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Michael Burton

Assistant Professor - Director Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery - Center for Digital Research in the Humanities Fellow - Research Affiliate in the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families, and Schools

Department of Textiles, Merchandising & Fashion Design University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Contact

Address
GNHS 220A
Lincoln NE 68583-0802
Phone
5085244078
Email
mburton4@unl.edu
Website
Social Media

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Michael specializes in digital fashion and virtual garment visualization, with an emphasis on leveraging Clo3D technology. His Animating History Lab is a mentorship program where students integrate historical research with digital fashion, to create MetaObjects—digital artifacts that interpret historical objects like clothing, art, or printed media through 3D modeling, animation, and virtual reality. His expertise encompasses digital surface design, CAD for fashion, and technical design, focusing on the application of advanced technologies to modernize fashion education and practice. Michael's work has been featured in various exhibitions and film projects, reflecting a commitment to pushing the boundaries of digital fashion and media.

Undergraduate students in Michael's courses gain experience with technology like Clo3D, Virtual Reality, On-Demand Digital Textile Printing, and Adobe Illustrator. Here are a few examples of what you will learn.

Graduate students in Apparel Design and Material Culture have worked with Michael on digital projects and teaching practicum. 

Education

2000 - BFA - Green Mountaion College

2007 - MFA - Fine Art - University of Nebraska Lincoln 

Areas of Expertise

  • Art and Design
  • Digital Fashion
  • Animation

Selected Film Festivals and Exhibitions

  • 2024 Phoenix Film Festival (juried) - April 2024
  • 2024 Omaha Film Festival (juried) - March 2024
  • 2022 Prince George’s Film Festival (juried) – September 2022 Bowie, MD  
  • 2022 Art Struct – Vero Beach Museum of Art (invited) – Dec 2022 Vero Beach, FL 
  • 2020 Nebraska Now; Anna (solo) Museum of Nebraska Art Kearney, NE. 
  • 2019 Hip Hop Film Festival (juried) Harlem, NY.
  • 2018 Virginia Film Festival (juried) Charlottesville, VA 
  • 2018 New Media Film Festival (juried) Los Angeles, CA. 
  • 2011 Blink! Light, Sound and the Moving Image -Denver Art Museum Denver, CO 

Honors and Recognition

  • Best Animation (Best in Category)- Prince George's Film Festival
  • Best in Animation Category - New Media Film Festival
  • CEHS Distinguished Research and Creative Activity Award
  • Dudziak Prize for Legal History - Anna film
  • NUtech Creative Works of the Year Award
  • Distinguished Filmmaker Nebraska Arts Council