The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Department of Art and Design will host a virtual lecture featuring the life and works of 2020 Arkansas Living Treasure Michael Warrick Friday, Oct. 9.

Warrick, a professor of art at UA Little Rock, will discuss his experience as an artist, show his work, and give insight into the career opportunities for artists. The lecture, “Creative Journeys with Michael Warrick,” will take place from 6-7 p.m. Oct. 9.

The Arkansas Living Treasure program annually recognizes an Arkansas artist who excels in the creation of a traditional craft and who actively preserves and advances his or her craft through community outreach and educating others.

Warrick began learning metalworking in 1967, when he took an industrial arts class in high school that included welding. He became a certified welder in 1972 and worked on large-scale mining equipment trucks, industrial fixtures, and railroad cars.

Since joining UA Little Rock in 1990, Warrick has been instrumental in securing grants, including one to build a foundry and kilns for metal casting for the university. Another grant allowed him to bring in renowned lecturers in metalworking.

Warrick’s work has appeared in exhibitions and public installations locally and worldwide. His career includes 42 solo exhibits and 174 competitive and invitational exhibits. He regularly does commission work, including a 2017 sculpture celebrating the 25th anniversary of the sister cities partnership between Little Rock and Hanam, South Korea.

Through his partnership with artist Aaron Hussey, Warrick created the Little Rock Central High School Commemorative Garden in 2001 and “Straight Lines on a Round World,” a 2017 sculpture commemorating the Louisiana Purchase Survey that stands in front of the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock.

The UA Little Rock Department of Art and Design will host the event as part of the artWORKS lecture series, which showcases the different career paths available to artists.

The event is free and open to the public. Contact Madeline England at mmengland@ualr.edu for a link to the event.