Terri McKnight Sanders

Texas Photographer, Printmaker, Painter, and Mixed Media Artist

Terri McKnight Sanders earned an MFA in Studio Art: Printmaking and Painting from Houston Christian University in 2023, M.ED in Curriculum & Instruction with a minor in Administration in 2009 from Sam Houston State University, Texas Teaching Certificate Pre K-12 Art in 2005. Sanders earned a BFA in Advertising & Graphic Design with a minor in English in 2004 from Sam Houston State University.

Sanders teaches at Houston Christian University as an adjunct professor in Studio Art - Printmaking. Prior teaching includes 27 years of teaching full time and substituting for the Conroe Independent School District. She taught high school art in drawing, painting, printmaking, and created cross-curriculum with academic and art classes. 

As an artist, Sanders is driven to explore new techniques and processes. She enjoys the challenge it gives her to incorporate ideas in layering paint, printmaking, and mixed media. Through her love for photography, Sanders began to explore a new challenge by hand coloring her black and white and infrared photos which resulted in the creation of  “Photopainting”. As a printmaker, she combines printmaking processes and photography into her risograph prints. Creating Altered books allows her to record memories, notes, and creative ideas that may be used in future artwork.

In 2025, Sanders attended  Solo Residency at Kolaj Institute in New Orleans, LA, Sanders created a series of layered mixed media with collage. The layers of mixed media included photography, risograph printing, woodcut printing, watercolor, and gouache with collage as symbols and iconography. The vacant chair, her great grandmother's scissors, and collage collected while in New Orleans are symbols of life experiences.

Sanders traveled to Mali, West Africa in 2009 and worked with woodcarvers, silversmiths, and the students at the Institute National Des Arts in Bamako. Her research, Journals, and 150 photographs were selected by the Agricultural Department in Washington DC.

Through continued intense studies, research, and exploration, Sanders expanded her photography by combining 35mm and digital images with painting, printmaking, different papers, mediums, collage, writing, and drawing,  Her photography from Mexico, Africa, and across the U.S. allows her to relive captured memories. She continues her education with classes, workshops, and residencies. During research and the creative process, new areas of interest arise and lead to the next body of work.

Sanders is a member of the Conroe Art League, Lone Star Art Guild, The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Kolaj Institute and Contemporary Collage Magazines.

Terri McKnight Sanders has exhibited in Louisiana, Maine, New Mexico, New York, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Washington D.C., England, Mali-Africa, and Mexico.


terrisanders[email protected] 

@terridsanders