Artist Biography
Tonia Hughes is a socio-politically driven visual artist working in the influential mediums of photography, video, and installation. Her work been shown in international, national, and regional calls for work and exhibitions. And while the majority of her work is rooted in political, feminist, and queer theory discourse, it also continues to express a broad range of topical and academic research.
In addition to her creations in visual arts, Hughes continues her research in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and completed a graduate certificate in the field from Georgia State University in 2016. This research serves as a foundation for the visual art she typically creates. As an extension of her teaching, she served as the Director of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Georgia Southwestern State University and often lectured for the program. Hughes has also presented at public discussion panels and academic conferences on topics relating to the Queer community and human rights, and has shown her artwork entitled Homogenized at Women’s, Sexuality, and Gender Studies conferences.
Hughes was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. She grew up in the southeastern region of the United States, and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from Columbus State University in 2004. In 2008, she completed her MFA in photography and video at Georgia State University. Hughes has been the honored recipient of the 2006 Ernest Welch Graduate Photography Scholarship, the 2014 Gold Award from the Dalton Gallery, was awarded Faculty Development Grants from Georgia Southwestern State University in 2014 and 2015, won the Rookie of the Year award at Johnson County Community College (JCCC) in 2016, and was the honored recipient of the College Scholar award in 2018. She is also currently included among the 15 artists selected on a biannual basis in the Kansas City Collection. Hughes taught Photography, Digital Arts, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies as a Senior Lecturer at Georgia Southwestern State University from 2009 – 2016. In 2016, she accepted a new teaching position at Johnson County Community College (JCCC). Hughes earned tenure and promotion in 2019 at JCCC and is currently serving as the founder of the Filmmaking program, the program coordinator of the Photography and Filmmaking Department, and is an Associate Professor of Filmmaking and Photography.
Tonia Hughes is a socio-politically driven visual artist working in the influential mediums of photography, video, and installation. Her work been shown in international, national, and regional calls for work and exhibitions. And while the majority of her work is rooted in political, feminist, and queer theory discourse, it also continues to express a broad range of topical and academic research.
In addition to her creations in visual arts, Hughes continues her research in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and completed a graduate certificate in the field from Georgia State University in 2016. This research serves as a foundation for the visual art she typically creates. As an extension of her teaching, she served as the Director of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Georgia Southwestern State University and often lectured for the program. Hughes has also presented at public discussion panels and academic conferences on topics relating to the Queer community and human rights, and has shown her artwork entitled Homogenized at Women’s, Sexuality, and Gender Studies conferences.
Hughes was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. She grew up in the southeastern region of the United States, and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from Columbus State University in 2004. In 2008, she completed her MFA in photography and video at Georgia State University. Hughes has been the honored recipient of the 2006 Ernest Welch Graduate Photography Scholarship, the 2014 Gold Award from the Dalton Gallery, was awarded Faculty Development Grants from Georgia Southwestern State University in 2014 and 2015, won the Rookie of the Year award at Johnson County Community College (JCCC) in 2016, and was the honored recipient of the College Scholar award in 2018. She is also currently included among the 15 artists selected on a biannual basis in the Kansas City Collection. Hughes taught Photography, Digital Arts, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies as a Senior Lecturer at Georgia Southwestern State University from 2009 – 2016. In 2016, she accepted a new teaching position at Johnson County Community College (JCCC). Hughes earned tenure and promotion in 2019 at JCCC and is currently serving as the founder of the Filmmaking program, the program coordinator of the Photography and Filmmaking Department, and is an Associate Professor of Filmmaking and Photography.
