David Thomas

Art
Philosophy
Culture

MA in Philosophy
DePaul University

MFA in Studio with an emphasis in Architecture
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

24 years teaching in Philosophy (Columbia College Chicago & the American Academy of Art)
11 years teaching in Art, Architecture, and Design (The School of the Art Institute of Chicago)

Architecture and Design
Ancient Philosophy
Contemporary Continental Philosophy
Philosophy of Art
Art and Design Methodology
Phenomenology
Deconstruction
French Feminism

Transnational Migration
Diasporic Storytelling

David’s interest and training in Philosophy, Art, Architecture, and Design reflect his commitment to bridging the gap between critical research and creative synthesis. His international upbringing in Pakistan, Turkey, and Afghanistan draws him to the crossroads of global aesthetics and diversity of cultures. He has a multidisciplinary creative practice in which he works as a visual artist with special focus on watercolor and digital media, a critical and creative writer, and a designer at the object and architectural scales. He is dedicated to contributing at a foundational level to the development of a vibrant and integrative General Education curriculum. As pertains to a student’s academic, professional, and personal development, he emphasizes the value and significance of practical application over expertise in the study of art, philosophy, and culture.