Artist: Horacio Casillas Jr.
Horacio Casillas Jr., TENNESSEE
Bio:
Horacio was born in Chandler, Arizona and raised in Jalisco, Mexico, until the age of five when his family moved to San Angelo, Texas. In 2013, he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in ceramics from Angelo State University, followed by his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of North Texas in 2018. Horacio was recently a Resident Artist at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and later at Companion Gallery. Most recently he has been selected as one of Ceramics Monthly's 2023 Emerging Artists.
Artist Statement:
Pope John Paul II said in his letter to artists “The purpose of art is nothing less than the upliftment of the human spirit.”
Focusing my work through the lens of my Catholic faith has given me an appreciation for the traditions found in the Church including her influence on architecture. I use Gothic architecture and the Catholic churches from my hometown of Tepatitlan, Jalisco, Mexico as inspiration for my work. Through imagery and carving, I attempt to reach both the corporeal and spiritual worlds by engaging the tactile and visual senses. My hope is to contribute something beautiful to society, something that will impact the human heart, drawing us out of ourselves into something greater and higher, something that can fill us with a hunger for truth, goodness and beauty.
Career Objective
▪ Professional/ Visual Artist- Ceramics
▪ Teaching
Education
2019 Penland School of Crafts, Work study, NC
2019 Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Work study, TN
2015-2018 MFA Ceramics, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
2017 Mike Webber Anagama woodfire workshop, Herbster, WI
2009-2013 BFA Ceramics, Spanish Minor, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX,
2013 International Travel, Study Abroad, Peoples Republic of China, ASU, San Angelo, TX
2013 Ceramic Internship with Roger Allen, Old Chicken Farm Art Center, San Angelo, TX
Teaching Experience
2022-23 Companion Gallery
2021-22 Arrowmont, Community classes
2018 Adjunct, Brookhaven College, Continuing Ed
Spr 2018 TF UNT Beginning Ceramics
Fall 2017 TF UNT Intermediate Ceramics Throwing
Fall 2017 TF UNT Beginning Ceramics
Spr 2017 TF UNT Intermediate Ceramics Hand building
Spr 2017 TF UNT Beginning Ceramics
Fall 2016 TF UNT Beginning Ceramics
Fall 2016 TF UNT Core Design
Spr 2016 TA UNT Core Design
2015/2016 AA UNT Ceramics
Residencies
2022-2023 Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN
May 2022 Township10, Marshal, NC
2021-2022 Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
2018,2019 The Epic, Grand Prairie, TX
Gallery representation
▪ Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN
▪ Equinox Gallery, San Antonio, TX
▪ ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA
Exhibitions
2022
Solo Exhibition, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN- upcoming
Belonging: 2022 NCECA Annual, Crocker Museum, Sacramento, CA
Arrowmont Resident Exhibiton, Sandra J. Blain Gallery, Arrowmont, Gatlinburg, TN
Above Board, New Haven, CT
Functional Ceramics, Ohio Designer Craftsmen, Columbus, OH
8 Fluid Ounces, Invitation by Paul Briggs, LSU, Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
Chroma, Saltstone Ceramics, Seattle, WA
2021
Santuario: Solo Show, Equinox Gallery, San Antonio, TX
Diversity In Clay, Bracker’s Good Earth Clays, Lawrence, KS
Michiana Pottery Tour, South Bend, IN
Resident Artist Show, Arrowmont Wolpert Gallery, Gatlinburg, TN
Material Mugs VI: Underglaze, Invitational by Michelle Ettrick, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN
Contemporary Pattern, Invitational, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN
Mug Madness 21,20,19, Saltstone Ceramics, Seattle, WA Juror: Michelle Ettrick, Num Punch, Justin Rothshank
Imposter’s cup, Moz Taza Gallery, KS
2020
Mug Madness 20, Saltstone Ceramics, Seattle, WA Juror:
Material Mugs V: Underglaze, Invitational by Mick Cinelli, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN
Cup Show, Worchester Center for Crafts, Worchester, MA
SIP, Savannah Clay Community, Savannah, GA Juror: Jason Burnett
2019
The Cup the Mug, Main Street Arts, Clifton Springs, NY Jurors: Kelly B. Justice & Jeremy Randall
Raise a Toast, Edwardsville Arts Center, Edwardsville, IL juror: Mark Arnold
Art of Water III, James May Gallery, Algoma, WI.
Last Call IV, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN. Juror: Carol Epp
2018
Craft Texas 2018, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, TX Juror: Jennifer Scanlon
Draw Me Near: MFA Thesis Exhibition, Cora Stafford Gallery, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
Last Call III, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN. Juror: Brett Kern
Twin cups, Potter Fine Art Gallery, Missouri Western State University, Saint Joseph, MO
2017
Clay Guild Expo, Union Art Gallery, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
Func-tion, Cora Stafford Gallery, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
Cups in Common, Clayworks, Charlotte, NC Juror: Linda Arbuckle
57th Voertman’s Student Competition, Light-well Gallery, UNT, Denton, TX Juror: Cindi Strauss
Scratching The Surface, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
College Expo, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX Juror: Danielle Avram
2016
Tranquili-Tea, Cora Stafford Gallery, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
Constants and Variables, South Texas Ceramic Showdown, South Texas College, McAllen, TX
2015
Art Intermission, San Angelo Museum of fine arts, Coop Gallery
2014
Contrasting Concepts, San Angelo Museum of fine arts, Coop Gallery
When you walk in his Shoes, Gallery 193, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX
2013
All in the Mix, Graduating Senior Exhibition, Gallery 193, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX
Earth Day Festival Recycled art Show, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX
Fresh and Functional, Gallery 193, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX
FAME Student Exhibition, Gallery 193, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX Jurors: Dr. Busby
Through My Eyes: An Exhibit of The Human Body, Coop Gallery, San Angelo, TX
2012
This is NOT a Gnome show, Gallery 193, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX
2011
Figures, Gallery 193, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX
Organizations and Events
▪ Clay Guild President, University of North Texas, (Fall/Spring, 2017/2018)
▪ Clay Guild Vice-president, University of North Texas (Fall/Spring, 2016/2017)
▪ Kappa PI Honorary Art Fraternity-Associate Member, Angelo State University, (2012-2013)
Awards and Grants
2017 57th Annual Vortman student competition. 3rd Place, Juror: Cindi Strauss,
2013 Earth Day Festival Juried Recycled art Show 1st Place, Juried by Faculty,
2013 Olsen Buttery Art Scholarship (Spring)
2013 Olsen Buttery Art Scholarship (fall)
2013 Chicken Fund Scholarship
Publications
2023 Ceramics Monthly-“Emerging Artist”
2023 Pottery Making Illustrated-“Contemplative Carving”
2019 Ceramics Monthly-Community Well” Exposure section, (December/January issue)
2013 Oasis: Student Art and Literary Magazine, Dept of English and Modern Languages, ASU, San Angelo, TX
2013 Ceramic Symposium Interview with Angelo State university Rampage, San Angelo, TX
Additional Professional Experience
2019-2021 Production Potter at Old Chicken Farm Art Center, San Angelo, TX