NSA Visual Arts Faculty
Visual Arts Director - Erik Beehn
Erik Beehn is an artist and educator working out of Las Vegas. Beehn received his MFA from the School of The Art Institute of Chicago (’15) and is currently adjunct faculty at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Beehn’s work employs painting, photography, printmaking and installation to investigate an arc of mark making techniques throughout the 20th century, with an interest in the evolution of observational painting into abstraction. Beehn is the founder and director of Test Site Projects, a fine art publishing house and project space located in Las Vegas. Beehn’s work is included in permanent collections at the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art, The Nevada Museum of Art, and The Cleveland Clinic.
Jo Russ
Samantha Sponer
Jo Russ
Originally from New Zealand, JK (Joanne) Russ relocated to Las Vegas in 2010 and is known for her surreal collage works where high fashion, high art and hybrid human/creatures merge. She has created large-scale audience-participation collage installations, for the Life is Beautiful festival, the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, the Delano Hotel and UNLV Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art.
Samantha Sponer
Las Vegas native Samantha Sponer is an interdisciplinary artist whose work blends digital illustration, textiles, and painting to explore themes of identity and representation. A graduate of Tufts University, Samantha publishes original zines and leads classes that encourage students to express themselves through hands-on artmaking and creative storytelling
BUILDING SKILLS, SPARKING IMAGINATION
Continuing our tradition of training tomorrow’s visual artists, NSA’s newly conceived Visual Arts program is designed to assist students in developing their creative skills and broadening their knowledge of professional artistic practices. The brainchild of one of the foremost artists in our city, Erik Beehn, this program is designed for ages 11 and above, providing students with individualized tuition from professional practicing artists. Classes are limited to six students.
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NSA SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Nevada School of the Arts is committed to providing a high-quality music and arts education that is affordable and available to all families in our community.
THE NEVADA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS IMPACT
NSA IS LOCATED AT
THE HISTORIC FIFTH STREET SCHOOL
A Cultural Oasis in the Heart of Downtown
The school, built in 1936, is a rare example of Mission-style architecture. The single-story building consists of a series of concrete wings connected by tile roofed arcades. Originally housing one of Clark County's first elementary schools, it was recently renovated for use as a cultural oasis in the heart of downtown.
SUPPORT ARTS EDUCATION
Your support of our scholarship fund provides all students, regardless of economic background, the necessary support to pursue an education in the arts.
“K. is currently a junior in high school at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts and a Piano major at NSA. His love for piano started when he was in 6th grade. That was his toughest year. You see, K. has autism, ADHD, and was later diagnosed as being twice exceptional. From day one since he set foot in school, he became a constant visitor to the principal’s office.
From years of trying to figure out what can help with his behavior, his therapist pointed us to music. He initially started with viola, he was a fast learner, but that wasn’t his cup of tea. As fate would have it, his then viola teacher also had a piano in her house. K. requested to play with it one day and ever since then, he never stopped. His fears and anxiety all disappear once he starts playing the piano. It became his most effective therapy and outlet. His happy place. This once angry, impatient, and defiant young boy has transformed into a calm, polite and compassionate teenager.
He was able to accomplish being a beginner pianist to advance in a matter of 2 years. He hopes to someday grace the concert halls of Juilliard and play his favorite classical music.”