Biography: Billie Jean Theide

Theide was always interested in a variety of things. Her interests include veterinary medicine, law, antiques, art history, educational psychology, graphic design, graphic arts, ceramics and metals. Her first experience working with metal was in the form of a pierced, soldered and patinated sterling silver ring when she was in junior high school. There are many sources of influences for Theide. Her greatest influences have been Professors Stan Hess (graphic design -- Drake University), Susan Noland and Condon Kuhl (metals -- Drake University), Leslie Leupp and Brigid O'Hanrahan (metals -- Indiana University), Helen Shirk and Arline Fisch (metals -- San Diego State University) and Philip Cornelius and Richard Notkin (ceramic artist). Theide Says, "I am, and my work is, the result of all of my educational, professional and life experiences to date." Another important life experience that has influenced Theide was her marriage.

Billie Jean Theide is the recipient of numerous honors and awards including a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts Visual Fellowship in 1984-85, 1988-89, and in 1992093. Her work has been included in numerous national and international exhibitions. Theide's work is in the permanent collections of the American Craft Museum in New York, Evansville Museum of Art in Indiana and Sanford M. and Diane Besser Collection of Little Rock. She is also a Distinguished Member and President of the Society of North American Goldsmiths. She lives and works in Champaign, Illinois, where she is Professor of Art and directs the Metal Program at the University of Illinois.