Artist: Heather Lepp
Heather Lepp,
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ARTIST BIO
Heather Lepp is an artist and educator originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She received her BFA from the University of Manitoba in 2016, and her MFA from West Virginia University in 2024. In addition to formal education, she apprenticed with four professional potters across North America from 2016-2020. In 2019 she was an artist in residence at Medalta, and in 2023 she was a summer resident at the Red Lodge Clay Center. She has taught at numerous art centers and exhibited her work across Canada and the United States. In 2025 she was awarded emerging artist of the year in Ceramics Monthly. Currently, she is a long term resident at the Clay Studio of Missoula.
STATEMENT
In contrast to our current fast-paced society, my conceptual framework is shaped by poets, philosophers and artists which call to be present in life’s daily pleasures. This outlook drives me to create utilitarian pottery that serves a need in my daily life with an emphasis equally placed on beauty and practicality.
Inspired by historical folk pottery, I strive for my work to feel comforting and simple while incorporating a contemporary complexity of form through alteration. Each piece is trimmed using homemade tools to create an appearance of being hand-hewn. Multiple layers of slip break over the carved edges, and upon firing the work in an atmospheric kiln the result is a surface that appears worn as if well-loved through years of use.
My practice evolves on a continuum through repetition of forms that change slowly through time, examination, and use. In the studio I chase the minute details of a pot; the way the belly of the form holds volume and space, how the handle feels between index and thumb, the emotive quality of the colour. With this attention to detail, it is my intention as a maker to create thoughtful utilitarian wares that are used to enrich the everyday.
EDUCATION
2021-2024 MFA Ceramics, West Virginia University Morgantown, WV.
2012 -2016 BFA Honours, University of Manitoba Winnipeg, MB.
EMPLOYMENT
2024-present Ceramics Instructor, Clay Studio of Missoula Missoula, MT. Instruct beginner/intermediate/advanced classes, and short-term specialty workshops.
2021-2024 Ceramics Production Assistant, West Virginia University Morgantown, WV. Make clay, jigger/jolly, ram press, make molds, trim, kiln repair, load/unload kilns.
2021-2024 Graduate Teaching Assistantship, West Virginia University Morgantown, WV. Two Introductory Ceramics courses, Four Visual Foundations courses
2020 Ceramics Instructor, Forum Art Institute Winnipeg, MB. Introductory, Intermediate, Advanced, and Kids classes.
2019-2020 Ceramics Instructor, Clay Hub Duncan, BC. Introductory, Intermediate, Advanced, and Kids Classes.
2019-2020 Studio Assistant, Cathi Jefferson Duncan, BC. Assist with loading/unloading kilns, exhibitions/sales.
2019 Studio Technician, Medalta Medicine Hat, AB. Fix Equipment, maintain studio, order supplies.
2016-2017 Studio Assistant, Peter Brondz Bird Creek, AK. Unload/load kilns, maintain gallery, exhibitions/sales.
2017 Studio Assistant, Martin Tagseth Lake Lenore, SK. Unload/load kilns, maintain equipment.
2016 Apprenticeship, Marcelina Salazar Williamsford, ON.
Unload/load kilns, fire the wood kiln monthly, wood prep, maintain equipment, sales.
2016 Student Studio Technician, University of Manitoba Winnipeg, MB. Mix glazes, order supplies, fire class kilns, maintain studio.
RESIDENCIES
2024-present Clay Studio of Missoula, Long-term Resident. Missoula, MT.
2023 Red Lodge Clay Center, Summer Residency (May-August) Red Lodge, MT.
2019 Medalta, Short-term Artist in Residence (January-May) Medicine Hat, AB.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2025 New Clay Conference, Presenter/Demonstrating Artist Ottawa, ON.
2025 Notstock, Visiting Artist Workshop Minot, ND.
GROUP AND INVITATIONAL EXHIBITIONS
2026
Community Exhibition, The Clay Studio of Missoula Missoula, MT.
Hot Chocolate Mugs II, Charlie Cummins Gallery Gainesville, FL.
Winter Warmers Cup Show, Good Earth Pottery Bellingham, WA.
2025
Resident Showcase, Clay Studio of Missoula Missoula, MT.
Salt-Soda Submerged(Invitational), Ology Gallery Thunderbolt, GA.
Mocktail Invitational, Highland Gallery South Bend, IN.
Storied Surface, Wildfire Ceramic Studio Missoula, MT.
Form and Flux, Visual Art Institute Salt Lake City, UT.
Community Show, Clay Studio of Missoula Missoula, MT.
The MudFlat Cup Show, Mud Flat Studio Somerville, MA.
Winter Warmers Cup Show, Good Earth Pottery Bellingham, WA.
2024
Resident Showcase, Clay Studio of Missoula Missoula, MT.
