Graduation Spotlight: Maleah Miller, Visualization
Maleah Miller inherited a love of art through drawing, photography, sewing and crafting from her mother and grandmothers.
That childhood interest is still in motion. The Ohio native studied studio art and English at Kenyon College. After graduation, she decided to pursue her master’s degree in Visualization at Texas A&M to study 3D modeling and animation software.
She gravitated toward stop-motion animation so she could design characters on paper, model them in 3D software and sew their clothes by hand.
“I grew up trying any art medium I could get my hands on,” Miller said. “I am happiest when I can work in a multimodal fashion, combining techniques from different disciplines in novel ways. I love that my artistic niche lets me experiment so widely with different media.”
Miller is set to graduate Dec. 13 with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Visualization. Miller will also be honored as a distinguished student in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts’ Graduation Recognition Ceremony on Dec. 11. Miller said she is grateful to receive this award.
“As an artist, it can be all too easy to find the flaws in my own work or compare myself unfavorably to the artists I admire,” she said. “So, I view this award as a form of validation that my work and contributions to the Visualization program are appreciated.”
One of her project highlights was a 3D animated short film titled “Lilli,” which she created with classmates for the 2022 Summer Industry Course. She also created a stop-motion animated short film titled “See You At Home.”
“Taking a four-minute stop-motion project from concept to completion by myself would have been nearly impossible,” she said. “I am grateful for all the emotional and logistical support I received from my family, friends, classmates and mentors throughout the three-year production process.”
Miller said she is grateful for the mentorship she received from Courtney Starrett, associate professor and graduate program director. Starrett encouraged her intrigue for craft techniques so she could hone her artistic voice, Miller said.
“Professor Starrett set aside time to discuss my work on a weekly basis and encouraged me through my most challenging times in the program,” Miller said. “She always had confidence in me and my artwork even when I was feeling discouraged, and her consistent support helped me create a body of work that I can truly stand behind.”
Miller said her ultimate goal is to work in stop-motion animation as a puppet fabricator or costume fabricator.
“I’m grateful for my experiences in Viz,” she said. “I am very excited to find my niche in the industry after graduating.”
Photo by Debra Miller.
