John Pomara Retires After 30 Years at University of Texas at Dallas

John Pomara, a painter known for integrating glitch aesthetics into expanded painting, is retiring after 30 years at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). His career at UTD began in 1996 as a Senior Lecturer, and he became a tenure-track professor in 1998 after a bold interview with Dean Dennis Kratz. Pomara, alongside Greg Metz and Marilyn Waligore, shaped UTD's art program, including the Art Barn, the Edith O'Donnell Arts & Technology Building (opened 2015), and the CentralTrak residency (2008–2017). In May 2025, Pomara and Andrew Scott launched the Bass School Satellite Space in Dallas' Tin District, opening later in 2026. Pomara's teaching emphasized chance, glitch, and interdisciplinary practice, influencing students like Raychael Stine and Liz Trosper. His work explores glitching through low-tech processes, inspired by a distorted photocopy from a student. Pomara, Greg Metz, and Marilyn Waligore are all retiring this month.