Stephanie Drawdy, Attorney and Artist, participated in our Diploma in Art Profession Law and Ethics (DipAPLE) and is now a frequent contributor to our blog. Read about her varied career as well as her favorite aspects of the course.

Stephanie Drawdy, Artist and Attorney

 Can you tell us a little bit about your career and background?

I am an American attorney and artist. Having received my undergraduate degree in studio art and political science, I have made it a point since that time to pursue art as a vocation in various capacities in addition to developing a legal career. My podcast, Warfare of Art and Law, explores how justice can be obtained in the arts. Art Haus for Justice is a non-profit I established to offer visual art and kintsugi classes to displaced and trafficked individuals who would not otherwise have art in their lives. In addition to plein air painting and studio commissions, I actively create work for a series of paintings entitled Elicit Justice. The series focuses on a range of issues from human trafficking to art restitution with the goal of starting conversations about what justice looks like and how we define its attributes. I also am currently working on several writing projects that focus on art restitution issues.

What aspects of the DipAPLE course did you enjoy most?

The course offers a dynamic mix of instructors with a breadth of professional experience who bring the issues alive. My interest in this area of law was galvanized by the stories they shared during the modules, especially those of Professor Norman Palmer. Also, the required writing submissions, as well as the feedback on those submissions, were especially helpful in digesting the concepts covered in the course.

How has the IAL course enhanced your career?

The modules of the DipAPLE course expanded my understanding of the issues that fall within the practice of art law and enhanced my ability to explore those issues. Following completion of the course, I’ve had the opportunity to utilize many of the course concepts, including when writing for the Institute’s Art Antiquity and Law Journal about recent cases such as Zuckerman v. The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Berg v. The Kingdom of the Netherlands. I’ve also contributed to the Institute’s blog on a range of topics, including those covered in the course, and recently had the honor of being a contributing author to Museums and the Holocaust, Second Edition.

What advice would you give to someone considering studying with the IAL?

I often recommend IAL courses and study forums. I would encourage anyone who is interested to study with the IAL. It is unique in its offerings and provides unrivaled content.