Balancing Art and Advocacy
Aaron Henderson’s work exemplifies the role of contemporary artists as social catalysts. An associate professor in the Dietrich School’s Department of Studio Arts, Henderson’s practice blends traditional studio work with large-scale multimedia projects to create a powerful vehicle for exploring social issues.
Shortly after graduating with his bachelor’s in painting and drawing, Henderson says his artistic philosophy was fundamentally shaped during four years with Elizabeth Streb's acclaimed dance company, STREB Extreme Action Company. Under Streb’s mentorship, Henderson performed and collaborated with dancers, choreographers, and sound designers. The experience unlocked a passion for interdisciplinary work and a deep appreciation for the transformative potential of public engagement.
"Elizabeth Streb has this radically open process of making work where she invites the public while they're making things […] People often keep that process private, but she invites the public to participate, and she talks to them, and it changes the whole process of making,” said Henderson. “Until that time, I'd had a more traditional practice of development; I had been more of a visual artist. It opened up the world to me in a new way."
Today, this philosophy of demystifying the art-making process, combined with themes of collaboration and public engagement, runs through Henderson’s work. Rather than imposing external artistic visions, Henderson embeds himself within a community, developing projects that serve that community’s needs while leveraging the power of visual media.
Henderson connects to the greater community through many channels, one of which is Future Studio, an initiative that partners with community organizations to provide them with opportunities to elevate topics that they deem important.
“How do we use creativity as a tool toward a goal?” asks Henderson. “And that goal is not just something that I'm coming up with, but something in collaboration with a community – talking with them deeply about what they want and need, and then working toward that.”
Henderson’s current partnership with the Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community (BCMAC) illustrates how people can use art toward meaningful change. Working in the heavily industrialized Ohio River corridor, Henderson has helped install air quality monitors and create large-scale murals celebrating community-led environmental oversight.
“There have been a number of different pollution sources in the region, but there wasn't a lot of oversight on the local environment,” says Henderson. “BCMAC funded these air quality monitors and we've been working together to try to figure out ways to draw attention to them.”
This ongoing project includes youth art contests and the development of Godzilla-inspired wearable sculptures, encouraging young people to envision their own environmental narratives.
"Godzilla was born out of this fear of nuclear annihilation,” explains Henderson. “I've asked some of these local youth to imagine: What would a Beaver County version of that be like? We've started creating some of our own that we hope to use in local parades.”
Informed by his many endeavors, Henderson's artistic practice seamlessly integrates multiple approaches. Among his multidisciplinary pursuits, large-scale projection is his primary medium. The technology allows him to transform buildings into canvases for social commentary, whether projecting resident interviews throughout Pittsburgh's Mon Valley or responding to corporate greenwashing at industry conventions.
“I think I've always been pretty good at figuring things out; if I needed to learn how to use a sewing machine, I learned how to use a sewing machine. If a project needs some construction, I can figure that out. I'm not scared to fail at trying things, and I'm also not scared to ask for help when I need it,” said Henderson. “I have some wonderful supporters, friends, and close collaborators that I can always go to for advice and help, who have helped me accomplish a lot of these things. I think that's one of the things that you learn early on: you don't have to do everything right. You can collaborate and work with people. And that's part of the wonder of this.”
Henderson’s approach to teaching demonstrates the same variety and adaptability as his artistic practice. He has been instrumental in developing the department's digital arts program, recognizing that contemporary students must navigate questions of social media, artificial intelligence, and computational art as they aspire to be professional artists. Henderson recognizes the profound importance of his role as an instructor, approaching each student as a fellow artist regardless of their major or experience level. His Senior Seminar course regularly ventures beyond traditional studio spaces, visiting galleries, meeting curators, and mounting pop-up exhibitions that prepare students for the complex realities of public artistic engagement.
Says Henderson, “I value the decision that these students have made to attempt to be creative in this world. I think it's brave, so I hold that closely. I'm very aware of how tenuous that is and how special that is. If you can find a way to create something, to make something that you came up with yourself, there's a power and a potential in that, that is really special in this world that talks a lot about creativity, but in many ways, tries to take us out of those spaces where we are truly building things out of the unknown.”
Henderson’s work demonstrates that art's power extends beyond documentation and critique to organizing, amplifying voices, and triggering actionable discourse. His work shows how contemporary artists can serve as bridges between creative expression and social action, demonstrating art's capacity to function as both a mirror and a catalyst for societal change.
“Artists have the potential to transform society in ways that are really exciting. I think that that often places them in precarious situations, as well. I don't believe that's a responsibility that every artist wants, and I think each artist has to choose that role. It could be about transforming. It could be about creating moments of peace, respite, and renewal,” says Henderson. “There's no one role for an artist, but the cool thing about it is if you've got some ideas, there are lots of ways that you can manifest them, and there is a lot of potential in it. As an artist, it's challenging to find ways that you can do that and fit into the world in ways that make sense. There's a challenge and a potential there. It's a delicate balance.”
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