Bobbi Meier’s Love of Fiber and Material Studies Helped Form Fellowship

by Nadya Kelly (MA 2023)

For Bobbi Meier (MA 2000, MFA 2011), the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) wasn’t just where she earned her degrees—it was where she became the artist she had always wanted to be.

“I held onto the dream of pursuing an MFA for 17 years,” she said. “Going back to school was one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made.”

Driven by the desire to establish her own creative practice, Meier decided to pursue her Master of Fine Arts in Fiber and Material Studies after spending years teaching art and raising her three children. Not only did the program give her a solid foundation as she began to build her practice, it also granted her a strong, supportive network of artists who mentored and encouraged her. Shortly after graduating, Meier was invited to serve on a departmental advisory committee. She saw the invitation as an opportunity to help other future creatives who, like her, are determined to forge their own path in the art world.

That committee helped launch the Anne Wilson and Joan Livingstone Fiber and Material Studies Fellowship, which awards a full-tuition scholarship to an incoming Fiber and Material Studies graduate student each year.

“Having that burden of knowing how you're going to pay for [tuition] lifted is huge,” Meier said. “The fellowship just frees you up to focus on what you need to do, which is intensely get involved with making, thinking, and researching.”

Meier understands the profound effect of art school from her own time at SAIC. Originally trained in graphic design, Meier started taking Continuing Education classes at SAIC in the ’90s and decided to formally enroll in 1998 for a Master’s in Art Education. She later entered the Fiber and Material Studies program as a painter, but quickly found a new language in textiles, pattern, and installation. While pursuing her MFA, Meier expanded her practice, developing large-scale sculptural work that addressed personal themes like memory, domestic space, and the body. 

During this time, Meier also formed lasting relationships that would define her path forward. She credits faculty members Anne Wilson and Joan Livingstone, whom the fellowship is named after, with guiding her development as both an artist and a person. Their encouragement and mentorship continues to this day—for both Meier and the School in general. In fact, both professors were named honorary degree recipients in 2025. For Meier, the fellowship is simultaneously a tribute to the mentors who shaped her and a commitment to future artists who need time, space, and support to thrive.

“This fellowship isn’t just about financial aid,” she said. “It’s about opening a door to the kind of experience that makes you feel fully seen—as a student, and as an artist.” ■