Elli Crocker

Senior Research Scholar
Professor Emerita

Professor Crocker received a B.A. from Smith College and an M.F.A from Tufts University. A full-time member of the Clark faculty since 1994 and director of the Studio Art program from 2002-2015, Prof. Crocker will serve as director of the Schiltkamp Gallery in Traina Center for the Arts commencing with the 2016/2017 academic year.

Professor Crocker is a representational painter whose work has focused on the human figure. Most recently, she has been exploring the human/animal interface, an ancient preoccupation in art that assumes new dimensions as we are ever more able to manipulate and impact nature.

Professor Crocker has also undertaken numerous commissions, both public and private. Significant among these are projects for the Allston Village Main Street Association/City of Boston (21 trompe l’oeil panels), the Newton North Millennial Project (a 10’x20′ painting), and a portrait of the headmistress at Chestnut Hill School (Brookline, MA). Professor Crocker is represented by Rice/Polak Gallery in Provincetown, MA. She has received grants from the New England Foundation for the Arts/Visible Republic Program, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the St. Botolph Foundation, the Higgins School of Humanities at Clark University, and Boston Sister City Travel, among others. Her work has been published in several books including Mammals in Contemporary Art, The Art of Lovemaking and Yellow Silk: Erotic Arts and Letters. Crocker’s art was also selected for inclusion in Volume #50 of New American Paintings. Artist residencies include Burren College of Art in Ireland, Nantucket School of Design & the Arts, and the Vermont Studio Center.

Professor Crocker’s courses include all levels of Drawing and Painting, Studio Topics (a senior seminar), Senior Thesis, and Sense of Place (a drawing class using the city of Worcester as studio and subject).

Degrees

  • M.F.A. in , Tufts University, 1981
  • B.A. in Studio Art and Sociology, Smith College, 1977

Affiliated Department

Visual and Performing Arts

Scholarly and creative works

  • Other Scholarly or Creative Work

    In the Flesh

    Elli Crocker
  • Other Scholarly or Creative Work

    Art on Science: 26 Studies / Etudes: Science as a catalyst for Artistic Expression/Art as a catalyst for Scientific Observation

    Elli Crocker
  • Other Scholarly or Creative Work

    Waltham Mills Open Studios

    Elli Crocker
  • Presentations

    Demonstrations and presentation on drawing the body

    Meredith Neuman’s "Engaging the Arts" class
    Higgins Lounge, Dana Commons,
    November 4
    2019
    Elli Crocker
  • Presentations

    Gallery talk for exhibition “In the Flesh”

    Higgins Lounge, Dana Commons,
    October 2
    2019
    Sponsored by Higgins School of Humanities
    Elli Crocker