Artist: John Utgaard
John Utgaard, KENTUCKY
Bio
John Utgaard grew up in Carbondale, Illinois and initially became interested in Ceramics while in high school. In the summers his father taught field geology near Red Lodge, Montana, and from an early age John was influenced by the
scope and solitude of mountains. He is an alumni of Alfred University where he received his MFA in 1999. John has been a resident at the Archie Bray Foundation, the Northern Clay Center, and the Red Lodge Clay Center, and has been honored by NCECA as an emerging artist and a demonstrator. John currently teaches at Murray State University. His artwork includes both pottery and sculpture. Recent exhibitions featuring John’s work include a 2020 solo show, Mind-Matter at the McGlothlin Center for the Arts in Emory, Virginia, and Pattern: Transmit, Impart, Convey at Schaller Gallery in Baroda, Michigan in 2021.
Artist’s Statement
When I was growing up, my family had a way of holding on to broken pots, tools and utensils that went beyond mere thrift. There was an unspoken sense that the wares of our everyday lives had a significance to them, that damage and wear didn’t necessarily detract from an object, and that the improvised solution (of say, a particular plate as the replacement lid for a saucepan) was a good solution. I remember in particular the chipped ironstone platter whose glaze was crazed and deeply stained from serving decades of bloody roasts. I hope my work has some sense of this spirit in it.
I want my pots to fit into their users’ lives with a sense of humility and ease of use, but also with mystery, wonder, humor, and serendipity, like a three-legged cat that follows you home and unexpectedly becomes a member of your family.
Professional Experience
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2004—present |
Murray State University, Murray, KY Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, Dept. of Art & Design |
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2002-2004 |
The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA Senior Lecturer, School of Visual Arts |
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2000-2002 |
Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT Artist in Residence, Technician, Instructor of community classes |
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1999-2000 |
The University of Texas at Austin Lecturer, Department of Art |
Education
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1999 |
MFA, NYSCC at Alfred University, School of Art and Design, Alfred, NY |
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1996 |
BFA, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO |
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1992-1994, 1996 |
Student, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, IL |
Honors and Awards
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2018 |
Short-Term Artist’s Residency Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT |
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2008 |
CHFA Distinguished Researcher Award College of Humanities and Fine Arts, Murray State University, Murray, KY |
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2007 |
Demonstrator, NCECA 07 Louisville National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts |
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2007 |
McKnight Fellowship and Residency for Ceramic Artists Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN |
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2003 |
Emerging Artist National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, San Diego Conference |
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2001 |
Lilian Fellowship Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts |
Talks and Workshops Given
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2020 |
Art Talk lecture and 1-day workshop, Emory & Henry College, Emory, VA |
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2018 |
Guest lecture, Montana State University, Bozeman |
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2010 |
2-day workshop, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY |
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2009 |
2-day workshop, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA |
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2007 |
Hallmark Lecture Series lecture, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS |
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2001 |
1-day workshop, University of Montana, Missoula |
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2000 |
1-day workshop and lecture, Texas Women’s University, Denton, TX |
Exhibitions
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2023 |
Soft, Stoic, Strong Invitational group exhibition, Schaller Gallery, Baroda, MI |
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2022 |
CRAFTED for the Holidays Invitational group exhibition, Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA |
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2022 |
Convergent Boundaries Invited solo exhibition, Schaller Gallery, Baroda, MI |
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2022 |
Yunomi Invitational 2022 National invitational group exhibition, ClayAKAR, Iowa City, IA |
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2021 |
Little Wonders in the Palm of your Hand National invitational group exhibition, Schaller Gallery, Baroda, MI |
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2021 |
Pattern: Impart, Transmit, Convey National invitational group exhibition, Schaller Gallery, Baroda, MI |
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2021 |
Layers of Being Regional invitational group exhibition, Bill Ford Gallery, Paducah School of Art & Design, Paducah, KY Juror: Anne Beyer |
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2020 |
The Plate Show III National invitational group exhibition, Schaller Gallery, Baroda, MI |
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2020 |
John Utgaard: Mind-Matter Solo exhibition, McGlothlin Center for the Arts, Emory & Henry College, Emory, VA |
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2020 |
Design & Pattern National invitational group exhibition, Schaller Gallery, Baroda, MI |
