Artist: Casey Beck
Casey Beck, NEBRASKA
View Artist's Products
Artist Statement
Pottery not only fills the home by its physical presence but also in a way that good company does. It holds a sense of community and connection and can also be a facilitator of this through shared use with others. It enriches the everyday by bringing the essence of the maker and its history of process and previous use to each time it is used. Living with and using pottery every day, I am able to slow down to consider what essence and history I want to bring into my day. I find that over time, these pots that I use day after day, evolve with new meaning and are recognized through certain feelings, seasons, or events. For this reason, I make pottery. I enjoy having these special moments as both a maker and user of pottery and hope to share this experience with others through thoughtful means of making. I aim to make pottery that will serve as a utilitarian day to day tool but can also be found through specific context becoming ceremonial in a way.
Bio
Beck is currently a third year Master of Fine Arts candidate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His current research focuses on the process of soda firing, which utilizes soda ash, and its volatilization inside the nearly 2300°F gas-fired kiln to glaze his wares. Beck has been a resident artist at the Cub Creek Foundation in rural Virginia, was awarded the 2020 Jerome Ceramic Artist Project Grant through NCC and is a 2023 Ceramics Monthly Emerging Artist. Outside of the studio, Beck takes pleasure in using handmade pots and eating home cooked meals off of them with his friends while listening to music fitted for each experience.
Education
2024-2021 |
Master of Fine Arts (Pending), Ceramics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) (Expected May 2024) |
2019-2015 |
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Ceramics, Minor in Drawing, University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF)
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Professional Experience & Leadership
2023-2022 |
President, Clay Club, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
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2022 |
Assistant, Margaret Bohls, St. Croix Pottery Tour, Shafer, MN |
2021-2017 |
Sales Gallery Associate, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
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2021 |
Sale Organizer, Soda Pop! Sale, sodapopsale.com
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2020-2019 |
Studio Assistant, Ani Kasten, Shafer, MN
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2019 |
Exhibition Organizer, Cross River Connections Exhibition, The Phipps, Hudson, WI |
2019-2016 |
Student Organizer, UWRF |
2017 |
Assistant, Sandy Simon and Robert Brady, St. Croix Pottery Tour, Shafer, MN |
2017-2016 |
Volunteer, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN |
President, Art Society, UWRF |
Artist-in-Residence Experience
2023 |
Faenza Art Ceramic Center (FACC), Short Term Resident Artist, Faenza RA, Italy (Upcoming) |
University of Iowa, Consortium for Intercollegiate Research in the Ceramic Arts (CIRCA) Graduate Exchange Resident Artist, Iowa City, IA (Upcoming) |
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2021-2019 |
Carlton Artist Lofts, Resident Artist, St. Paul, MN |
2018 |
Cub Creek Foundation, Summer Resident Artist, Appomattox, VA |
Teaching Experience
2023 |
Summer Sessions Faculty Instructor, Beginner Wheel Throwing Summer Session, UNL (Upcoming) |
Workshop Instructor, Three Day Soda Firing Workshop, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids, MN |
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2023-2022 |
Instructor of Record, Beginner Wheel Throwing, UNL |
2022 |
Workshop Instructor, Three Day Soda Firing Workshop, Fort Boise Art Center, Boise, ID |
Instructor of Record, Beginning Drawing, UNL |
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Graduate Teaching Assistant, Beginner Wheel Throwing, Pete Pinnell, UNL |
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2021 |
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Beginning Drawing, Three-Dimensional Design, UNL |
2020-2019 |
Teaching Artist, Land of Round Pots, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN |
2019-2016 |
Instructor, Annual High School Workshop Day, UWRF |
2017 |
Instructor, Ceramics Shop, Bucks Rock Performance and Creative Arts Camp, New Milford, CT |
Demonstrations, Lectures and Presentations
2021 |
Presenter, Emerging Artist Grant Recipients, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN |
2019-2015 |
Presenter, Fall Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity (URSCA) Gala, UWRF |
2018 |
Lecturer, National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK |
Demonstrator, Earth and Water: Ceramic Art in the St. Croix River Valley, Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI |
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2016 |
Lecturer, NCUR, University of North Carolina-Ashville |
Awards and Scholarships
2023 |
Ceramics Monthly, Emerging Artist |
2022 |
Honorable Mention, Paper & Clay, Utah State University, Logan, UT |
2020 |
Best Storage Vessel, Last Call V, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN |
2019 |
Juror’s Choice Award, Mugshot2, Mojo Coffee Gallery, Minneapolis, MN |
2018 |
Best in Show, The Cup Show 2019, Clay Arts Vegas, Las Vegas, NV |
2018-2016 |
Juror’s Choice Award, Juried Student Exhibition, UWRF |
2017 |
Honorable Mention, Mugshot1, Mojo Coffee Gallery, Minneapolis, MN |
Mary L. Barrett Scholarship, UWRF |
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2016 |
Mary Beasom Bishop and Francis Summer Merritt Scholarship, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME |
Grant Research
2022 |
Graduate Scholarly/Creative Activity Grant, UNL |
2020 |
