Amory Abbott Appointed Interim Dean for Audain Faculty of Art
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Amory was previously Assistant Dean of the Illustration department at ECU.
Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU) is pleased to announce the appointment of Amory Abbott as Interim Dean for the Audain Faculty of Art. Amory began this appointment on Aug. 18, 2025. This executive role will advocate for faculty member priorities and what students need to become leading artists and designers.
“I'm excited to welcome Amory as the interim Dean for the Audain Faculty of Art, where he will thrive as a leader and help us make meaningful progress in shaping the next generation of talented and innovative artists and designers,” says Diyan Achjadi, Vice-President Academic + Provost. “Amory has a rich background in mentoring students and supporting faculty from his time as Assistant Dean of Illustration and beyond. He will be an inspiring changemaker and dedicated advocate in his new role.”
Amory has taught in the Illustration department at ECU since 2017. In 2022, he was promoted to Assistant Dean, Illustration and was granted tenure as Associate Professor.
His creative practice primarily focuses on modern perceptions of landscape and wilderness, blending social topics on climate and ecology with mythical and supernatural themes. He is the co-founder of Fire Season – a biennial art book project that collects visual and written reflections on the topic of wildfire and is the founder of Cauldron Books & Comics, a publishing project with a mission to uplift and spotlight young comic makers and visual storytellers in and around Vancouver, BC. He also serves as Board Vice President for the Vancouver Comic Arts Association, helping to organize VanCAF, Vancouver’s beloved annual comic arts festival.
“It’s an honour to step into this role for the fall, and I’m looking forward to deepening my relationships with faculty and students,” says Amory. “I feel grateful and up for the challenge of the interim position. I know some of you well, and I’m excited to get to know others better! There are many tasks at hand, and as we know, a challenging year ahead for the university. I genuinely hope this will be a fulfilling semester for everyone and I’ll do everything I can to support making that happen.”
Amory holds a Master of Fine Arts in Visual Studies from Pacific Northwest College of Art (2016) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from Herron School of Art and Design (2004). Amory’s past research has led him to artist residencies in rural New Mexico, national parks in Montana and Washington, and along Ireland's northwest coast. His latest work in visual art and academic writing will be featured in an upcoming publication on metal music studies.