- Campus:
- IU Bloomington
As an artist, Margaret Dolinsky dreamed of possibilities that blended imagination with expression, sketching fanciful shapes and forms that later became the seeds of her pioneering work in digital art. That sense of play and curiosity never left her—it grew into a career dedicated to creating immersive experiences that invited others to see the world differently.
At Indiana University, Margaret’s contributions were as expansive as her art. She helped shape the Digital Art program into what it is today, guiding students as they explored the intersection of creativity and technology. Whether troubleshooting code late into the night, coaching a student through sound design, or standing alongside them as their work lit up IU’s immersive VR spaces, she poured her energy into nurturing not only their projects but their confidence. Her leadership in developing B.F.A. and M.F.A. concentrations in Digital Art, as well as a Creative Art + Technology minor, has left a legacy that continues to inspire thousands.
Margaret’s own professional growth was marked by a spirit of experimentation. She often sought new tools and perspectives to deepen her practice, always sharing what she learned with colleagues and students alike. Her art reached audiences across the globe—from SIGGRAPH to Ars Electronica—but she never lost sight of the importance of community. For over 20 years, she made the VR showcases at IU a space of celebration, complete with cookies, laughter, and awe-filled first encounters with immersive technology.
She delighted in nature, long bike rides, good pastries, and most recently, her travels along America’s Great Loop by boat. Her final works invited us to enter landscapes that were both real and imagined, filled with life and quiet wonder. Margaret’s legacy lives on not only in the groundbreaking art she created but in the many students, colleagues, and friends who carry her influence forward.
Many thanks to Arthur Liou, Dean of the Geer School of Art at Kennesaw State and colleague of Margaret. Arthur’s recognition of Margaret was used to create this spotlight, and the full recognition can be found here.