Remembering CU student Grant Munski

Grant Munski was preparing to graduate this May with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in printmaking.

When the 23-year-old took his own life the weekend of April 20, the CU community was left stunned, especially those in the art department who knew Munski as an extraordinarily gifted young artist.

A recent photo of Grant Munski. (Courtesy of Daniel FitzPatrick)

“Grant was very talented,” Melanie Yazzie, his printmaking professor said. “He was a special student and a strong presence in the classroom.”

Munski had been preparing his final senior project, a series of prints that Yazzie said the entire department was looking forward to seeing.

“His images were fairly abstract,” she said. “They’re representations of things most of us take for granted when we look at them, common symbols in our environment.”

Senior art history and studio arts major Katie Bowman was Munski’s printmaking partner. Though they had shared classes in the past, Bowman and Munski became close friends this semester.

“He wasn’t what I would call a class clown because he totally got all of his work done, but whenever we would get together, he would make jokes,” Bowman said. “Otherwise he was off in his own world, drawing away.”

Munski was “a man of few words,” according to Bowman. She said he was always friendly, but quiet and somewhat closed off until you got to know him well.

He made local headlines after becoming trapped in a frozen ditch in February, though it is unclear whether or not that event is related to his death.

But Munski’s remarkable artistic ability was one of his definitive qualities, and what those close to him remember him for. His friends and teachers at CU hope to celebrate him by presenting his work in the future.

“I’m not completely sure if he really knew how honored all of the printmakers in the program were to work with him,” Bowman said. “Maybe one day we can somehow gather his art and have a show, because I think he really deserves that.”

Yazzie added that although the ultimate decision belongs to the Munski family, the department would like to have an exhibition next year.

Munski was raised in Evanston, IL, and his family will be holding a memorial service on Friday, May 4 at Fourth Presbyterian Church in nearby Chicago. A website with information has been set up and provides a PayPal link for donations towards the funeral.

For more information visit http://inmemoryofgrantmunski.com.

Munski’s friends, including CU-Denver student Daniel Fitzpatrick, sent the CU Independent a statement:

“Grant was an inspiration. His creativity and sense of humor were infectious. Grant could have a room cracking up with one look. He had a glowing smile and a hilarious laugh. He was an incredible artist. His artwork is an extension of all his best qualities: honesty, curiosity, individuality, humor and style, to name a few. Through his art and wonderful memories, we can celebrate him—we are extremely fortunate for that. He was an amazing person, and we will forever be grateful for his friendship and love.”

Contact CU Independent Breaking News Editor Annie Melton at Anne.melton@colorado.edu.