Robert Ladislas Derr

Robert Derr earned his MFA in Photography from the Rhode Island School of Design, and BFA in Photography from the Art Academy of Cincinnati. He also studied at the Photography Institute National Graduate Seminar, New York University. He came to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as Chair of the Art & Art History Department, then led the formation of the School of Art, Art History & Design as the first Director. Prior to UNL, he taught in the Department of Art at The Ohio State University for twelve years, where he also served as Undergraduate Chair and Photography Area Coordinator.

Robert’s research has expanded his photographic eye to also include video, performance, and installation. Some recent works include Sound of Days at the Black Mountain College Museum + Art Center and Ball Breaker for the Riga Performance Festival, Latvian Centre for Performance Art. His interest in community projects led him to develop Global Frequencies, Lincoln PoPS, Play on P Street supported by the City of Lincoln, NE, various foundations, and local business sponsors. He also organizes panels and symposiums such as Don’t Just Stand There, Do Something, and Technology Expanding the Horizon: A Reinterpretation & Investigation of the Landscape and Reconfigured Vision: Technology Expanding Art Peripherals both supported by The Battelle Endowment for Technology and Human Affairs. He actively serves the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, New Media Caucus, and Nebraska Arts Council. Robert is a fellow of the Institute for American Universities and The American College of the Mediterranean, Aix-en-Provence, France.