2020 Jerome Ceramic Artist Project Grant, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN |
2019-17 |
Undergraduate Stipends and Expenses (USE) Grant, UWRF
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Invitational and Group Exhibitions
2023 |
Crisscross Ceramics Collective (CXC), NCECA, Cincinnati, OH |
Somerset, Past Curfew Pop Up, NCECA, Cincinnati, OH |
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Carbondale Clay Center, Pairings, Carbondale, CO |
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Above Board, Voice & Vision, aboveboardceramics.com |
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Wayne Center for the Arts, Functional Ceramics Workshop, Wooster, OH |
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2023-2022 |
Lux Center for the Arts, Gifted, Lincoln, NE |
2022 |
University of Iowa, Ceramics Invitational Exhibition, Iowa City, IA |
Medici Gallery, Casey Beck & Max Henderson, Two Person Exhibition, UNL, Lincoln, NE |
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Kiechel Fine Art, Future Tense, Lincoln, NE |
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Arts Council of Princeton, STEEP: A National Teapot Exhibition, Princeton, NJ |
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Clay Akar, Yunomi Invitational, Iowa City, IA |
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2021 |
Northern Clay Center, Holiday Exhibition, Minneapolis, MN |
Wildfire Ceramic Studio, 406 Cups, Missoula, MT |
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Northern Clay Center, Early Autumn Featured Artists, Minneapolis, MN |
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Clay Akar, Yunomi Invitational, Iowa City, IA |
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Northern Clay Center, Emerging Artist Grant Recipients, Minneapolis, MN |
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2020 |
Minneapolis Institute of Art, Foot in the Door 5, Minneapolis, MN |
Charlie Cummings Gallery, Cup: The Intimate Object XVI, Gainesville, FL |
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Seasons on St. Croix, Seasonal Transitions, Hudson, WI |
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Clay Akar, Yunomi Invitational, Iowa City, IA |
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Phipps Center for the Arts, Digital Exhibition, Hudson, WI |
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Northern Clay Center, Featured Artists, Minneapolis, MN |
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2019 |
Great River Gallery, Makers, Bakers & Caffeinators, St. Paul, MN |
Clay Akar, Americano Invitational, Iowa City, IA |
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Northern Clay Center, Staff Infection - NCECA, Minneapolis, MN |
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Phipps Center for the Arts, Cross River Connections - NCECA, Hudson, WI |
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2018 |
Phipps Center for the Arts, Earth and Water Series Retrospective, Hudson, WI |
Artreach St. Croix, Close to Home, Stillwater, MN |
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2017 |
Phipps Center for the Arts, Earth and Water: Ceramic Art in the St. Croix River Valley, Hudson, WI |
Select Juried Exhibitions
2023 |
Angelo State University, Graduate Ceramics Juried Exhibition, Juror: Brad Schwieger, San Angelo, TX |
Good Earth Pottery, Pitcher Perfect 3, Juror: Lisa Orr, Bellingham, WA |
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Small Favors, The Clay Studio of Philadelphia, Juror: Jennifer Zwilling, Philadelphia, PA (Upcoming) |
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Utah State University, Paper & Clay, Utah State University, Logan, UT |
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Good Habit Pottery Co., Hang Ups, Juror: Soojin Choi, Online |
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2022 |
Watermark Art Center, It’s Only Clay, Juror: Delores Fortuna, Bemidji, MN |
Market House Craft Center, Strictly Functional Pottery National, Jurors: Carolanne Currier & Jack Troy, Lancaster, PA |
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Golding-Yang Art Gallery, Brush, Dip, Pour, Juror: Minsoo Yuh, Morehead State University, Morehead, KY |
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Charlie Cummings Gallery, Cup: The Intimate Object XVIII, Gainesville, FL |
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Carbondale Clay Center, Clay National XVI: Say It With Clay, Juror: Diane Kenney, Carbondale, CO |
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Edwardsville Art Center, Raise A Toast II, Juror: Mike Stumbras, Edwardsville, IL |
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Northern Clay Center, Member Exhibition, Jurors: Lisa Buck, Paul Briggs, Minneapolis, MN |
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Savannah Clay Community, SIP Cup Show, Juror: Kevin Snipes, Savannah, GE |
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SodaPosium, Daily Companions, Juror: Ron Philbeck, Nashville, TN |
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San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, 24th San Angelo National Ceramic Competition, Juror: James C. Watkins, San Angelo, TX |
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Companion Gallery, Las Call VII, Juror: Tim Kowalczyk, Humboldt, TN |
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Saltstone Ceramics, Mug Madness, Juror: Didem Mert |
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Utah State University, Paper & Clay, Utah State University, Logan, UT |
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2021 |
Market House Craft Center, Strictly Functional Pottery National, Juror: Roberto Lugo, Margaret Kinkaede, Brookes Oliver, Lancaster, PA |
Red Lodge Clay Center, Juried National VI, Juror: Lorna Maden, Red Lodge, MT |
