Artist: Forrest Sincoff Gard
Forrest Sincoff Gard, MASSACHUSETTS
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Artist Statement:
Fabware: functional ceramic sculptures that look like fabric
This body of work, made by Forrest Sincoff Gard, starts with actual fabric. First, fabric is selected for it’s texture and then it is cut apart and sewn back together to create a cup or mug form. After the fabric forms are sewn, the wrinkles are created by pushing and folding over the soft fabric. Next, a 5-part plaster mold is made of the sewn forms. For the mugs, a separate 2-part mold is made for the handle, which is also originally sewn out of fabric. Once the molds are dry, the cups are slip cast: a process that involves pouring liquid clay into the mold and then pouring it out once the desired thickness is reached. The clay forms rest inside of the molds for 6-8 hours after they are cast to make sure they don’t rip at the seams when the mold is opened up. Mug handles are attached at the leather hard stage. After the clay forms are dry, their rims are cleaned up and beveled before they go into the bisque firing. Once bisque fired, a clear glaze is poured into the interior of the cup and then the outside is colored using a recipe that the artist mixes himself, which includes ceramic stains for color and a combination of clay and frit. The entire process from selecting the fabric to making the molds, firing the kilns, and ending with a functional ceramic vessel takes 4 to 5 weeks to complete.
Artist Bio:
Forrest Sincoff Gard earned his BFA from Ohio University, completed post-baccalaureate studies at the University of Florida, and received his MFA from Louisiana State University. After graduate school, Forrest worked on the editorial staff at Ceramics Monthly and Pottery Making Illustrated before resigning to focus on his art making and teaching career. He has shown his ceramic art and interactive installations in exhibitions across the United States, Europe, and South Korea. Forrest taught ceramics in Italy as part of the University of Georgia’s Cortona program and at the University of North Georgia, Ohio State University, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and at the Harvard Ceramics Program. He was awarded the NCECA International Residency at ASP in Wroclaw, Poland, as well as residencies at Red Lodge Clay Center, Wesleyan College, Harvard, and Mill Hill Community Arts Center, where he received a $25,000 grant to create and install a large-scale public artwork. Currently, Forrest is a resident artist, staff member, and ceramics instructor at the Harvard Ceramics Program.
EDUCATION
2014 MFA in Studio Art, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
2011 Post-Baccalaureate Studies in Ceramics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
2009 BFA in Ceramics, Ohio University, Athens, OH
ACADEMIC TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2024 Adjunct Faculty, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA
Ceramics Handbuilding, review boards committee
2020-2023 Adjunct Faculty, University of North Georgia, Watkinsville, GA.
Beginning Ceramics, Intermediate Ceramics, 3D Design, Art Appreciation
2019 Visiting Professor, University of Georgia, Athens, GA. UGA Cortona, Italy (Study
Abroad Program), Introduction to Ceramics (Fall 2019)
2018 Instructor, Wesleyan College, Macon, GA (SU 2018-2019)
College Center for the Arts Summer Intensive, Intro to Ceramics
Master of Education—Integrating Art into Content, Ceramics and Patterns
2014 Adjunct/Visiting Lecturer, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Ceramics I
2011–14 Instructor of Record / Teaching Assistant, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA Mold Making and Slip Casting, 3-D Foundations, Introduction to Wheel Throwing, Introduction to Handbuilding
COMMUNITY TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2023-2025 Instructor, Ceramics Program at Harvard University, Allston, MA
By Hand, Intro to Wheel, Molds and Multiples
2021-2023 Instructor, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF), Watkinsville, GA
Wheel Throwing, Hand building, Surface Decoration, Glazing
2019 Summer Camp Instructor, Dublin Arts Council, Dublin, Ohio
Pottery on the Wheel
2018 Instructor, 567 Center for Renewal, Macon, GA
Wheel Throwing I
Summer Camp Instructor, Dublin Arts Council, Dublin, Ohio
Handbuilidng
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS AND EXPERIENCE
2025 Staff, Harvard Ceramics, Allston, MA
