teach in Virginia, but I always knew there was a missing component for me when I was pursuing my licensure. In high school, you have to focus on teaching students how to mature. While college doesn’t equate to maturity, students are more accountable for their own successes and failures. Watching them excel because they put in the work to do well is extremely rewarding!

While I would love to be a printmaking professor (that’s what my BFA is in), I wouldn’t mind working for a museum either. I’m currently a graduate assistance to the Curator of Education, Sally Delgado, at the Kennedy Museum of Art and I love it! Honestly, any career that involves teaching and art-making would be a dream!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am currently in my last year of graduate school to get an MFA in printmaking. I have always had an interest in art-making and had the privilege of getting to know printmaking in high school. It wasn’t until I took a class when getting my undergraduate degree that I started to fall in love with the medium, especially screenprinting.

There were a few things that affected my journey. While my parents were both extremely supportive, when I entered college my mother had been dealing with breast cancer. This disease ended up taking her life in 2019, at the end of my sophomore year. My mentor, Jack, was the primary reason I stayed in school. He helped me translate my grief through my art when I couldn’t talk about it.

The other thing was something we all experienced- COVID-19. Part of the reason I decided to go to graduate school for printmaking is because I felt like I hadn’t dedicated enough of my time to understanding what it took to be a artist. Being away from the print shop, my peers, and my mentor was all a part of that. I felt like I wasn’t done with school.

Entering my thesis year, I think the thing I am most excited for is my show! It will be in April 2025, held in the Trisolini Gallery at Ohio University.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are a few spots in Athens I would say are my “go-tos:” Restaurant Salaam, Jackie O’s (the restaurant and the brewery), and Ciderhouse are my favorite places to eat/drink. If I had friends visiting, I would also take them to places like the farmer’s market and Bleeding Heart Boutique!

I think the best thing to do when having company is to plan their visit when something is happening. My Athens favorites are the Paw Paw Festival, the Athens International Film + Video Festival, and obviously, any art openings/receptions happening. In the spring semester, there are new shows every week! Even though I work there and see the exhibits all the time, I would also show them around the Ridges, specifically the Kennedy Museum of Art.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have had so many mentors but the most influential of the bunch, in life and career, would be my undergraduate printmaking professor from James Madison University. His name is Jack McCaslin and he just retired after 48 years of being the Head of the Printmaking department. Jack helped me through an extremely difficult time in my life. While I was his student, he taught me the importance of resilience when facing adversity and how art-making is essentially just skilled problem-solving, especially printmaking.

Instagram: @h.moulen

Image Credits
Noufel Sharif & Alex Long

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