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Companion Gallery, Last Call VI, Juror: Samantha Momeyer, Humboldt, TN |
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Saltstone Ceramics, Mug Madness, Juror: Chris Hosbach, Seattle, WA |
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Saratoga Clay Arts Center, PLAYING WITH FIRE: Altered Atmospheres, Juror: Mark Shapiro, Schuylerville, NY |
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2020 |
KC Clay Guild, Teabowl National, Juror: Sam Chung, Kansas City, MO |
Main Street Arts, The Cup, The Mug, Jurors: Christina Erives & Masa Sasaki, Clifton Springs, NY |
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The Clay Studio, National 2020, Jurors: Lauren Sandler, Kukuli Velarde, Sana Musasama, Philadelphia, PA |
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Commonwheel Artist Co-op, Cheers! Drink Up! Juror: Justin Lambert, Manitou Springs, CO |
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Companion Gallery, Last Call V, Juror: Naomi Clement, Humboldt, TN |
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Archie Bray Foundation, Beyond the Brickyard, Juror: Chris Staley, Helena, MT |
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2019 |
Gandee Gallery, The Almighty Cup, Juror: Garth Johnson, Fabius, NY |
Market House Craft Center, Strictly Functional Pottery National, Juror: Malcom Mobuto Smith, Lancaster, PA |
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Good Earth Pottery, Pitcher Perfect, Juror: Deborah Schwartzkopf, Bellingham, WA |
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Red Lodge Clay Center, Juried Clay National V, Juror: Mike Helke, Red Lodge, MT |
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Northern Clay Center, Members Exhibition, Jurors: Lisa Buck & Paul Briggs, Minneapolis, MN |
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University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Juried Student Exhibition, Juror: Diane Mullin |
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Mojo Coffee Gallery, Mugshot2 - NCECA, Juror: Diego Valles, Minneapolis, MN |
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North Carolina Pottery Center, 2019 Art of Clay National Juried Show, Juror: Douglas Fitch, Seagrove, NC |
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Archie Bray Foundation, Beyond the Brickyard, Juror: Sunkoo Yuh, Helena, MT |
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Clay Arts Vegas, The Cup Show 2019, Juror: Katie Bosely, Las Vegas, NV |
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2018 |
Studio 550, 6th Annual Cup Show, Juror: Sunshine Cobb, Manchester, NH |
Gandee Gallery, The Almighty Cup, Juror: DJ Hellerman, Fabius, NY |
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Clay Center of New Orleans, FunctionFest, Juror: Kristen Kieffer, New Orleans, LA |
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Springfield Art Association, Shapes of Influence, Juror: Simon Levin, Springfield, IL |
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Art Students League of Denver, delectable: The Fine Art of Dining, Juror: Marty Fielding, Denver, CO |
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University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Juried Student Exhibition, Juror: Andy Ducett |
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Threadbare Cider and Mead, Palliative Pour - NCECA, Juror: Chris Gustin, Pittsburgh, PA |
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Savannah Clay Community, SIP Cup Show, Juror: Ben Carter, Savannah, GE |
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2017 |
Main Street Arts, The Cup, The Mug, Juror: Peter Pincus, Clifton Springs, NY |
Mojo Coffee Gallery, Mugshot1, Juror: Steve Hilton, Minneapolis, MN |
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University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Juried Student Exhibition, Juror: Eileen Cohen |
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Savannah Clay Community, SIP Cup Show, Jurors: Anthony Debrecey, Kimberly Riner, Keith Wallace Smith, Savannah, GE |
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Companion Gallery, Last Call II, Juror: Jennifer Allen, Humbolt, TN |
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2016 |
Savannah Clay Community, SIP Cup Show, Juror: Jane Pleak, Savannah, GE |
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Nebraska, National Undergraduate Juried Art Exhibition, Juror: Shoko Teruyama |
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Springfield Art Association, Shapes of Influence, Juror: Erin Furimsky, Springfield, IL |
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Companion Gallery, Irons in the Fire, Juror: Justin Rothshank, Humbolt, TN |
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University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Juried Student Exhibition, Juror: Rachel Merrill-Shwaller |
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Bradley University Galleries, 5th Central Time Ceramics Show, Juror: Verne Funk Peoria, IL |
Professional Sales
2022-2021 |
University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Clay Club Sale, Lincoln, NE |
2022-2018 |
Etsy.com |
2021 |
Soda Pop! Sale, sodapopsale.com |
2020 |
Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Holiday Sale, Wayzata, MN |
2020-2017 |
ArtReach St. Croix, Holiday Sale, Stillwater, MN |
2019-2016 |
American Craft Council St. Paul, School to Market, St. Paul, MN |
2018-2015 |
University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Annual Scholarship Sale |
Gallery Representation
2023 |
Lux Center for The Arts, Lincoln, NE |
2023 - 2020 |
Artaxis.com |
Clay AKAR, Iowa City, IA |
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2023-2019 |
Seasons on the St. Croix, Hudson, WI |
2023-2018 |
Santangelo, Thomas, WV |