Michael Takeo Magruder, the Knight Fund Distinguished Artist-in-Residence at Knox College, presented a new exhibition titled "re:GeneratedPrairie" at the Borzello Art Gallery in the Ford Center for the Fine Arts from September 16-30, 2025. The show featured digital prints, canvases, 4K videos, and soundscapes inspired by the prairie burn and regrowth at Knox's Green Oaks ecological site. Magruder, who has held over 300 exhibitions in 35 countries, was invited by Knight Distinguished Chair Robert M. Geraci and also mentored students during his residency, helping them with exhibition setup, curation, and offering critiques.
This residency matters because it demonstrates how artist-in-residence programs can bridge contemporary digital art practice with local ecological themes while providing hands-on professional experience for students. Magruder's donation of a limited edition print set to Knox College and his direct mentorship of students like Fahad Ahmed Joy highlight the educational value of bringing internationally recognized artists to small liberal arts campuses, fostering both creative inspiration and practical career skills in the arts.