Michael Kopp is an Assistant Professor of Art at Bellarmine University and is the Founding Director of The Social Practice Lab. Prior to this, Michael was the Art + Operations Director at 1619 Flux: Art + Activism, located in West End Louisville, Kentucky.
Michael interrogates the role of “artist as maker” to examine social power structures of images, image making, and image sharing. His practice explores the systems and functionality of contemporary imagery and the effects these systems have on human relationships, both on an individual and a societal level. Employing the conceptual framework of Glitch Theory, Michael analyzes the politics and processes of HIV transmission through production of queer visual and social practice art. Michael has presented his research at The Ohio State University, Indiana University; has exhibited internationally in Rome, Italy and Glasgow, Scotland; and was a featured speaker published on the TED Talk network (2024).