Amara Geffen
Amara Geffen (1957–) is an artist, community organizer, and Emerita Professor of Art at Allegheny College. She is the founder and director of the Art & Environment Initiative in Meadville, Pennsylvania, where her regional community-focused public art emphasizes beautification, environmental renewal, and placemaking/placekeeping. She has exhibited widely, receiving numerous grants and awards from state and federal agencies. Her work is included in public and private collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
She serves as Emerita Professor of Art at Allegheny College. Recently, she co-edited with Chris Fremantle, Ann Rosenthal, and Aviva Rahmani the anthology, Ecoart in Action: Activities, Case Studies, and Provocations for Classrooms and Communities (New Village Press, 2022).
Geffen has received numerous awards for her work with local communities and government agencies in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Her ceramic art practice has also received acclaim. She lives in Meadville, PA.