Cranbrook Academy of Art Presents Alumni Achievement Award to Fabio J. Fernández
Bloomfield Hills, Mich., December 15, 2014 – Cranbrook Academy of Art has named Fabio J. Fernández (Sculpture ’02) the 2014 recipient of the Alumni Achievement Award. This is the fourth year the Academy has bestowed the award, which seeks to recognize alumni who have achieved excellence early in their career. Sonya Clark (Fiber ’95) was the first recipient in 2011, Susan York (Ceramics ’95) received the award in 2012 and Laura Heyman (Photography ’98) received the award last year.
Fernández was selected based on both his studio and professional practices. He maintains an active studio practice where he studies both the objects and architecture designed and built by man, and makes drawings and sculptures that reflect his broad observations of the built environment.
He was also recently named the next Executive Director of The Society of Arts & Crafts in Boston, where he has served as Exhibitions Director since 2006. He also served as the Associate Curator for Network Gallery, Cranbrook Art Museum’s alumni gallery from 2002 to 2005. He was also recently elected to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts.
Fernández received a B.S. in Business from Seton Hall University in New Jersey before finding his way to Cranbrook Academy of Art, where he received his MFA in Sculpture in 2002.
He has exhibited in the United States and around the world, at such venues as the Susanne Hilberry Gallery in Michigan; the Poleeni Cultural Center in Pieksämäki, Finland; and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York City.
He was presented with the award following his public lecture at Cranbrook Art Museum on December 13.
Cranbrook Academy of Art
Cranbrook Academy of Art is the country’s top ranked, graduate-only program in architecture, design and fine art. Each year, just 75 students are invited to study and live on our landmark Saarinen-designed campus, which features private studios, state-of-the art workshops, a renowned Art Museum, and 300 acres of forests, lakes, and streams, all a short drive from the red-hot art, design, and music scene of Detroit. The focus at Cranbrook is on studio practice in one of ten disciplines: Architecture, 2D and 3D Design, Ceramics, Fiber, Metalsmithing, Painting, Photography, Print Media, and Sculpture. The program is anchored by celebrated Artists- and Designers-in-Residence, one for each discipline, all of whom live and practice on campus alongside our students. For more information, visit us at www.cranbrookart.edu