Griffin Goodman ’17, Fine Arts, integrates community into every part of his creative practice—from his collaborative projects with Chicago institutions to returning to campus to mentor students and share his work. Whether he’s designing for the Chicago Bulls, judging Best of Ringling, or engaging with young artists, his work is rooted in connection and collaboration. This year, he was even named one of Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 for Art and Style.
During the Spring 2025 semester, Goodman returned to Ringling College of Art and Design for a solo exhibition of technicolor paintings with layered vignettes featuring the who’s who of animation history. The playful stroll down memory lane of an exhibition brings together pop-culture icons from different eras, genres, media, and even brands in dizzying scenes of nostalgia and pleasure.
“Returning to Ringling for a solo exhibition was a full-circle moment for me,” Goodman shared. “It was deeply meaningful to present a complete body of work in the same place where my artistic journey began.”
Beyond the gallery walls, his time on campus was marked by hands-on involvement with students—spending a month working alongside emerging artists, exchanging ideas, and offering insight into life as a working creative. “Their curiosity and energy made the time truly special,” he reflected. To close out his visit, Goodman also served as a judge for Best of Ringling.
Now based in Chicago, Goodman is building an art practice rooted in place, culture, and collaboration. His reach spans some of the city’s most beloved institutions and brands.
In 2024, he designed a merchandise line for the Chicago Bulls. Beginning with the team’s Artist Hat Series, Goodman designed a custom hat distributed to the first 5,000 fans at a game. That partnership grew to include limited-edition fine art prints, pins, pennants, sticker sheets, and even ceramic basketball piggy banks.
Goodman also worked with the iconic West Loop sandwich shop and grocer, J.P. Graziano, on limited-edition holiday merchandise and special design collaborations in 2024.
Through a partnership with The Simple Good, he also contributed to a Chicago Public Schools coloring book. “This project is especially meaningful because every student receives a copy, giving them a creative outlet and a place to express themselves at the start of their artistic journey,” he shared.
Whether mentoring Ringling students, designing for organizations of all sizes, or making art accessible to Chicago youth, Goodman uses his practice to serve his community and create spaces for dialogue, participation, and connection.
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