Graduate Spotlight: Isaiah Khan, MFA

Growing up, Isaiah Khan didn’t foresee a future in the arts—be it creating it or promoting the works of others. Sure, at the tender age of 5 he, like many children, exhibited shades of artistry via his drawings—refrigerator-worthy works of art—done in Crayola crayon.

But it would be many years later, while an undergraduate at the University of Washington, where he would revisit the creative, artistic side of his personality and interests and do a 180 shift into the art world. And becoming a leader in teaching and the organizational side of the arts would be bolstered through a mix of experience and SU’s Master of Fine Arts in Arts Leadership program.

As an undergraduate, even the concept of studying art—let alone seeing it as a viable career option—wasn’t in Khan’s purview as he was taking premed and prelaw classes at the UW. That all changed when he added an art class—his first—to his studies. So transformed by the experience he switched his major to interdisciplinary visual arts, cementing a future in the arts both as a creator and in leading arts organizations. The leadership side of the arts ultimately brought him to Seattle University where, this June, the Bellevue, Wash., native will graduate with an MFA degree.

Says Khan, “My journey at Seattle University has helped me grow as both an arts leader and as a person. In the MFA in Arts Leadership program, I have deepened my understanding of nonprofit management, strategy, fundraising, governance and the role the arts can play in building stronger communities."

As an artist Khan doesn’t limit himself to one medium. Instead, he has constructed a creative world where he expresses himself through drawing, painting, photography, sculpture and pottery.

Beyond the act of creating works, he’s put together a steady stream of leadership roles that find him still working in the arts—and tapping into his talents as an artist—for a variety of organizations.

Following graduation from the UW Khan taught art to K-12 students in Issaquah, Wash., before moving on from that role to work for DigiPen, a college for creative types (specializing in tech, game design, digital art and audio), where he helped in curriculum development.

Then the pandemic hit and with it a slew of layoffs at DigiPen. After moving back home to regroup and consider his next move, Khan came across a job opening at Pike Place Market.

“I applied, interested in how I could work with adult artists and learn from them,” he says. “I love bringing people together and there is such a strong community at Pike Place, a historic community there, that it felt like home.”

Learn more about Isaiah in this video.

Working at Pike Place from 2021-2023, Khan engaged with the more than 200 artists and craftsmen that create work for the world-famous market. He also oversaw aspects of programming and helped mount large-scale events to promote the artists and the market as a whole. “I got to meet so many cool artists there,” says Khan.

He left Pike Place when he got an offer to do graphic design and social media for Seattle Pride in 2023. “As an LGBTQ person, being able to work with Seattle Pride was an incredible experience, to be part of a movement.”

When he started the master’s program at SU he did so in a new role, where he serves today, at Epiphany School, a Seattle area private elementary school. Focusing on community engagement and event leadership, he is dubbed the “manager of fun,” working on upwards of 120 events throughout the school year.

Though he’s shifted more into leadership and teaching, art remains central to these endeavors and, says Khan, these opportunities have helped make him a better artist.

“My art is really about community engagement,” he says. “With teaching I found a new passion and love, creating safe spaces and creating art that you believe in.”

Going back to school to get an MFA made sense, as Khan sees himself continuing to work in arts-adjacent nonprofits and wants to be able to build on areas of the industry that are vital to the sustainability of the arts—finance, fundraising, networking and social engagement.

With the MFA in Arts Leadership Khan says he gained invaluable lessons on the importance of relationship- and network-building. He’s leaving SU with a strong collective of support and connections that will make him a better teacher, a better leader.

“The program really challenged me to work with different types of people, from different walks of life, with different stories to tell…and about how we are all connected,” he says.

Storytelling and human connection are at the heart of his work, both in creating and leading. “I love the way the stories we tell bring people together. Whether it’s through music, an event or a painting, I love sharing my perspective with the world and want to provide space for others to share their stories. This is what brings joy to my life.”

Another area he focused on as part of his MFA that increasingly is in the conversations in all industries, including the art world, is the role of artificial intelligence.

Doing research on the subject, Khan focused more broadly on the ethical integration of AI into artist workflows, particularly around authorship, the creative process and visual storytelling.

Khan acknowledges that the arts community has “been really hot and cold about AI.” His interest is less about AI potentially replacing artists and more about exploring artist-led workflows that begin with original, human-created works such as photography, drawing and design.

“It’s about AI as a tool that can give you immense power but it won’t replace you,” he says. “The (art industry) will adapt. … I am coming at it from a perspective of seeing how AI is most commonly used and addressing concerns around it.”

In April he spent 10 days in Japan, taking photos of the landscape, architecture and urban and rural spaces—as well as attending the famous cherry blossom festival—that served as original source material for his research and creative process exploring AI-assisted concept development and visual storytelling.

After graduation, Khan envisions continuing to build a career in nonprofit arts and cultural leadership, with an emphasis on roles where he can tap into his background in community engagement, creative strategy and program development.

“I hope to help mission-driven organizations create meaningful experiences that bring people together and expand access to the arts,” says Khan. “I also plan to continue developing my own creative practice and exploring ways that visual storytelling, design and emerging technologies can support community-based arts.”

In his free time when he’s not belting out Chappell Roan (“Pink Pony Club”), Miley Cyrus (“Flowers”) or Lady Gaga (“Bad Romance”) at karaoke, he loves to host murder mystery parties, lift weights and do yoga. He also enjoys settling into a good show with a glass of wine while spending time with his two cats, Billy and Cyrus.