University of South Florida

Boundless Bulls

McArthur Freeman

From drawing to sculpting, to photography, video, animation and 3D printing, McArthur Freeman’s artwork explores the Black diaspora. His diverse methods inspire students to pursue careers in the fine arts and entertainment fields. 

Using traditional art methods with cutting-edge technology, the associate professor of animation and digital modeling visually explores alternate realities and Black representation. His work draws from fairy tales and science fiction to critically engage real-life events. In his latest work, Imagine Blackness: Alternate Realities and Collective Dreaming, Freeman collaborates with his wife and USF Associate Professor Elizabeth Horge-Freeman to create evocative AI-generated images that imagine new possibilities. The collaborative project is also a thought experiment where “what if” questions are pursued without constraints, such as “if we developed communities in space, what would our encounters in space be like?” 

“We were intentional about highlighting racial features that have been historically devalued,” Freeman said in a recent artist talk hosted by Creative Pinellas

This feature is part of USF's series of stories that celebrate the work and accomplishments of its community members throughout Black Heritage Month. A list of university events can be found here. 

Boundless Bulls is a collection of stories about what truly makes USF great – the people. It is a focus on our community footprint, our impact and the trajectory of where we can go together.  To nominate a member of the USF community for Boundless Bulls, please fill out this submission form. 

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Students

Portrait of Freeman Talla at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus

Freeman Talla

"USF has helped tremendously getting close to my goals"

Faculty and Staff

Portrait of Health Walders in her office at the USF Counseling Center in the Tampa campus.

Heather Walders

"We want to make sure that we can provide coping mechanisms for our students."

Alumni

Portrait of Maxon Victor, founder of USF's Stampede of Service

Maxon Victor

"You miss a golden opportunity if you don’t choose to serve in some capacity as a USF student."

Faculty and Staff

Portrait of Beatriz Padilla

Beatriz Padilla

"I try to invite people from different places and take a cross-cultural approach in research."