Clayton Salley, an MFA candidate in studio art, jewelry, and metal arts at the University of Iowa, is the winner of a Fulbright Study/Research Grant to Taiwan for 2024-25.

Hometown: Austin, Texas 

Degree: MFA in art (studio arts emphasis - jewelry and metal arts)

Could you give us a brief synopsis of what you'll be doing with your Fulbright? 
I am thrilled to undertake a 10-month training in advanced traditional hollowware metalsmithing processes with Professor Amal Yung-huei Chao at the Tainan National University of the Arts. I am pursuing mastery of ancient hollowware techniques, which will result in interdisciplinary artworks that bridge ancient and modern metalsmithing crafts.  

How do you envision this will influence your life/future career? 
Within my lifetime, I hope to meaningfully contribute toward the preservation and advancement of contemporary metalsmithing and wearable artforms for the 22nd-century generation of artists. In doing so, I aim to reinvigorate a movement toward craft mastery in North American contemporary metalsmithing and wearable artforms. My Fulbright project will facilitate advancement toward this goal by providing critical training and by helping me become increasingly aware of the much larger, global interconnected reality of artists and craftspeople.  

What advice do you have for future students interested in applying for a Fulbright? 
Ask yourself why you do what you do. Give yourself the freedom to envision a future 10 times greater than what you currently see. Rinse and repeat. Consider what your contribution to your field will be, and if you don’t know where to start, reach out to experts in your field and ask them what greater problems exist that need to be addressed. These connections can lead to international host affiliates.  

Were there experiences at Iowa that inspired you to pursue a Fulbright? 
My mentors, named in my response below, have empowered me by fostering the ability to envision an ever-brightening future. We can all make an impact in the world, and it often requires external validation and support to realize how great of an impact we can become part of. 

Are there individuals you'd like to thank for their investment in this process? 
I am most fortunate to have had a team of mentors who provided the most exceptionally insurmountable professional support. I want to extend a monumental THANK YOU to the following mentors whose ongoing support and advice have played integral roles in my successful Fulbright proposal: 

• Professor Kee-ho Yuen (University of Iowa) 
• Dr. Brenda Longfellow (University of Iowa) 
• Dr. Karen Wachsmuth (University of Iowa) 
• Dr. Ari Natarina (University of Iowa) 
• Professor Anita Jung (University of Iowa) 
• Professor Robly Glover (Texas Tech University) 
• Professor Amal Yung-huei Chao (Tainan National University of the Arts) 

I also wish to express gratitude toward my friends, family, and partner, who have uplifted me throughout the entire Fulbright process… Thank you! 

EXPLORE THE MANY FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES OPEN TO UI STUDENTS AND ALUMNI 

International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement.  IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.