Justin Bruursema, MFA ’27, has spent the past 25 years establishing himself as a commercial photographer, working with well-known brands and bringing clients’ creative visions to life. When he decided to return to higher education to earn his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Visual Arts, Bruursema was thinking about the doors that would be opened after graduation. What he didn’t expect was the opportunities he’d have during his time in the program to redefine himself as an artist. From having his work shown at a museum and building friendships with students from all around the world to pursuing a thesis in a medium other than photography, Bruursema reflected on how he couldn’t have foreseen just how transformative his time at APU would be.
Bruursema earned his undergraduate degree from Grand Valley State University, where he majored in communications and photography with a minor in psychology. After graduating, he began his commercial photography career, working for brands such as CRAFTSMAN®, Red Wing Shoes®, EGO Power Tools, and Albany Park over the years. Bruursema always wanted to pursue an MFA because it is the highest level of study in the arts, and APU’s MFA program has helped inspire and define him as an artist. In the MFA program, students are encouraged to bring their individual vision to life and create a conceptual framework or ideology to help define their subject matter.
APU’s program particularly stood out to Bruursema for its low-residency model, meaning that students only visit campus once or twice per semester, and its multidisciplinary curriculum. The program’s low-residency structure allows students from all over the world to earn an MFA working with APU’s experienced, well-connected faculty at a top Christian university. Bruursema closely works with peers across the U.S., from Northern California and Michigan to Indiana. The MFA is also an accordion program, meaning students can earn their degree in two to five years, depending on how they want to balance courses with their careers and lifestyle needs.
The program employs faculty with professional expertise across a variety of media, allowing students the flexibility to pursue their artistic growth. “Although I’m a photographer by trade, I decided to do my thesis in installation,” Bruursema said. “I’ve been able to pivot from 2D photography to 3D installation because of the latitude of the program.” Bruursema enjoys the flexibility and freedom APU offers students to explore new media and become better, more well-rounded artists if they choose to pursue new ideas.
What makes this breadth of media available to students possible is APU’s faculty. Bruursema shared that each faculty member brings a new level of insight and ability to articulate ideas to students in new ways. “I wasn’t fully prepared for the level of insight and feedback I’ve gotten,” he said. “Part of an MFA is having your work critiqued, and that’s an important experience for me as an artist because I get invaluable feedback about what I’m creating. My professors have the phenomenal ability to cut to the bone of my work in seconds, pointing out what they see in my work in a way very few people can articulate so well.”
Having worked in the industry for so long, Bruursema has found the most challenging
part of the program to be learning to set aside old habits in order to grow.
Bruursema praised his professors’ ability to challenge and encourage him during the
program. Each cohort is made up of about seven students, so receiving personalized
attention from faculty members allows for a deeper level of understanding and growth.
“I’ve never seen this level of attention or connection between students and faculty
in MFA programs anywhere else.”
Underlying each assignment and interaction within the program is a strong sense of faith. “I share the faith of APU, and this is a faith-based program,” Bruursema said. “Spirituality and art are intertwined, and I get to explore that in my art. APU’s MFA is mostly self-led, and while the professors have guided me through the process, I have gotten to participate in independent study and create my own goals and objectives. It’s part of how faith can be woven into the fabric of the program in a natural way.”
Throughout his time in the program, Bruursema has had opportunities to showcase his talent and make connections with other professionals outside of the program. Recently, program director Stephen Childs, MFA, who has worked with a number of prestigious galleries, curated a show titled Interwoven at the Sassee Museum in Pomona, where Bruursema and his peers showcased their work. This experience coincides with the opening of Bruursema’s new freelance business. “Conceptually, I can now offer clients a broader range of ideas and skills, and it’s because I’ve gotten to flex different creative muscles at APU.”
Bruursema is just a few months away from graduation and has started looking towards new doors that will be open with an MFA degree. “I would love to give back to other artists,” he said. “I’ve had a full career and every day has been a blast. I love what I do, but at some point I’d like to transition into teaching while still shooting photography professionally.” Bruursema recalled how impactful developing his first photograph was and wants to pass on his passion and energy to the next generation of artists. His faculty’s genuine care for their students and passion for art have been inspiring and exciting for Bruursema. “Professors can make you feel understood and connected,” he said. “They help you realize when you are good at something and have potential for growth, and that’s an important part of the art world. The purpose of a professor is to encourage students to take big, brave steps in their artistic expression, and the APU faculty have done that for me.”