Valerie Guinn Polgar is a new media artist, educator, film festival programmer, and founder of Misbits NMA. Her work addresses issues of impermanence and fragility through the use of surrogate forms. She feels that the nature of new media lends itself to the use of surrogate forms within a safe environment where she possesses the control to save and duplicate her work—essentially allowing her to create immortal models of mortality.

Valerie has a BFA in Digital Art from George Mason University and an MFA in Computer Art from the School of Visual Arts. She is currently serving as Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Art and Art History as well as an Instructor in the Computer and Information Science Department at the University of Mississippi. Her work has been shown nationally, from New York City to the Deep South.