Forged Fields Artist Spotlight: Meet Reagan Davis Pufall

About the Artist

Reagan Davis Pufall is a creative force whose work blends art, technology, and curiosity into something uniquely compelling. As both an artist and educator based in the Omaha Metro area, Reagan brings a thoughtful and exploratory approach to everything he does, whether it's teaching art and art history at Iowa Western Community College or crafting intricate photographic and new media pieces. When he's not in the classroom or the studio, Reagan is fostering golden retrievers. His current pack includes fosters Ellie and Henry, and his own dog, Lee.

Roots and Education

Originally from North Dakota, Reagan's creative journey began in high school with photography. He later pursued formal education in the arts at Regis University in Denver and the San Francisco Art Institute, where he expanded his interest in photography into a board practice of new media, including 3D scanning, laser cutting and digital prints.

Artistic Approach and Mediums

"I like to make art as a way to express myself and ideas, Reagan shares, "but more importantly, as an avenue to learn. The most satisfying part of art is learning." Though much of his work is rooted in science fiction themes and speculative exploration, it's often grounded in real places, particularly through the lens of photography. For Reagan, photography offers a unique connection to reality: "By making a photograph instead of a drawing or painting, the viewer knows this place exists."

About the Exhibit Piece - Burn I

For the Forged Fields: The Art of Agriculture exhibit, Reagan submitted a piece titled Burn 1, a striking photograph taken during a controlled burn at Hitchcock Nature Center, just north of Omaha. "The smoke drew me in," he explains. "There's a special kind of light and feeling to being around a fire. During those burns, the park is incredible. The light gets a soft glowing quality while burned trees glow with embers."

Connection Place and Rural Life

While Reagan doesn't consider himself deeply tied to agriculture or rural life, he acknowledges that "you photograph what is around you" and Burn 1 is a perfect example of capturing a fleeting, beautiful moment in a Midwestern landscape shaped by land stewardship.

Inspiration and Memorable Work

Beyond the gallery, one of his most memorable projects involved mentoring at DoSpace, a tech library in Omaha, where he once created an artificial leg for a goat. This combined creativity, compassion and technical skill.

What Fuels His Creativity

Above all, Reagan says the best part of what he does is the process of discovery.

"Learning new things whether that is techniques, the science behind something, or a place is refreshing and engaging. A lot of the art I make is exploration."

Connect with the Artist

Want to see more of Reagan's work or follow along with future project?

Website: www.reagandpufall.com
Bluesky: @gigglingunicorn

Forged Fields: The Art of Agriculture runs through July 31 at the Columbus Community Gallery located on the second floor at the Columbus Community Building, 2500 14 St. Stop by and see Reagan's work alongside other artists exploring the intersection of landscape, labor and life on the plains.