Joseph Seipel, former dean of VCUarts, dies at 76 (2024)

When Seipel arrived at VCU as an instructor in 1974, VCU’s School of the Arts was locally respected but relatively unknown. Under his influence over the next 40-plus years, it grew into the top public university art school in the country.

During his 17-year tenure as a professor and chairman, Seipel led the graduate sculpture program to a No. 1 ranking on the U.S. News and World Report’s list of America’s Best Graduate Schools.

“In so many ways, he put us on the map,” said Elizabeth King, a retired professor from the sculpture department. “He somehow managed to put ambition together with joy.”

“Joe had a very special kind of genius,” added Carlton Newtown, another former professor in the sculpture department.

Seipel helped spread the word about VCU at conferences; he threw parties to showcase student work; he took leadership roles in national and international organizations; and he expanded course offerings to include digital media.

“Because he so loved the people and the institution, he would just constantly brag about us everywhere he went and the word spread over the years,” King said. “Suddenly, we found ourselves ranked among the best art schools in the country, which brought us even more competitive students. And it sort of snowballed from there.”

Seipel was responsible for many of the renovations and big projects at VCU. He led the renovation of the Depot Building on Broad Street, which opened in 2014 as a space for VCUarts classrooms, studios and a student gallery.

Seipel was also instrumental in the concept, planning and fundraising for the Institute for Contemporary Art, the modern art museum at VCU that opened in 2018.

“Joe Seipel will always be among the great leaders at VCU, helping to shepherd the School of (the) Arts — and the university — to national prominence,” said VCU President Michael Rao in a statement. “A world class sculptor, Joe embodied the notion of arts as foundational to our most important human endeavors and disciplines, building a culture of creativity and collaboration across the university and health system. He touched everyone who had the privilege to work with him with his wit, compassion and passion. We are a better VCU because of Joe.”

Almost immediately upon his arrival in Richmond, Seipel began to make his mark, building art and community outside of VCU.

In 1978, he co-founded the artist-run 1708 Gallery, which has become the go-to spot for up-and-coming art in Richmond. In 1982, he co-founded the Texas-Wisconsin Border Café, a Fan District eatery known for its widowmaker chili. At the restaurant, he met his wife of 39 years, Suzanne. He even helped form a bank, River City, that became part of Village Bank.

As an artist, sculptor and professor at VCU, Seipel created colossal ceramic sculptures while also dabbling in robotics and multimedia.

“He was just someone around whom a great deal of energy gathered,” King said. “It spun out, spread and turned on everyone who came into contact with him. He leaves behind countless people who trace their careers back to his encouragement.”

George Ferrandi, a former student of Seipel’s at VCU who is now a successful artist, credits Seipel for helping her land her first post-graduate teaching job.

“It changed the trajectory of my life so dramatically. Joe was the kind of teacher and person who would go above and beyond to help make your life better and more interesting,” Ferrandi said. “He was such a remarkable person in the way that he approached life with such potential for the unexpected. He made impossible things possible because he was open to them. And he made all of his students feel like impossible things were possible, too. He sculpted our lives in many ways.”

Originally from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Seipel attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he began to study sculpture seriously. He received an M.F.A. at the Maryland Institute College of Art’s Rinehart School of Sculpture in 1973.

In 2001, Seipel became senior associate dean of the VCU School of the Arts. In 2009, he left for a job as dean with the Savannah College of Art and Design. In 2011, he returned as dean of the VCU arts school for five years.

Under Seipel’s leadership, the school rose from No. 4 to No. 2 overall among graduate arts programs in the U.S. News & World Report list of America’s Best Graduate Schools.

In 2016, he retired from VCU. Six months into his second “retirement,” the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York asked him to be interim director in 2017. And six months after he returned to Richmond, the ICA named him interim director.

His many accolades include a Lifetime Achievement Award for Sculpture Education from the International Sculpture Center; a 2012 Theresa Pollak Lifetime Achievement Award; University of Wisconsin, School of Education, Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award; and 2018 Person of the Year by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, among others.

“Richmond is the place it is today because of Joe. He has been the game-changer,” Joan Gaustad, a widely exhibited Richmond artist, told The Times-Dispatch in 2018.

After retiring from VCU, Seipel maintained two studios and returned to art full time.

“He always did things in a big way,” King said. In August, “Joe Seipel: Yours & Mine,” a survey of his work from over five decades, will be on view at the Anderson Gallery, 907 ½ W. Franklin St.

“It will be a chance for people to see both old, beloved pieces Joe made, but also a stunning body of new work that he’s done since retiring from VCU administration. The new work, I think, is the best work of his career. It combines sculpture, photography and painting in big scale works,” King said. The exhibit will be on view from Aug. 20 to Sept. 28.

Six months ago, Seipel was diagnosed with fast-moving pancreatic cancer. He died on Wednesday, June 12.

In addition to his wife, Suzanne, survivors include his daughter, Chloe Callahan; his sister, Marlene Jagodinski; his brother, Ken Seipel; and two grandsons.

A celebration of life will be held at the Institute for Contemporary Art, 601 W. Broad St., on Tuesday, June 25 at 3 p.m. Parking will be available in the West Broad Street deck.