duties include clay recycling and gallery installation, and assisting at events
2023-2025 Staff, Table and Tulip, Boston, MA
duties include helping with floral installations and events, gardening
2018-2019 Manager, Mill Hill Community Arts Center and Gallery
duties include: arts programming, oversee internship program, curating exhibitions
2018 Juror, International Ceramic Artists Network—ICAN Juried Show, NCECA,
Pittsburgh, PA
2016–18 Associate Editor, Ceramics Monthly magazine, Pottery Making Illustrated magazine,
Ceramic Arts Daily, and Ceramic Publication Company Art Books, Westerville, OH
2016 Research Scholar, Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play,
The Strong: National Museum of Play, Rochester, NY
2014–16 Assistant Editor, Ceramics Monthly magazine, Pottery Making Illustrated magazine,
Ceramic Arts Daily, and Ceramic Publication Company Art Books, Westerville, OH
Co-host with the SECC Pots in Action, June 2016, #PIAsociallyengaged
2015 Co-Founder, Socially Engaged Craft Collective (SECC),
A Craft and Social Practice Organization
Co-Founder, Gard Clay Studios, Residency and Mentorship Program
2015 Group Leader, Potters Council’s inaugural two-week international trip to Ireland
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2023-24 Harvard University Ceramics Program, Allston, MA—Artist-in-Residence
2018–19 Mill Hill Community Arts Center, Macon, GA—Resident Artist
2018 NCECA International Residency, The Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and
Design in Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
2014 Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN—Short-Term Artist-in-
Residence: 3rd Annual Ceramic Surface Forum
2010 Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT— Short-Term Artist-in-Residence
SOLO & SMALL GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 Gallery 224 at Harvard Ceramics, Allston, MA. The Stacks, solo exhibition
2019 Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH. Creative Museum Navigation
Flaten Art Museum, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN. Commemorate St. Olaf
(Collaboration with Jeni Hansen)
Macon Arts Alliance, Macon, GA. Commemorate Macon (Collaboration with Jeni Hansen)
Mill Hill Community Arts Center, Macon, GA. Macon Flowers (Collaboration with Jeni
Hansen)
2018 ROY G BIV Gallery, Columbus, OH. Commemorate [Collaboration with Jeni Hansen]
City Moat, Wroclaw, Poland. Letting the Ducks Out
2017 The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, Waffle Toss at Clay Fest
Patricia Scott Art Gallery, Ohio University, Chillicothe, OH. Clay: Laundry
2016 River Centre Gallery, Sylvania, OH. Waffle Toss: A Game for the Kitchen
2014 Alfred C. Glassell Jr. Exhibition Gallery, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Built to Play: MFA Thesis Exhibition
2009 Trisolini Gallery, Ohio University, Athens, OH. GO, GO, GO: BFA Thesis Exhibition
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2025 Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN. Material Mugs X (upcoming, September)
Flowing Space, New York, NY. The Cup Speaks
Gallery 224, Harvard Ceramics, Allston, MA, Spring Highlights by Instructors, Staff, and AIR
Lexington Art Center, Lexington, MA. The State of Clay
Juried by Martha Grover
2024 Gallery 224, Harvard Ceramics, Allston, MA, Great Work
Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN. Material Mugs IX
Mudflat Studio, Summerville, MA. The Mudflat Cup Show
Juried by Martha Grover
Boston Common, Boston, MA. Japanese Arts Festival. Ceramics Pop-up
organized by Audrey An
Gallery 224, Harvard Ceramics, Allston, MA, Home Team
2023 Weston Art Gallery, Cincinnati, OH. I Contain Multitudes, NCECA Annual Exhibition
Curated by Garth Johnson
Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN. Last Call VIII
Juried by Chanakarn Semachai
Gallery 224, Harvard Ceramics, Allston, MA, Spotlight
2022 Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA. 30th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National
Juried by Jack Troy and Carolanne Currier
Kobo Gallery, Seattle, WA, 14th Simple Cup Show
Macon Arts Alliance, Macon, GA. Fired Works
2021 Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation OCAF, Watkinsville, GA, Member’s Holiday Exhibition
2020 Lupin Foundation Gallery, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, La Mostra: UGA Cortona
Virtual NCECA Gallery Expo, Eutectic Gallery, online March 2020
2019 Minneapolis College, Minneapolis, MN. Ferment, NCECA Concurrent Exhibition
