Spring ’26: MFA grad turns life into art
Paula Currie has held a lot of special titles in her life: military wife, dedicated mother to her three children, grandmother to her eldest son’s baby, teacher guiding young artists in the classroom.
She’s spent a lot of time caring and doing for others.
Always knowing she wanted to do more for herself, she added university student to the list and decided to restart her academic journey six years ago. Her efforts culminate on Sunday when she receives a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree from The University of Texas at Arlington.
“I don’t regret any of the time I took to take care of my family, it all made me who I am today,” said Currie, 45. “But at the same time, I really wanted this for me and so it was quite the transition returning as a student. I also wanted to set an example for my kids and show them it doesn’t matter how long it takes, you shouldn’t ever give up on your dreams and aspirations.”
Currie started at UTA in 2020 to finish her bachelor’s degree. In her final year in the fine arts program, she was named a McNair scholar, which helped set the foundation for her to prepare for graduate school. She applied for the MFA program at UTA, was immediately accepted and transitioned directly into the program.
“It feels like I’ve been at UTA forever,” Currie said. “But the last couple years have been an incredible learning experience.”
Currie is a mixed media artist. She uses paints, clay, glass and other mediums that fit her vision for a particular piece.
Related: Spring ’26: UTA grads balance PhDs & a toddler
At the beginning of the MFA program, Currie focused her work on representing the trauma and emotions that military families typically experience when their loved ones are deployed. After finding it difficult to revisit that period of her life, she pivoted to intergenerational trauma and how these feelings and trauma responses are passed down in families.
That’s when Currie began creating the nine pieces she had on display at the MFA exhibition in late April as part of the requirement to complete the degree. She explained her art represent mental illness, but is presented in a way children can visualize and understand.
“This led me down the route of intergenerational trauma and found myself asking, ‘how can I make this colorful and approachable for even children so they can see themselves in the art and not just adults?’” Currie said.
This fall, Currie aspires to return to teaching at either a university or high school. She aims to inspire young artists to find their own voices and styles.
She will continue creating as well. Her art is something she never wants to stop pursuing.
“I feel very fortunate I got to get both my BFA and my MFA here at UTA,” Currie said. “I feel like I received such a well-rounded education here at UTA. I recommended it to my daughter when she was looking for an art school and she’s now in the BFA program here.”
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 300,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.