Professor Alan Xie Selected for American Academy in Rome Fellowship

(November 20, 2025) - Amid the timeless beauty of Rome’s ancient ruins and world-famous art, one of Clayton State’s own, Professor of Art Alan Xie, will soon experience firsthand the work of art legends as a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome. For nearly a month, starting December 1 to December 26, Xie will study the city’s rich artistic heritage.

He was selected for the renowned fellowship after receiving information from his alma mater, the Savannah College of Art and Design. “They usually accept historians and scholars, but this time they made room for studio artists like me. I took a chance, applied, and luckily, I made it,” Xie said.

The American Academy in Rome is one of the world’s most distinguished research programs for artists and scholars. It is a forward-thinking community inspired by history but not limited by it, dedicated to connecting the lessons of the past with the creativity and challenges of today.

For Professor Xie, who teaches Drawing, Painting, and Digital Art classes in the Department of Film, Communication, and Performing Arts, the fellowship is more than a personal milestone; it is a journey through the living history of art. During his residency in Rome, he will immerse himself in the city’s artistic legacy, visit museums, explore nearby towns, connect with other international scholars, and create new bodies of work inspired by his surroundings.

Originally from China, Professor Xie has spent his career exploring themes of emotional disconnection, solitude, and spiritual awakening through a diverse range of artistic styles influenced by Buddhist philosophy. Since joining Clayton State University in 2004, he has helped shape the university’s studio art program while exhibiting his work nationally and internationally, including at the Shanghai Duolun Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Georgia. His artwork, held in collections across the U.S. and abroad, bridges cultures and reflects deeply on the human experience.

“Remnants of the past embody the passage of time and can serve as a powerful metaphor for transformation, decay, and renewal of culture and civilization,” Xie explained. Through this fellowship experience, he hopes to bring his insights back to the classroom, providing art students at Clayton State with new techniques, creative practices, and a deeper understanding of art history that spans centuries and continents.

He also shared advice for students beginning their art journey. Xie emphasized the importance of practice and patience. “Art history and studio art are two very different tracks,” he said. “If a student wants to be a painter, photographer, or any studio artist, the best place to start is hands-on studio practice, especially drawing,” He explained. “Drawing is essential for any artist or designer. It takes time, patience, and dedication. On the other hand, art historians focus on research and scholarship rather than creating in a studio. For students who like to make art, nothing can replace the discipline of consistent practice and learning through doing.”

Professor Xie’s fellowship with the American Academy in Rome is an incredible milestone for him and art students at Clayton State, who will learn from him. His experience in Rome will strengthen the connection between the university’s art program and the global arts community, bringing back new perspectives, techniques, and inspiration that will enrich the next generation of Clayton State’s artists. His journey shows what’s possible when creativity, education, and opportunity come together.