Edward Bakst
Keynote Speaker: Award-Winning Artist, Educator, and Imagination-Driven Creative Director
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Edward Bakst Biography
Edward Bakst is an award-winning artist, designer, director, and educator whose work spans animation, photography, film, and experiential design. His imaginative concepts and short animated films have been created for organizations including MTV, Nickelodeon, Smithsonian, HBO, PBS, ABC, NBC, Showtime, FX, Sesame Workshop, UNICEF, and National Geographic, among many others, earning numerous international awards. His films have been screened at the SIGGRAPH Theatre, and he is a recipient of both a Guggenheim Fellowship and Jerome Foundation grants.
Bakst’s artwork and photography have been exhibited globally, with recent highlights including MADS Gallery exhibitions in Milan, Barcelona (La Pedrera, Gaudí Room), and the Canary Islands; international invitational exhibitions in Seoul, Sicily, Italy, and Qatar; projections on a digital Times Square billboard in New York City; and inclusion in the U.S. State Department’s Impact of Exchange traveling exhibition. His work has been widely featured in publications such as Global Art Times, Artventurous Magazine, Contemporary Art Curator, and Museum Mile Contemporary, and he was a Creative Quarterly CQ71 Award winner. Recent photography exhibitions include Center for Photography Woodstock, Arts Society Kingston, CICA Museum for Contemporary Art (Seoul), and ArtExpo New York. 2026 brings works exhibited at Hudson Valley MOCA and ArtExpo NY ‘26, followed by the solo show at ASK, NY in July.
In academia, Bakst has designed, directed, and launched pioneering programs at institutions including Pratt Institute, Columbia University, RMCAD (where he founded International Animation and ASIFA-CO), College for Creative Studies (as Full Professor), and Nanyang Technological University, where he helped shape the School of Art, Design & Media and the School of Technology for the Arts. He has held invited and endowed professorships at universities in Turkey, Japan, and China, and served as a Fulbright Specialist through 2024, conducting Imagination Workshops internationally, including at a women’s university in Pakistan. Across his creative and academic work, Bakst centers imagination as the catalyst for self-discovery, innovation, empowerment, and expressive possibility.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Edward Bakst and other top speakers and celebrities.
Edward Bakst Speaking Topics
I see imagination as the Origin of all: arts, science, technology, innovation, invention, progress and civilization itself. Hence I conduct my Imagination Workshops for diverse groups: interdisciplinary students and teachers as well as professionals with no artistic skills. Motivated, they all find ways to express their ideas, emotions, dreams and aspirations. I deem them critical to all in whom imagination has fallen into hibernation. "
As children we live in our own heads. There we are free to conform reality to fit our own wishes and dreams. Growing up we lose this magical ability. ""Gravity Free & Reality Independent"" perspective on everything frees us from the thinking which has been instilled in us as we grow up and are impacted by our parents, education, needs to fit in and to conform, social and professional pressures. "
It challenges our acquired perspective on everything we have accepted as ""this is the way it is and has to be"" and unleashes us to envision and consider possibilities which as limited only by the scope and depth of our own imagination. Thus liberated we are free to envision the impossible or improbable as a new horizon for which to strive or at least aspire to. Since life is short, I deem it a critical opportunity."
Language of true animation empowers individual to envision and create a world of his own making, one that is limited only my one's own imagination. Instead of being linear it can be capable of moving and evolving through time, meaning and space, all of it independently to rules of reality as we have been programed by.
How do I book Edward Bakst to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Edward Bakst for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Edward Bakst, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Edward Bakst or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Edward Bakst for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Edward Bakst, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Edward Bakst are Below $10,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Edward Bakst, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Edward Bakst speak about?
Edward Bakst is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Creativity, Art & Design, Entrepreneurship, Storytelling, Photography, Television & Film and Professors.
Where does Edward Bakst travel from?
Edward Bakst generally travels from Philadelphia, PA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Edward Bakst?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Edward Bakst for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Edward Bakst for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Edward Bakst or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Edward Bakst is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Creativity, Art & Design and Entrepreneurship. The estimated speaking fee range to book Edward Bakst for live events is Below $10,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Edward Bakst generally travels from Philadelphia, PA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Cesar Kuriyama, Paul Topolos and Michal Makarewicz. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Edward Bakst for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Edward Bakst Speaking Topics
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Imagination Workshops
I see imagination as the Origin of all: arts, science, technology, innovation, invention, progress and civilization itself. Hence I conduct my Imagination Workshops for diverse groups: interdisciplinary students and teachers as well as professionals with no artistic skills. Motivated, they all find ways to express their ideas, emotions, dreams and aspirations. I deem them critical to all in whom imagination has fallen into hibernation. "
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Power of Imagination
As children we live in our own heads. There we are free to conform reality to fit our own wishes and dreams. Growing up we lose this magical ability. ""Gravity Free & Reality Independent"" perspective on everything frees us from the thinking which has been instilled in us as we grow up and are impacted by our parents, education, needs to fit in and to conform, social and professional pressures. "
-
Gravity Free & Reality Independent ideation
It challenges our acquired perspective on everything we have accepted as ""this is the way it is and has to be"" and unleashes us to envision and consider possibilities which as limited only by the scope and depth of our own imagination. Thus liberated we are free to envision the impossible or improbable as a new horizon for which to strive or at least aspire to. Since life is short, I deem it a critical opportunity."
-
Metamorphic Storytelling
Language of true animation empowers individual to envision and create a world of his own making, one that is limited only my one's own imagination. Instead of being linear it can be capable of moving and evolving through time, meaning and space, all of it independently to rules of reality as we have been programed by.
VIDEO
Edward Bakst Videos
FAQS
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How do I book Edward Bakst to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Edward Bakst for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Edward Bakst, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Edward Bakst or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Edward Bakst for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Edward Bakst, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Edward Bakst are Below $10,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Edward Bakst, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Edward Bakst speak about?
Edward Bakst is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Creativity, Art & Design, Entrepreneurship, Storytelling, Photography, Television & Film and Professors. -
Where does Edward Bakst travel from?
Edward Bakst generally travels from Philadelphia, PA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Edward Bakst?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Edward Bakst for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Edward Bakst for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Edward Bakst or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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