When Emily Moffitt first came to the University of South Carolina, she was ready to explore her artistic talent, but she wasn’t sure where that path would lead.  Would she be a studio artist? Or perhaps a lawyer with an artistic hobby? 

But now, thanks to professors who helped her build skills and an internship that helped her build connections, Moffitt is a leader in the creative community in the state capital. Her double major in studio art and English led to a career that combines her love of storytelling with her talent as an artist ― with work spanning illustration, writing, curating and community building.  

Moffitt works as the gallery curator and the marketing and administrative assistant at the Koger Center for the Arts. She’s also visual arts editor for Jasper Magazine and the secretary of the board of directors for the Jasper Project, the magazine’s publisher which also stages programs with a variety of local artists.

She's also deeply invested in making art accessible. “A lot of people think of the Koger as just a performing arts center,” she says, “but we’re working hard to build its reputation in the visual arts. Our gallery puts money back into the pockets of South Carolina artists. That matters.” 

Recent and upcoming exhibitions include a special collections collaboration with the Ernest F. Hollings Library at USC, monthly Jasper exhibits and a major year-end show at Koger by muralist Ija Charles. “We want to create more programming that brings in the public and invites them to connect with the art and artists directly,” she says. 

Being part of both the studio art and English programs gave Moffitt a unique lens as both a maker and communicator. “My English classes taught me how to listen and how to tell a story—skills I use every day as a curator,” she says. Whether she’s writing exhibit descriptions or helping artists shape their vision, her ability to translate emotion across mediums is key.

Born in Oklahoma and raised in Germany before settling in Irmo, South Carolina, Moffitt loved to draw what she saw in cartoons and video games. “The concept of parallel play really ignited my creativity,” she says. “My parents weren’t artists professionally, but they encouraged creativity at home—my mom was always crafting or painting, and my dad was handy with tools.” 

It was in her junior year at USC, however, that Moffitt fully embraced her identity as a visual artist. A printmaking course at the School of Visual Art and Design opened her eyes to trying new mediums. Later, a drawing assignment from Brent Dedas “made the art click.” Creating 50 original pieces that reflected her identity for the project was transformative, she says.

The project required deep self-reflection and experimentation that gave her the push she needed to unlock her artistic inspiration. She found her personal art style and fell in love with illustration. 

She got involved with the Jasper Project in college when a friend recommended an internship with the arts nonprofit. That opportunity opened doors to Columbia’s broader arts community, where she began showing her own work and organizing exhibitions. Now, as curator of the Koger Center’s growing gallery space, she’s helping other artists get the spotlight and the support they deserve.

As a curator, Moffitt’s approach centers on listening. “Sometimes an exhibit is trying to tell a deeper story—and sometimes it isn’t. Either way, it’s my job to make sure the artist’s message comes through clearly,” she says. “That comes from the critical thinking I learned at USC.”

For Moffitt, supporting the local arts community is a way to give back to those who invested in her talent. "I wanted to stay connected and repay the faculty who go above and beyond for us," she says. In her role as gallery curator, she's been able to include original works by USC professors like Marius Valdes and Meena Khalili. 

From curating exhibitions that amplify diverse voices to building bridges between USC and the broader arts community, Moffitt has found her place by staying open to new experiences and grounded in the lessons she learned at SVAD. 

“It’s okay not to know exactly what you want to do. Say yes to things. Go to artist talks. Get involved in your community. You never know where those experiences will take you.”