Macon Arts Alliance, Macon, GA. Fired Works
2018 Museum of Fine Arts, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. SECC Florida
Curated by Elizabeth Kozlowski
Bailey Contemporary Arts, Pompano Beach, FL. Social Objects
567 Center for Renewal, Macon, GA. Artists who teach
Macon Arts Alliance, Macon, GA. Fired Works
2017 c3: Initiative Gallery, Portland, OR. Social Objects, NCECA Concurrent Exhibition
The American Museum of Ceramic Art AMOCA, Pomona, CA. Recorded Matter
Curated by Garth Johnson
2016 The American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA. Lineage: Mentorship & Learning
Invited by Tim Berg
Western Colorado Center for the Arts, Grand Junction, CO. Contemporary Clay
Juried by Steve Hilton
Center for Craft, Creativity and Design, Asheville, NC. Recorded Matter
Curated by Garth Johnson
Marxhausen Gallery of Art, Concordia University, Seward, NE. Support Structures
Curated by Shalya Marsh
ROY G BIV Gallery, Columbus, OH. Members’ Small Work Exhibition
Curated by Ken Aschliman
DCP Architecture Gallery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Currents: Domestic Design
Juried by Heather Mae Erickson
Yan Sun Art Museum, Zanesville, OH. Ohio Contemporary Ceramics Competition
Juried by Christine Golden
Clay For Louisiana, online fundraiser after the 100-year flood in Baton Rouge, LA
2015 Incheon World Ceramics Center, Incheon, Korea. Convergence and Transcendence:
8th Gyeonggi International Ceramic Biennale
Curated by Sujeong Lee
Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, MT. Beyond the Brickyard
Juried by Mark Hewitt
ASU Art Museum, Ceramics Research Center, Tempe, AZ. Recorded Matter
Curated by Garth Johnson
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Tech University, Smithville, TN
Making a Performance
EASE Gallery, Columbus, OH. Material Evidence
Curated by Mona Gazala
Michigan Institute of Contemporary Art, Lansing, MI. The Art of Gifting
2014 Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, Milwaukee, WI. NCECA Student Juried Exhibition
Juried by Tara Wilson and Jeffery Mongrain
The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA. Eleventh Annual Marge Brown Kalodner
Graduate Student Exhibition
Juried by Garth Johnson
ROY G BIV Gallery, Columbus, OH. Members’ Small Work Exhibition
Curated by Ken Aschliman
EASE Gallery, Columbus, OH. Concurrent
Curated by Jeni Hansen Gard
2013 Art Grad Walk, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA. Make It/Take It
Frontier Space Missoula, Missoula, MT. Conversance
Curated by Sarah Tancred
2012 Southwest School of Art, San Antonio, TX. InterPlay: Mechanical Objects
Curated by Kathy Armstrong
Foster Gallery, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA. 2nd Year Graduate Exhibition
The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA. Small Favors VII
Curated by Jeff Guido
Foster Gallery, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA. Art Unbound: Urban Nature
Curated by Dan Cameron
2011 Centre Gallery, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL. NCECA Student Juried Exhibition
Juried by Neil Forrest and Ayumi Horie
Foster Gallery, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA. 1st Year Graduate Exhibition
Tipton Architecture Firm, Baton Rouge, LA. White Light Night
4Most Gallery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Point of Departure
Thomas Center Gallery, Gainesville, FL. Currents: Past and Present
Juried by Anna Holcombe
2010 Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT. America’s Favorite Pastime
GRANTS, HONORS, & AWARDS
2018 Downtown Challenge Grant, funding from James L. Knight Foundation and Peyton
Anderson Foundation, Macon, Georgia. Macon Flowers, Public Art Installation $25,000
2017 Supply Grant–Greater Columbus Arts Council, $500
2016 Professional Development Grant–Greater Columbus Arts Council,
$1,000 to attend Open Engagement in Oakland, CA
Research and Development Grant–Greater Columbus Arts Council,
$1,000 to research at The Strong National Museum of Play, Rochester, NY
2014 Joe Bova Graduate Student Scholarship for Research, Louisiana State University
2011 Retired Professor’s Award, “NCECA Student Juried Exhibition,” Tampa, FL
WRITINGS & PUBLICATIONS
2019 Gard, Forrest and Jeni. Q&A with Mill Hill Resident Artists Jeni Hansen and Forrest
Sincoff Gard, Macon Magazine, (33)3, p. 116–117
2017 Gard, Forrest. Social Objects. Amazon Publishing: Seattle, WA.
Written by the Socially Engaged Cr aft Collective + Guest Authors.
