HUGH MERRILL

Hugh Merrill was an artist, educator, poet, activist, and supporter of the Kansas City Artists Coalition. Hugh passed away in the fall of 2022. He was a long-time professor at the Kansas City Art Institute who taught foundations, printmaking, and community engagement. Hugh was a dynamic and challenging instructor who introduced many students to the concept of an art practice rooted in community engagement.

Those that knew Hugh intimately understood that he was an imperfect, multi-faceted, passionate and complex individual that had a profound impact on the Kansas City community.

“Often our creative expressions mirror the unbalanced world we travel through. When asked what my work is about, I often shrug and say, ‘Drawing.’ The reality is too much to consider in mere conversation.” ~ Hugh Merrill