Gustin is a professorial triple threat. He has a sterling academic background, his experience is vast and diverse, and, according to his students, he connects with his pupils in a way that helps them leave class as better artists than when they entered. Gustin got his Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1972, and two years later he got his Master’s degree in Fine Arts from Yale University. Just 10 years later, Gustin started teaching at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and from 1995 to 2011, he also taught at the International School of Art in Italy. He also has been a visiting professor at numerous universities all across the globe and is an accomplished, award-winning artist in his own right. His work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions all across the country (although primarily in Chicago) and he has been a staple on the Chicago art scene for a long time now. As a teacher, Gustin can be blunt and rough-around-the-edges, but his students say that the criticism is always fair and is delivered in a way where he truly sees what each student needs to work on. His students also love that he seems to care deeply about their success and is a devoted painter. SAIC is one of the most popular art schools across the country, and devoted and talented faculty members like Gustin are a big reason why.—The Art Career Project
