Artist: Jenni Brant
Jenni Brant, IOWA
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Born and raised in southwest Wisconsin on a dairy farm, I developed an appreciation for the simplicity of life and the beauty of natural materials that comes through in her elegant and carefully crafted pottery. I am a maker of functional ceramic objects focusing on serving vessels and dinnerware made for celebratory occasions, often making the most mundane of activities a cause for merriment and remembrance. I received an MFA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in April 2007 and a BFA with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in December 2002.
My understanding of beauty is rooted in my rural mid-western upbringing and my parents’ emphasis on family bonds, respect and hard work. My work affirms life and is a reminder to celebrate the trivial, the tragic and the triumphant.
My pots are intended for gatherings of family and friends. While on display they serve as daily reminders of times spent with loved ones and symbols of times to come. These are functional pots, despite their delicate appearance. Symmetrical forms establish sturdiness and utility, while the fragility of their handles and edges and the precariousness of the feet are reminders to handle the work –and life—with care. Smooth, luscious, and transparent surfaces and lace decorations suggest formal use, though the pots are appropriate for everyday domestic life.
While made by hand, my work emphasizes the beauty of the object over the identity of the maker. In this way, they are inspired by the pottery of ancient Persia and Sung dynasty China, even as they embrace contemporary styles. Colors remind us of flesh and of candy; things that are sweet, good, and that stir desire.
Education
2004-2007 University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) MFA in Ceramics, Hixson-Lied Graduate Fellow
1997-2002 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UWW) BFA with Ceramic Emphasis, Summa Cum Laude
Select Exhibition History
2012
2011
Holiday Invitational: Winter's Florifertum, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT (Invitational)
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree, Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Nebraska City, NE (Solo)
Small Works, Artisan Gallery, Paoli, WI (Invitational)
8th Annual Ceramics Invitational, Artisan Gallery, Paoli, WI (Invitational)
La Mesa, Santa Fe Clay, NCECA, Tampa, FL (Invitational)
2010
Holiday Show Room: Mugs as Ornaments Display, Lark & Key Gallery, Charlotte, NC (Invitational)
Gifts from the Hand, LUX Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE (Upcoming Invitational)
7th Annual Ceramics Invitational, Artisan Gallery, Belleville, WI (Upcoming Invitational)
Fruits of Their Labor, LUX Center for the Arts Annual Auction, Lincoln, NE (Upcoming Invitational)
Crafted: A Collector's Series, Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA (Upcoming Invitational)
Tea and Coffee, Artisan Gallery, Belleville, WI (Invitational)
NEXPO Exhibition, NCECA, Philadelphia, PA (Invitational)
a la cARTe, NCECA, Philadelphia, PA (Invitational)
La Mesa, Santa Fe Clay, NCECA, Philadelphia, PA (Invitational)
40th Annual Ceramics Exhibition, Crossman Gallery, Whitewater, WI (Invitational)
2009
Adorned, Meredith Gallery, Baltimore, MD (Invitational)
Gifts from the Heart, Lux Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE (Invitational)
Drink Up!, Armory Art Center, West Palm Beach, FL (Invitational)
Alumni Exhibition, Crossman Gallery, Whitewater, WI (Invitational)
Strictly Functional, Market House Craft Center, East Petersburg, PA (Juried)
Fruits of Their Labor, Lux Center for the Arts Annual Auction, Lincoln, NE (Invitational)
Members Invitational, Gallery 9, Lincoln, NE (Invitational)
Drawing the Line, Haydon Art Center, Lincoln, NE (Invitational)
Individuals Developing Together, NCECA, Phoenix, AZ (Group)
La Mesa, Santa Fe Clay, NCECA, Phoenix, AZ (Invitational)
a la cARTe, NCECA, Phoenix, AZ (Invitational)
National Juried Cup Exhibition, Lux Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE (Juried)
Guns, Girls and Meat, The Project Room, Lincoln, NE (Invitational)
January Invitational, Terra Incognito, Chicago, IL (Invitational)
2008
Gifts from the Heart, Lux Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE (Invitational)
Intimate Distances, University of Kansas Art & Design Gallery, Lawrence, KS (3-person)
Fruits of Their Labor, Lux Center for the Arts Annual Auction, Lincoln, NE (Invitational)
All Fired Up: The Artful Table, Lyndhurst, Tarrytown, NY (Invitational)
Desire and Utility, Lux Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE (Solo)
Look Inside: Work from Burro Branch Studios, A to Z Printing, Lincoln, NE (Two-person)
2007
National Cup Show, Siena Heights, Adrian, MI (Juried)
Winter Showroom, Lux Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE (Invitational)
Gifted, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA (Invitational)
National Juried Ceramics Exhibition, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS (Juried)
Art of Fine Craft, Elder Gallery, Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE (Juried)
