Sharing history of art, one lesson at a time
Ben Gervasi’s impressive resume includes serving as a Seacrest Studios intern, appearing in The College Tour television series, leading campus tours and even suiting up as Blaze, The University of Texas at Arlington mascot.
But his true passion lies in art history and sharing it with as many people as possible. On Friday, Gervasi will graduate summa cum laude from UT Arlington at Globe Life Field. The art history major plans to pursue graduate studies to further deepen his expertise in the field and share even more with the world.
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Gervasi spent a few moments to reflect on his time at UTA, his love for art history and what lies ahead:
What inspired you to study art history at UTA?
Since I grew up in Arlington, I’ve always been familiar with UTA. I went to high school close to campus, attended UTA’s choir and orchestra camps and my brother and sister both also attended UTA—we were all together at UTA for two years. With all of that, UTA was always where I wanted to attend.
However, deciding that art history was what I wanted to study wasn’t as straightforward. My career ambitions in the field of art history started in my junior year at James Martin High School. For one of my available class slots, I had three options: home economics, an off period or AP art history. I chose AP art history because I liked the television show Antiques Roadshow. I only found out how much I enjoyed the topic when schools shut down during COVID and the only thing I could do was study. One hour turned into two, two into three, and then I found myself declaring it as my major at UTA.
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How has UTA prepared you for your future career in art history and education?
The Art and Art history Department has been fantastic at UTA—our professors really want us to succeed. They find unique and relevant opportunities for students to engage in and grow professionally. They’ve helped me find conferences and internships to apply to. It’s a fantastic program that has set me up for success.
I’ve also had many opportunities to practice what I’ve learned in my other courses in pre-law and communication. These include participating in moot court, utaradio.com and UTA Spotlight. These hands-on experiences have made me confident in my skills and uniquely marketable.
What activities or organizations were you involved with on campus?
I worked as a tour guide, was a member of the UTA rock climbing club, participated in the 2024 Homecoming Court, and I was also our University mascot, Blaze! Through these, I had the unique opportunity to interact with future students, current students and alumni—and engage with the greater North Texan community.
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What internship experiences helped shape your interests and goals?
I had three major internships. I was an art education intern at the Kimball Art Museum in Fort Worth, a historic tax credit intern for Ryan, LLC, and I just concluded my internship with Seacrest Studios. With Seacrest Studios, I entertained and educated patients at Children’s Health in Dallas and Plano through television broadcasting. During my internship, I produced a live, weekly hour-long show on art historical topics. The episodes ranged in content from dogs in art to superhero and comic art to puppetry to collecting and auctioneering. The programs made art history fun and exciting for families to enjoy.
Where are your career goals and what do you see yourself doing in the future?
My long-term goal is to establish myself in public broadcasting while also being a professor at a university. Art is a way of storytelling, and there are a lot of people who want to discuss it and learn more about the subject. I believe television, radio and public lectures are wonderful tools to educate because they are enjoyable and accessible.
Next fall, I’m starting graduate school at Texas Tech University, pursuing a master’s in art history with a focus on late 19th-century French art.
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You’ve chosen a distinctive path that blends art, education and media—what draws you to that combination?
It’s very exciting to put something together and teach it, especially live. With art history, there is so much—and the more you look the more exciting things you’ll find. Many people are really interested in art but get nervous to speak about it because it may feel very academic and intimidating at times.
My goal as a public educator is to encourage others to interact confidently with art. It’s a way for people to engage with the topics and experiences of everyday life, so if you are just living life, you are qualified to talk about art.