406 Annual Cup Show, Wildfire Ceramic Studio Missoula, MT.
Kindled Spirits 3, Good Earth Pottery Bellingham, WA.
The Intimate Object XX, Charlie Cummins Gallery Gainesville, FL.
Out of Tune, Andrew White Gallery Morgantown, WV.
Folklore, Sweetwater Center for the Arts Sewickley, PA.
New Traditions, Wheeling Artisan Center Wheeling, WV.
Winter Warmers Cup Show, Good Earth Pottery Bellingham, WA.
2023
Student Juried Exhibition, Laura Mesaros Gallery Morgantown, WV.
Deep Cuts, Galactic Panther Morgantown, WV.
Winter Warmers Cup Show, Good Earth Pottery Bellingham, WA.
2022 Trifecta, Love Hope Center for the Arts Fayetteville, WV.
2021 West Virginia Ceramics Exhibition, Taylor Books Charleston, WV.
2020
Bloomin’, Fifty/Fifty Arts Collective Victoria, BC.
Wheel to Kiln, Willock and Sax Gallery Banff, AB.
2018 Heather Lepp’s Exit Show (Solo Show), Medalta Medicine Hat, AB.
2017 For the Love of Craft, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB.
2016
Fusion Clay and Glass Show, Artscape Wychwood Barns Toronto, ON.
B.F.A Graduating Exhibition, ARTlab Winnipeg, MB
Member’s Show, Clifton Art Studios Winnipeg, MB.
RedART, GOSA Gallery, Winnipeg, MB.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026
Solo Exhibiton, Good Earth Pottery Bellingham, WA.
Ça va bien, Ça va mal, The Artist Shop Missoula, MT.
Confluence, Willock and Sax Banff, AB.
2025
Heather Lepp Solo Show, Highland Gallery South Bend, ID.
Solo Exhibition, In Tandem Gallery Bakersville,NC
Solo Artist Feature, Red Lodge Clay Center Red Lodge, MT.
2024
Heather Lepp Solo Exhibition, Willock and Sax Gallery Banff, AB.
Commonplace, Laura Mesaros Gallery Morgantown,WV.
AWARDS/GRANTS/FELLOWSHIPS
2025 Sippy Fellowship, Clay Studio of Missoula, MT.
2024 Professional Development Scholarship, Clay Studio of Missoula, MT.
2024 Sippy Fellowship, Clay Studio of Missoula, MT.
2024 Windgate Scholarship, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN.
2021-2024 Graduate Teaching Assistantship, West Virginia University,
Morgantown, WV.
2024 Professional Development Scholarship, West Virginia University, Morgantown,
WV.
2024 Professional Development Scholarship, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV.
2024 NCECA Scholarship, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV.
2023 Jurors Choice Award, Student Juried Exhibition, Morgantown, WV.
2023 Travel Scholarship, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV.
2022 Travel Scholarship, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV.
2021 Artistic Merit Scholarship, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV.
2017 Marilyn Levitt Prize in Functional Ceramics, Manitoba Craft Council, Winnipeg, MB.
2016 People’s Choice Vote (Best in Show), BFA Graduation Show, Winnipeg, MB.
2016 Travel Grant for NCECA, Manitoba Craft Council, Winnipeg, MB.
MEDIA AND PUBLICATIONS
2026 Between Two Ewers, Mike Griffith, Season 2 Episode 25, March 2026.
2026 Exposure, Ceramics Monthly, Published March 2026.
2025 Residency Spotlight, Ceramics Monthly, Published October 2025.
2025 The Potters Cast Guest, Paul Blais, Episode 1148 Published July 2025.
2025 Subtlety in Surface, Ceramics Monthly, June/July/August 2025.
2025 Emerging Artist 2025, Ceramics Monthly, Published May 2025.
2025 ‘Such a Gift’, Missoulian, Published April. 24, 2025.
2021 Anthologie, Eat Like a Bird Volume 4, Published February 2021,Winnipeg, MB.
2020 Faces of Craft, Canadian Crafts Federation, Published January 3, 2020.
2019 North by North West Interview, CBC, Nov. 10 2019, Vancouver, BC.
GALLERY REPRESENTATION
Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT.
InTandem Gallery, Bakerville, NC.
Goldhorn Studios, Helena, MT.
Highland Studio and Gallery, South Bend, ID.
Persimmon Gallery, Columbia Falls, MT.
Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT.
Willock and Sax Gallery, Banff, AB
VOLUNTEER WORK
2022-2024 WVU Ceramics Club Vice President, Morgantown, WV.
2019-2020 Clay Hub Volunteer, Duncan, BC.
2014-2016 Students of Fine Art (SOFA) Ceramics Representative, Winnipeg, MB.
2015-2016 Ceramics Club SOFA representative (Executive position), Winnipeg, MB.