Faculty Spotlight: Kristin Casaletto

When she received her bachelor degrees from Ball State University in Indiana, Kristin Casaletto made history. She earned two degrees—one in physics and the other in drawing—simultaneously, becoming the first person to accomplish that feat at the university. The ASU associate professor of art says she studied physics because “science always informs how you think,” and pursued art, because “it is where my heart is. All I ever want to do is draw.”

Ms. Caseletto followed the dual undergraduate study by also receiving two master’s degrees in art: one in art history from Michigan State University and another in painting and printmaking from Western Michigan University.

Although she is a native of Dayton, Ohio, Ms. Caseletto calls the state of Michigan home. She worked as a freelance writer and art critic for the Grand Rapids Press in Michigan and prior to joining ASU in 2000, she worked at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., contributing scientific examinations of art objects to numerous NGA catalogue publications.

Ms. Caseletto heads the printmaking area of the arts program and serves as the director of the Fine Arts Gallery. In addition to booking, housing, and hosting artists, she is responsible for hanging the art, spackling and repainting walls to display the artwork, organizing the opening reception, and more. She also teaches printmaking, drawing, and world humanities.

A working artist, Ms. Casseletto has had her art exhibited throughout the Midwest and South as well as in Italy and Australia. Her most recent solo show was Mississippi Voices at the Museum of Art in Hattiesburg, Miss. The grant-funded project was the culmination of a three-year collaboration with a historian to create artwork based on themes culled from oral histories.

“We generated over 25 different shows, presentations, and workshops, that toured through seven states and two countries,” says Ms. Casaletto. “That’s been my big project.”

Ms. Caseletto has served as a collector evaluator for the television show, Antiques Roadshow. Recently she was honored by Western Michigan University, which is observing its 100th year anniversary, by being named one of the outstanding art alumna, 100 in 100 years.

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