Today we’d like to introduce you to Tim Hossler.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I grew up in the famous wild-west town of Dodge City, Kansas. From a young age, I dreamed of becoming an architect. As an only child, my family wanted to support my dreams, so from age 12, all of our family vacation was centered around visiting Frank Lloyd Wright houses and buildings. I believe Wright was the only architect my parents knew of. This was a great start to becoming a designer. I went on to study architecture at Kansas State University. Near the end of architecture school, I realized that I loved everything about school, but designing buildings wasn’t what I really wanted to do with my life. I loved graphic design and art directing. After graduating from K-State, I moved to New York City. After several years of working for various design firms, I made contact with the photographer Richard Avedon and then the Annie Leibovitz Studio.
I spent over five years (1997-2002) as Ms. Leibovitz’s in-house art director, where I worked beside her to create images, advertising, exhibitions, and books. This experience was like winning the Academy Award at a young age… it has stuck with me throughout the rest of my career. From New York I went onto study at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Detroit. My passion is designing books.
Please tell us about your art.
For the last 15 years, my career has focused on working with photographers, artists, and cultural institutions to produce experimental forms of visual narratives. I work with people to tell stories. I’ve served as the Design Director at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) and Art Director of The Wolfsonian-Florida International University in Miami Beach. I currently teach design history, photo culture and visual communications at the University of Kansas as well as running my own design firm. Recent book and exhibitions have included projects for The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City), The Spencer Museum of Art (Lawrence, KS), The Wichita Art Museum, The Detroit Institute of Arts, Cranbrook Art Museum (Detroit), and The Wolfsonian-FIU.
I’m finishing up writing and designing my first self-authored book, ‘Havana Habana’. The book is the first in a planned series that explores how visual and popular culture shape our understanding of place (Havana, Cuba).
What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
I’ve been extremely blessed. I believe that by being in the place you want to be and working hard, opportunities happen. I’ve had great teachers and mentors. My family has always been very supportive. There have been a few downs but mostly ups. I’ve worked as a designer for over 25 years. The first half of my career went by quickly. I think everyone has a different set of circumstances they are forced to deal with. Some of us have it easier than others. I think financial issues are the biggest issues we all deal with today. I believe a city needs to do whatever it can to help designers, artists, and cultural institutes create work that isn’t necessarily going to make money. I believe artists/designers are the important soul of a place.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
The amazing cafe & bookstore at The Wolfsonian-FIU in South Beach carries most of the books I’ve done for the museum. My website and Tumblr also show off my complete body of work: timhosslerdesign.com & timhosslerdesign.tumblr.com. As a designer my name is in the small print at the front of books. My work is somewhat anonymous.
Contact Info:
- Website: timhosslerdesign.com
- Email: hossler@ku.edu
- Other: timhosslerdesign.tumblr.com
Image Credit:
Portrait by Silvia Ros
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