It's Only Clay, Bemidji Community Art Center, Bemidji, MN (Juried)
Clay Convergence, Lux Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE (Invitational)
4th Annual Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Exhibition, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA (Juried)
Beautiful Objects, Eisentrager • Howard Gallery, Lincoln, NE (Solo)
COllaboratioNE, UMC Gallery, Boulder, CO (Invitational)
Red Alert, Hastings College Art Gallery, Hastings, NE (Invitational)
2006
Delineations, SoOh Gallery, Lincoln, NE (Invitational)
Blue Grass Clay National Show, The Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY (Juried)
Botanicals, The Eisentrager • Howard Gallery, Lincoln, NE (Invitational)
Code Red, Peru State College Gallery, Peru, NE (Invitational)
100 Cups, Lux Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE (Invitational)
3rd Annual Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Exhibition, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA (Juried)
New Visual Voices: UNL MFA Students, Haydon Art Center, Lincoln, NE (Invitational)
Quiet Obsessions, Rotunda Gallery, Lincoln, NE (Two-person Exhibition)
2005
UNL MFA Ceramics: Recent Works, Rotunda Gallery, Lincoln, NE (Group)
UNL Graduate Students, University Place Art Center, Lincoln, NE (Invitational)
2004
Cup: The Intimate Object III, Charlie Cummings Clay Studio, Fort Wayne, IN (Juried)
Fall Juried Artist Members Exhibition, Haydon Art Center, Lincoln, NE (Juried)
Recent Works: Graduate Ceramics, University of Kansas Art & Design Gallery, Lawrence, KS (Group)
Gallery Representation
Lill Street Art Center, Chicago, IL
Terra Incognito Studios, La Grange, IL
LUX Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE
Sheldon Art Gallery Shop, Lincoln, NE
The Artisan Gallery, Belleville, WI
Professional Experience
April 2010-Present Executive Director, Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Nebraska City, NE
2007-Present Studio Artist, Jenni Brant Ceramics, Lincoln, NE
Jan 2008-April 2010 Education Director, Lux Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE
July 2007
Adjunct Faculty for Beginning Ceramics, Doane College, Lincoln, NE
Gallery Assistant, Lux Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE
2007 Assistant Gallery Director, Eisentrager • Howard Gallery, UNL
2005-2006 Teacher of Record, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
2005 Exhibition Coordinator, UNL MFA Ceramics: Recent Works, Rotunda Gallery, Lincoln, NE
2005 Fundraiser Coordinator, UNL Clay Club Throw-a-Thon & Sale for Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF)
2004-2005 Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
2003-2004 Manager, Burnies Rock Shop, Madison, WI
2002-2003 Assistant Manager, Burnies Rock Shop, Madison, WI
Public Lectures/Workshops
2010 Teaching Artist, Sheldon Art Museum/Lincoln High, Lincoln, NE (1-wk workshop)
2009 Panel Discussion, Careers in the Arts, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE
2008
Visiting Artist Workshop, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE (2-day)
Visiting Artist Workshop, Northeast High School, Lincoln, NE (1-day)
Gallery Talk, Lux Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE
2007
Gallery Talk, Eisentrager Howard Gallery, UNL, Lincoln, NE
Gallery Talk and Slide Lecture, UMC Gallery, UC Boulder, CO
2006 Gallery Talk, Peru State College Gallery, Peru, NE
2003 Visiting Artist, Clay for Kids After School Program, Madison Metropolitan School District
2002 Presenter, UW-W Undergraduate Research Day, Crossman Gallery, Whitewater, WI
2001
Presenter, National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR), University of Montana-Missoula
Instructor, UW-W Saturdays for Young Scholars (2 months)
Presenter, UWW Undergraduate Research Day
Visiting Artist Workshop, Badger High School, Lake Geneva, WI (1 day)
Visiting Artist Workshop, Parker High School, Janesville, WI (1day)
Recent Awards and Special Recognition
2009 Kimmel Foundation Mayor's Arts Award – Emerging Artist
2008
NICHE Award Finalist, Professional Category: Ceramics, Wheel-Thrown
Emerging Artist, Ceramics Monthly
2004-2007 Hixson-Lied Graduate Fellowship, UNL Graduate Teaching Assistantship, UNL
Residencies
2009 Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Nebraska City, NE (2 week residency)
2007 Lux Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE (6 month residency)
Collections
Public
Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Nebraska City, NE
University of Saint Francis School of Creative Arts, Fort Wayne, IN
Private
Robert & Karen Duncan, Lincoln, NE
Robert & Vicki Northrup, Lincoln, NE
Charles & Jean Green, Pittsboro, NC
Publications
2001 Becoming an Artist: Socialization Processes in Four Art Programs, Sociological Imagination,
pp. 224-241, vol. 38, no. 4 (fall)
Citations
2008
Woman uses finer things for pottery inspiration, Lincoln Journal Star, August 10, 2008, pg. 8K
Emerging Artists, Ceramics Monthly, May, pg. 80
500 Plates, Lark Book Publications, pg. 352
Art Axis Webpage, www.artaxis.org
2007
Ceramic Connections, L Magazine, November, pg. 60-61
MFA Factor, Ceramics Monthly, August/September, pg. 42
2006
Local Color, Lincoln Lifestyle Magazine, Winter, pg. 10-11