Kristian Fields is doing something few others can say they've done: graduate from the College of the Arts with a B.I.S. with a concentration in Arts Administration.
Announced earlier this year, the degree is newly added to the college but comes with a world of potential by integrating artistic practice with contemporary industry knowledge.
For Fields, who has been interested in art for as long as she can remember but began her Georgia State education as a business major interested in entrepreneurship, the program was the best of both worlds. "I spoke to different faculty members because I was looking for a major that would fulfill my passion for the arts and still provide a little more education on the business/administrative side of art," she explained about her decision to switch majors in 2019. "I spoke to several people, but ultimately Sekeia Harris, Director of the Office of Academic Assistance, is who really introduced me to the program."
The Arts Administration program provides real-world expertise to position graduates as experts and community leaders in their disciplines, and community leadership has been at the forefront of Fields' plans as her artistic practice has grown during her time at Georgia State. Her current artwork examines cultural damage and mental illness in the African American community, covering topics like mental health, therapy and depression, which she says are taboo subjects.

Fields displays a selection from her current body of work.
"I'd like my artwork to help educate my community on mental health, specifically trauma and anxiety," she says, knowing how challenging this can be for many. "People are often shamed for expressing feelings of sadness as though it's a sign of weakness when we're constantly told to 'stay strong.'" Fields hopes that her artwork can be a starting place to inspire healthy conversations in her community about their collective past and hopes for the future.
Her experience in community art programs began when she was a student, interning for both The Vault gallery, which spotlights Black and female artists as well as Atlanta Contemporary, one of the southeast’s leading contemporary art centers, in the summer of 2020. In addition to their world-class exhibition schedule, Atlanta Contemporary hosts talks, workshops, camps and activities for kids and families to reach out and enrich the local community.
As much as the faculty who led her to this path at Georgia State, Fields credits her family for creating an encouraging environment where she could dream of being a professional artist. "You could compare this to how some children dream of being a vet or an astronaut," she says. "Luckily, those that helped raise me were super supportive of this dream from an early age."
With graduation officially behind her, Fields' eyes are now set on the future and what comes next. Whether for a fellowship or a residency, she's certain that she wants to travel out of state. "To have a change of environment," she explains. "I think this will be beneficial for research and experimentation regarding my craft and something that will have a positive impact on my mental health since we've all been isolated for so long."
Fields credits the Arts Administration program for opening doors for her during her time as a student and helping her envision new goals and artistic practices. “Without this program, I don't think I would've received the opportunities, the networks or the expanded mindset I now have regarding the art field,” she says. “This major has transformed me entirely.”
Lead image courtesy of Atlanta Contemporary.