2016 Gard, Forrest. Qvevri Wine Vessels, Ceramics Monthly, January 2016, p. 24–25
2015 Gard, Forrest. Ceramic Growlers, Ceramics Monthly, January 2015, p. 24–25
Gard, Forrest. Interactive Art, National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts
Journal, Vol. 36, p. 66
2014 Gard, Forrest. Built to Play, Louisiana State University, MFA Thesis paper
BIBLIOGRAPHY, PRESS COVERAGE, & REVIEWS
2024 Ceramics Monthly, December 2024. Exposure
2023 NCECA, conference journal
2018 Ceramics Monthly, June/July/Aug 2018. From the Editor (images) by Jessica Knapp, p. 8
2016 Carter, Ben. Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast, Season 5 Episode 148, July 7.
Jeni Hansen Gard and Forrest Gard on Socially Engaged Craft
Ceramics Monthly, October 2016, ad for American Museum of Ceramic Art, p. 65
2015 Ceramics Monthly, February 2015, Exposure, p. 14
Convergence and Transcendence: 8th Gyeonggi International Ceramic Biennale,
catalog book, p. 80–83 and p. 138, Incheon World Ceramic Center.
Beyond the Brickyard, exhibition catalog, The Archie Bray Foundation
The Eleventh Annual Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Student Exhibition,
exhibition catalog, The Clay Studio of Philadelphia
Artaxis.org, poster distributed at NCECA
2014 NCECA National Student Juried Exhibition, exhibition catalog
2011 Ceramics Monthly, September 2011, p. 58–59, Reviewed by Tony Merino
Journal 2011, Vol. 32, p. 17–19, 140–141, back cover
VISITING ARTIST LECTURES | PRESENTATIONS | WORKSHOPS
2025 Umbrella Center for Arts, Concord, MA, Artist Lecture (upcoming, Fall)
Mudflat Studios, Summerville, MA, Artist Lecture (upcoming, Fall)
2023 Harvard Ceramics, Allston, MA, Public Artist Lecture
Ohio University, Athens, OH, zoom Q&A with students for OU Alumni Series
Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA, Artist Lecture
2020 St. Lawrence University, Virtual studio tour and slip casting demonstration
University of Georgia, Virtual studio tour and slip casting demonstration
Virtual, SECC Interactive Virtual Workshop
2019 St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN—Visiting Artist Lecture and Workshop
Minneapolis College, Minneapolis, MN—Workshop Presenter “Idea Generation: Socially
Engaged Craft in Practice, Socially Engaged Craft Collective, NCECA Pre-Conference Cross
2018 ASP Academy of Fine Arts, Wroclaw, Poland—Visiting Artist Lecture
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL—Public Artist Lecture and Studio Visits
Wesleyan College, Macon, GA—Public Artist Lecture and demonstration
2017 GCSC 3rd Annual Ceramics Symposium, Gulf Coast State College,
Panama City, FL— Workshop Presenter
2016 Open Engagement, Oakland Museum of California, Oakland, CA—co-presentation
with the Socially Engaged Craft Collective “Power of the Object”
Sonoma Community Center, Sonoma, CA— Public Artist Lecture
National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA), Kansas City, MO—
co-presenter “Mentoring Magazine Authors”
Ohio University, Athens, OH— Public Artist Lecture
Lourdes University, Sylvania, OH— Public Artist Lecture
2015 Montana State University, Bozeman, MT— Public Artist Lecture
National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA), Providence, RI—
Panelist “Crafting the Experience”
Potters Council, Cork, Ireland— Public Artist Lecture
Open Engagement, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA— Presenter “Project NOLA”
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH— Public Artist Lecture
2014 The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH— Public Artist Lecture
2013 Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN— Public Artist Lecture
2011 University of Florida, Gainesville, FL— Visiting Artist, Art for the Elementary School Teacher
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS, PUBLIC SCULPTURES
Incheon World Ceramics Center, Incheon, Korea
Ron Gallas Cup Library, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
Mill Hill Community Arts Center, Macon, GA, Large-scale, Outdoor, Public Sculpture