March 8, 2025 – Ringling College of Art and Design is internationally well-known for its creative design artists. For computer animation alone, over 50 alumni worked on this year’s Academy Award film nominees including Wild Robot and Inside Out 2. Computer Animation Department Head Jim McCampbell states their understanding of the entire production pipeline make the Ringling alumni … “like priceless ‘Swiss army knife,’ which, when combined with their artistic talent and tireless work ethic, makes them predestined to be successful.” Movie posters adorn the walls at the College where alumni have been part of the creative team on such popular series films as Incredibles, Trolls, Toy Story, How to Name Your Dragon, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and many other award-winning shows.
Ringling students also have skills in other traditional art forms. My sister, Lisa, is the manager of a gallery on campus, named Madeby Gallery, that sells student and alumni art works including original paintings, digital art prints, clothing, jewelry and sculptures. Our mother, as head of household with three of us teenagers, was a professional artist whom had an innate marketing skill to keep our household going after our father passed in the early 1970’s. She would tell us that many artists seem to second-guess themselves on the value of their artwork and lack of entrepreneurial confidence in selling their own artworks. For the last ten years, Lisa whom herself is a college-educated artist, has coached many students on how to market their own artworks as well as for other fellow students at the gallery. For each sale in the gallery, 60% of the sales proceeds go to the artist student. Lisa explains … “It’s great for their resumes. Plus they can make money and learn business skills”.
A recent West Coast Woman’s article on the Madeby Galley recognizes the rare opportunity of a venue at a college that is dedicated to both the showcasing and sale of its students and alumni work. It is a great place to shop and who knows, you might discover one of Ringling’s new rising-star artists who is predestined to be successful.