Artist Talk: Jacob Riddle

Gather in the auditorium at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts to hear from the 2026 Marva and John Warnock Artist in Residence, Jacob Riddle.

The Marva and John Warnock biennial residency program at the University of Utah aims to expose students to new, innovative, and diverse contemporary art practices while providing an opportunity for trilateral exchange among students, faculty, and the public at large. The program has become an important catalyst for dialogue encompassing contemporary issues of art-making, pedagogy, interdisciplinary and collaborative work, art in the community, and art as activism.

Jacob Riddle is an interdisciplinary artist, curator, and educator with a passion for foraging connections between technology and the natural world. Drawing inspiration from his background in construction and labor industries, as well as his upbringing wading through the limestone creeks of the Appalachian foothills, Jacob muddies seemingly disparate realms. Having honed his ingenuity and cultivated experiential learning through the challenges of rural Appalachian life, Jacob now channels this unique perspective into art, academia, and community. His work serves as a testament to the power of resilience, resourcefulness, play, and the coexistence of the digital and the natural world.

Jacob has done artist residencies in Finland, Norway, Berlin, and Nez Perce–Clearwater National Forest. His work has been exhibited throughout the United States, Mexico, Japan, Norway, Finland, Italy, Belgium, France, Poland, The Netherlands, Australia, and in many virtual corners of the Internet.