Nicholas Cladis, adjunct assistant professor of art and papermaking, UI Center for the Book, has received a Fulbright Scholar Award to Japan, one of the most prestigious honors in international academic and cultural exchange. His project will center on Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, a region recognized worldwide as a hub of traditional Japanese papermaking.
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. Through the program, University of Iowa faculty members, staff, and administrators have opportunities to conduct advanced research and teach abroad. The program also affords recipients the opportunity to interact with and make an impact on their host communities during their Fulbright tenure.
Cladis will spend his Fulbright term studying how hand papermaking in Japan is evolving from a traditional craft into a dynamic contemporary art medium. Through studio visits, hands-on work, interviews, museum research, and participation in exhibitions and craft fairs, he will engage directly with craftspeople, artists, and local institutions. His research will examine the full ecosystem of papermaking, from fiber farmers and toolmakers to gallery curators and international collaborators.
“Hand papermaking in Japan is evolving, and I aim to highlight its importance to the creation of innovative works of art and identify areas of resilience and craft ecology,” said Cladis. His insights will directly inform the creation of a U.S.–Japan paper arts initiative designed to foster artistic exchange, strengthen cultural ties, and support artists, craftspeople, and students for years to come.
“The craft is inherently collaborative, relying on numerous experts and participants, from farmers to toolmakers. Hand papermaking presents makers with a way to connect directly to ecologies—both human and natural.”
Cladis’s connection to Echizen spans more than a decade. His relationship with the community there began in 2014, and since then he has designed and led a number of cross-cultural workshops, classes, and events connecting international audiences through handmade paper.
In 2023, a Major Projects Award from International Programs, supported by the Stanley-UI Foundation Support Organization, brought that work to campus. Cladis led a two-week residency hosting master papermakers Masami Igarashi and Hideaki Taki from Echizen. The pair gave lectures, ran hands-on workshops, and worked alongside students at the UI Center for the Book's Oakdale Papermaking Research Facility, giving the Iowa City community a direct window into the craft.
In 2025, he founded and directed Iowa Art Field, a project featuring 11 artists who created site-responsive paper art installations inside historic structures across the Iowa City area. Co-curated with Sugimoto Hiroshi, an artist from Echizen, the project brought Sugimoto to Iowa City for three weeks to make new work and participate in the event firsthand. Iowa Art Field reflects Cladis’s ongoing work to connect people, places, and cultures through art and handmade paper.
For Cladis, the Fulbright represents more than a research opportunity, but a convergence of every role he has held in his field. “As a professional, I’ve worn a few different hats in the realm of hand papermaking: artist, production papermaker, researcher, educator,” Cladis said. “This project embraces the fluidity of the discipline and touches on all of those aspects of my career, connecting them in meaningful, tangible ways that I hope will fuel the wider discipline, continue facilitating connections, and usher in a new chapter of my own artistic practice.”
University faculty members at all stages of their careers can apply to become Fulbright Scholars or Fulbright Specialists. Grant recipients can teach, do research abroad, or a combination of both, for flexible time periods ranging from two to six weeks to a semester or an entire academic year. Faculty interested in applying can reach out to the university's international programs area for support.
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.