CLARKSVILLE, TN − Austin Peay State University’s Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, in collaboration with the Department of Art + Design and the Department of Communication, has announced the inaugural CECA Interdisciplinary Director’s Series featuring Domee Shi, director and vice president of creative for Pixar.

Shi will speak about her work, artistic practice, and career at APSU at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 in the Morgan University Center Ballroom. A screening of her films, Turning Red and Bao, will be held on Wednesday, April 23 at 5:30 p.m. in Art + Design Room 113. The film screenings are courtesy of Pixar and sponsored by the Department of Art + Design Art History Club. Both events are free and open to the public.

Shi began her career as a story artist on the Academy Award®-winning feature film Inside Out. Since then, she has worked on the feature films The Good Dinosaur, Incredibles 2 and the Academy Award®-winning Toy Story 4. In 2015 she began pitching ideas for short films and was soon greenlit to write and direct Bao, which won the Academy Award® for Best Animated Short Film. In her role as a creative vice president, Shi is involved in key creative decision-making at the studio and consults on films in both development and production. Shi most recently made her feature film directorial debut with Turning Red, which was released on Disney+ on March 11, 2022.

“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Domee Shi to APSU,” CECA Director Dr. Andrea Spofford said. “We’re incredibly grateful that she’s not only sharing insights into her creative process but also leading a workshop specifically for APSU students.”

Spofford said hosting visionary, world-class artists like Shi is a central part of CECA’s mission to bring engaging art experiences into the Middle Tennessee region.

“This visit enriches the educational experience for our students and invites the broader Clarksville community to engage more deeply with the arts,” Spofford said. “With the launch of our new Interdisciplinary Director’s Series, we’re excited to continue creating meaningful and inspiring opportunities for connection, creativity, and inspiration.”

Shi was born in Chongqing, China and resided in Toronto, Canada for most of her life. She currently lives in Oakland, California and notes that her love of animation is only rivaled by her love of cats.