Meet the Juror

Michael Lease
Director, Facilities and Experience Design
Institute for Contemporary Art, Virginia Commonwealth University

Michael Lease is an artist, educator, and curator based in Richmond, Virginia. Michael makes work with a focus on collaborative durational photographic and music projects that address a shared vocabulary of objects, places, and experiences. As an educator, Michael specializes in coursework that allows students to reveal, document, and exhibit complex and important stories about their varied communities. Michael earned a BFA from Frostburg State University, and an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University. Currently, he is the director of facilities and experience design at the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU.

Each year, the Wills Creek Committee champions this competition by selecting an accomplished and notable juror, soliciting sponsorship funds, and giving time, talent and commitment to the exhibition. The following are part of the team – thank you for all you do to support us.