About Us

Honors Faculty Tina Piracci

Art | Design| Collaboration

Tina Piracci is an artist, educator, and innovator passionate about blending art, technology, and sustainability. She earned her Master of Science in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley, with a focus on technology and sustainability, along with certificates in teaching, remote learning, and new media. Before that, she studied at the University of South Florida, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture and new media, plus minors in electrical engineering, visualization and design, and entrepreneurship. She also spent time studying studio art abroad in Paris and London.

Academic Background & Creative Practice

Before joining the Judy Genshaft Honors College, Piracci taught at UC Berkeley, where she explored the intersections of art, design, engineering, health, and technology. She also founded a makerspace, creating a vibrant studio that connected artists, engineers, and architects from around the world.

Piracci’s art has been exhibited locally and internationally, from California and New York to Taiwan and beyond. Her recent works include interactive installations at Fairgrounds St. Pete, underwater sculptures designed to support marine life in the Gulf of Mexico, and public art at USF St. Petersburg. She has been featured in multiple publications, and her innovative work with ceramic 3D printing and robotics will appear in the upcoming Oxford Press book Hands in the Clay.

Teaching & Student Engagement

At the Honors College, Piracci teaches courses like Art in Motion, Acquisition of Knowledge, Art + the Environment, and Curatorial Practices + Public Art. She also supports student organizations, serving as a faculty representative for the Ceramics Club and the newly formed Honors crochet group. Her latest student-collaborative research explores using 3D-printed clay structures to restore oyster habitats along seawalls.

Beyond the classroom, Piracci works with Potters for Peace, using clay and technology to create accessible clean water solutions. She brings this same passion for problem-solving into her teaching, helping students experiment with materials, push creative boundaries, and merge art with technology. No matter your major, if you're curious about hands-on creativity, sustainability, or innovation, you’ll find a home in her classes.