Cody Norton
Assistant Professor of Art

Contact information
Office 222 in the Alphin Humanities Building
(870) 307-7191|cody.norton@lyon.edu

Cody Norton
Assistant Professor of Art

Cody Norton is an Elgin, Texas–born interdisciplinary artist whose work examines the intersections of rural identity, queerness, and environmental change. Currently an Assistant Professor of Art at Lyon College, Norton teaches sculpture, drawing, fiber arts, and more, fostering critical dialogue between material practice, writing, and theory.

Norton earned his BFA in Painting and Drawing from theUniversity of North Texasand his MFA in Sculpture and Post-Studio Practice from theUniversity of Colorado Boulder. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in cities including London, New York, Toronto, Glasgow, São Paulo, Dallas, Austin, Santa Fe, Little Rock, and Denver. He was recently featured inArt X Climate, part of the U.S. Global Change Research Program’s Fifth National Climate Assessment at theSmithsonian American Art Museum, and inRolling Stonemagazine’s coverage of wildlife killing contests. His work has received numerous awards, including Best of Show at the 37th Annual Juried Exhibition at theTexarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council, and his filmDisruption Tacticswon Best Arkansas Short Film at theReel Queer Film Festival.

Rooted in both field research and lived experience, Norton’s practice investigates how queer individuals inhabit and redefine traditionally heteronormative, rural spaces such as the hunting community. Through sculpture, installation, and film, he explores how identity, labor, and ecology intersect—often using materials tied to agrarian life such as leather, hide, wood, and textiles. His recent projects combine contemporary theory, folklore, and environmental history to question dominant narratives of masculinity, wilderness, and belonging.

At Lyon College, Norton teaches a range of studio courses, including Sculpture, Drawing, Fiber Arts, and more. His classes emphasize experimentation with materials, conceptual development, and interdisciplinary thinking. Students in his courses engage deeply with form, space, and narrative—learning how to translate personal and cultural experiences into an artistic language. Norton integrates readings and discussions from contemporary art theory, environmental humanities, and studio art studies to help students consider how identity, place, and material practice are interwoven. In the studio, he encourages risk-taking, collaboration, and curiosity, creating an environment where technical skill and critical inquiry evolve together. Students can expect to leave his courses with a strong foundation in process-based making, an awareness of the historical and social contexts of their work, and the confidence to articulate their creative voice in an ever-changing world.

You can learn even more about Cody at: https://codynorton.com/