After his work with the military was completed, Atkinson took the opportunity to work in the arts. He founded and operated a gallery and artist incubator in Los Angeles. This led to his becoming the operations director for two internationally renowned galleries in New York. Woven into his daily practice was education and mentorship – for artists, staff, clients – from topics ranging from the marketplace to emerging art forms.
In 2017, Atkinson returned home to Dallas and after reflecting on his career, he decided to return to his greatest joy – teaching. In pursuit of this goal, he re- enrolled at Southern Methodist University and earned his master’s degree in May of 2021. In the spring of 2021, he was hired by St. Mark’s School of Texas and has joined the faculty as a full-time 6th grade Humanities teacher.
He has shown his work throughout the U.S. and in Europe.
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