Kirk Ambrose

Kirk Ambrose, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, recently embarked on an 800-mile pilgrimage to conduct research for his upcoming book.

“I’m in the process of writing it and I intend to complete it next year,” he said. “It’s about art in the age of doubt.”

Ambrose crossed through France, Spain and Switzerland during his pilgrimage. He met some fascinating people along the way.

“I was really interested in the people who were helping us,” he said. “From folks cleaning bathrooms to people who were hosting, to people working on the trails. There’s a kind of instant rapport you have with those people and it’s really remarkable. The people were just really welcoming.”

As a Cranbrook Kingswood Schools alumni, Ambrose was drawn to the arts as a teenager.

“It wasn’t until high school that I really became interested in the arts,” he said. “I went to Cranbrook as a boarding student. Living there, you can imagine, it’s such a beautiful place and it’s hard not to get hooked on the arts.”

Ambrose was inspired by the teachers at Cranbrook.

“I think that the teachers there were really great,” he said. “The people there promoted critical thinking. I would go to used bookshops in Birmingham on the weekends.”

Following high school, Ambrose attended Oberlin College in Ohio. Subsequently, he earned his PhD at the University of Michigan and he spent several years traveling.

“I spent a year in Germany, two years in France and six months in India,” he said. “I’m interested in communal life and the way communities are shaped through buildings, art and ritual.”

Today, Ambrose is a published author and renowned professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he is the founding director of the Center for Teaching and Learning.

“I’m really interested in improving learning for our students and making sure they’re getting the best education possible.”

It was in the summer of 2025 that Ambrose made the bold decision to make the 800-mile trek through Europe to conduct research for his upcoming book.

“I did a lot of walking in preparation for the pilgrimage,” he said. “I’m lucky to live in Colorado where there are lots of mountainous trails.”

During the pilgrimage, Ambrose experienced a kind of mental cleansing.

“Most of the day, you’re just alone in the woods and there’s a letting go of thought. And the range of people you meet on pilgrimage is really incredible.”

Ambrose was fortunate to have been joined by his wife and his son for portions of the pilgrimage.

“My son joined me through Switzerland and my wife joined me through France,” he said. “It was really wonderful and very beautiful.”

Ambrose is in the midst of writing his next book.

“The book is about visual art as an affirmation of faith and how art addresses doubt.”

Ambrose previously published four books. His books are all available on Amazon. He also curated museum exhibitions on the American West, including Pioneers: Women Artists in Boulder, 1898-1950. He served seven years as chair of the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Colorado Boulder and was the editor-in-chief of The Art Bulletin, a scholarly journal based in New York City.

Ambrose’s future goals are centered around education.

“After finishing this book, I’m really just focused on students and teaching,” he said. “That is so important to me. I’m focused on giving hope to students. I think there’s so much negativity out there these days and I want to empower my students.”

Story: Katey Meisner