CAROL ROYER
Meet our art department chair, Carol Royer.
Carol Royer
- Role at Shipley
Art Department Chair
Upper School Art Teacher
Curriculum Coordinator
Studio Art I, II, III
Ceramics I, II, III
(past years: Photography I, Foundations) - Education
BFA, Moore College of Art and Design
Painting and Art History; Art Education CertificationMSEd, Parsons School of Design
Painting and Printmaking
Bank Street College of Education
Leadership and Administration in the Visual Arts - Prior Professional Experience
Tyler School of Art
Barnes Foundation
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA)
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and PAEA, artist residency program coordinator, Philadelphia-area schools
| Are you an exhibiting artist? If so, tell us more about that. |
Yes. I have shown and curated shows at the following galleries and museums: Solo shows:
Group shows:
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| Why did you become an art teacher? |
| I became an arts and museum educator because art has fueled me since I was young. Art shapes how I see the world and who I am today. Teaching, making, and working with art for so many years has shown me its extraordinary power — the way it sparks curiosity, ignites imagination, and gives people the courage to explore their own creative voice. Art to me is a lifelong pursuit, one that has continually helped me to grow, experiment, and stay open.I am driven by the joy of helping my students experience that same sense of creative discovery. In the classroom, I strive to create dynamic spaces where learners feel empowered to question, connect, and express themselves. Watching someone light up with understanding reminds me why I chose this path: because art creates change, and I want to be part of that transformative process every day. |
| What is your teaching philosophy or style? |
| I ground my practice in a learner-driven approach that recognizes students as inherently creative and capable of independent thinking. Encouraging independence, nurturing individuality, and teaching responsible artistic practice are central. I strive to create a studio environment where young people can explore materials, ideas, and processes in ways that feel authentic and meaningful.Through curated choices and thoughtful guidance, I support their growth as makers, helping them build technical skills, trust their creative voice, and understand the creative power they hold. Ultimately, my goal is to cultivate a studio culture where young artists feel empowered, reflective, and competent as they shape their experiences through the art they create.How would your students describe you?Creative, whimsical, resourceful, encouraging, hard-working, compassionate, organized, dedicated. |
| Do you have any favorite artists, genres, or works of art? Why? |
| I am a figurative painter primarily, so my favorite artists are figurative, narrative painters, and most of them are contemporary: Lucian Freud, Gerhard Richter, Jenny Saville, William Kentridge, Alice Neel.Historically, I like post-impressionist work, specifically the German Expressionists such as Käthe Kollwitz, Egon Schiele, Gabriele Münter, and Paula Modersohn-Becker. |
| Fun fact about you: |
| I have traveled to five different continents. |