Alumnus comes ‘Full Circle’ with exhibit at Penn College gallery

Pennsylvania College of Technology alumnus and illustrator Brian Lutz is coming full circle, opening the 2024-25 season at The Gallery at Penn College. The artist’s “Full Circle” exhibit, illustrating his professional journey, runs through Oct. 4.

The public is offered two opportunities to hear from Lutz on Tuesday, Sept. 10: a 3:30 p.m. lecture in Penn’s Inn, on the second floor of the Bush Campus Center, and a 5 p.m. reception in the gallery (with remarks at 5:30 p.m.), on the third floor of The Madigan Library. The exhibit, lecture and reception are free and open to the public.

The alumnus, who earned an associate degree in advertising art in 2008, will also visit two Illustration classes Sept. 10-11, spending additional time interacting with students and faculty.

Lutz, whose illustrations have been published by Time and New York Magazine, attended exhibits in The Gallery at Penn College as a student, including the gallery’s grand opening in 2006 and a 2008 show by influential illustrator Brad Holland. Those experiences and the passion of his professors were among the inspiration Lutz garnered from his alma mater.

“Full Circle” opens the door to Lutz’s art studio with never-before-seen thumbnails, sketches and final original drawings, along with prints of his works. The exhibit offers an in-depth look at the artist’s process of creating print-ready illustrations under the pressure of deadlines. Lutz combines traditional graphite drawing techniques with digital tools to create his pieces. While he has been drawing his entire life, the illustrations and drawings found in the Penn College exhibition were created between 2018 and 2024. Some were created for clients and others for personal practice; all helped build his career as a commercial illustrator.

Lutz’s most noted illustration is a portrait of Conan O’Brien, published by New York Magazine’s Vulture section, as the late-night TV host was exiting his role.

Other famous faces in his portfolio include Will Smith, published in Entertainment Weekly; Chief Justice John Roberts, in Politico; and author James Patterson, in Coastal Living Magazine. Career highlights also include creating 29 portraits for Time magazine’s 2022 “Most Influential People” issue and a skateboard deck for Toy Machine skateboards.

After graduating from Penn College, Lutz earned a Bachelor of Arts in studio art from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and a Master of Fine Arts in illustration from the University of Hartford. He teaches part time at his Hartford alma mater and at Connecticut’s Tunxis Community College but works full time as a freelance editorial illustrator.

His work has been recognized by American Illustration, Communication Arts, Applied Arts, 3x3 Magazine, Creative Quarterly and Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles.

The Fall 2024 issue of Penn College Magazine, to be released in September, will include a feature on Lutz and his creative journey. In the article, he describes how Penn College laid the foundation for his artistic pursuits and the significant impact that faculty had on him, specifically, the mentorship of the late Master Teacher Award winner Patrick D. Murphy.

The Gallery at Penn College’s hours are: 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; Noon to 4 p.m. Fridays; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. (The gallery is closed on Mondays and Saturdays and will be closed Sunday, Sept. 1.)

For more on the gallery’s 2024-25 season, visit the gallery site.

The Gallery at Penn College is a cultural asset to the college and local communities, providing the opportunity for appreciation and exploration of contemporary art and encouraging critical thinking and meaningful experiences.

For more about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free at 800-367-9222.