Art Instructor
Nielsen Center for Visual Arts
Degrees
- MFA, University of South Florida
- B.A., Eckerd College
Courses & Specializations
Betsy Orbe Lester teaches where she learned, both at Eckerd College (Bachelor of Arts) and formerly, USF (Master of Fine Arts).
An award-winning mixed media artist, Betsy’s work resides in permanent collections, both private and corporate, notably: Tampa Museum of Art, Museum of the Gulf Coast, and Neiman Marcus Collection.
As 1996 Pinellas Artist in Residence, Betsy was featured as the “Art Lady” on Kid’s Place, Vision Cable TV. She is the recipient of numerous grants and awards and a former Delta flight attendant.
The Jim Crane Project honors the memory of Betsy’s teacher, Emeritus Professor Jim Crane, creator of Visual Problem Solving (VPS), and founding faculty of the Visual Arts program. During USF grad school, Jim invited Betsy to teach VPS, which she continues to teach, honoring his legacy.