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2019 |
27th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National National juried group exhibition, Market House Craft Center, Lancaster, PA Juror: Malcolm Mobutu Smith |
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2018 |
26th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National National juried group exhibition, Market House Craft Center, Lancaster, PA Juror: Ben Carter |
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2018 |
Plates, Platters, Nothing Else Matters National juried group exhibition, Long Beach Island Foundation, Loveladies, NJ Juror: Roberto Lugo |
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2018 |
6th Annual Central Time Ceramics Regional juried group exhibition, Heuser Art Gallery, Bradley University, Peoria, IL Juror: Gail Kendall Purchase Award |
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2017 |
Bolster: a benefit to support CERF+ National juried invitational to support the Craft Emergency Relief Fund Schaller Gallery, St Joseph, MI Curator: Anthony Schaller |
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2017 |
Kentucky Clay Regional group invitational, the Living Arts & Science Center, Lexington, KY Curators: Hunter Stamps, Associate Professor, University of Kentucky Amelia Stamps, Professional potter |
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2017 |
Beyond the Brickyard National juried group exhibition, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT Juror: Josh Deweese, Associate Professor of Art, Montana State University Bozeman |
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2016 |
CraftForms 2016 National juried group exhibition, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA Juror: Stefano Catalani, Executive Director of the Gage Academy of Art Award of Merit |
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2016 |
65th Anniversary Benefit Auction and Brickyard Bash National group invitational, Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, MT |
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2015 |
Vivid Dreams: Work by John Utgaard Solo exhibition in conjunction with Potter’s Council Conference Ceramic Boundaries Opened, Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Mt Vernon, IL |
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2015 |
2015 Zanesville Prize for Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition National juried group exhibition in association with a conference of Potter’s Council, Zanesville Museum of Art, Zanesville, OH Jurors: Garth Johnson, Julia Galloway, Doug Jeck Honorable Mention |
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2015 |
NCECA 2015 Biennial International juried exhibition, David Winton Bell Gallery, Brown University, Providence, RI Jurors: Linda Christianson, Jo Ann Conklin, Anders Ruhwald |
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2015 |
Beyond the Brickyard National juried group exhibition, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT Juror: Mark Hewitt |
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2014 |
The State of Clay Regional invitational group exhibition, ArtsPlace, Lexington, KY Juror: Joe Molinaro |
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2014 |
2014 Zanesville Prize For Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition National juried group exhibition in association with a conference of Potter’s Council, Seilers’ Studio & Gallery, Zanesville, OH Jurors: Sherman Hall, Brad Schweiger, Angelica Pozo |
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2014 |
The Clay Studio National National juried group exhibition, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA Juror: Garth Johnson |
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2013 |
Beyond the Brickyard National juried group exhibition, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT Juror: Andrea Gill Juror’s Award |
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2012 |
Sculpt EVV 2012 National juried group exhibition of outdoor sculpture, Sculpt EVV, Evansville, IN Juror: Marilu Knode, Executive Director, Laumeier Sculpture Park |
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2012 |
PSA National Ceramics Invitational National invitational group exhibition, Clemens Fine Art Center Gallery, Paducah, KY Curator: John Hasegawa |
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2012 |
Ceramic Artists of Kentucky Regional invitational group exhibition, the Clay Place at Standard Ceramics, Pittsburgh, PA Curator: Joe Molinaro |
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2011 |
Beyond the Brickyard National juried group exhibition, The Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT Juror: Paul Mathieu Director’s Award |
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2011 |
Visual Territory National juried group exhibition, Pittsburg State University Art Gallery, Pittsburg, KS Juror: Sherry Leedy Mission Clay Purchase Prize |
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2011 |
Carillon Local solo exhibition, Murray State University, Murray, KY |
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2011 |
Two by Two National juried group exhibition, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA Juror: Rain Harris |
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2011 |
Some Like it HOT! Silent Auction National invitational group exhibition and benefit auction, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA |
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2011 |
From the Center to the Edge Live Auction National invitational group exhibition and benefit auction, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT |
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2010 |
Bricks and Mortar National Invitational group exhibition, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM |
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2009 |
There and Not There Solo exhibition, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA |
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2009 |
Ab.strac.tion Invitational group exhibition, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM |
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2008 |
Six McKnight Artists Juried group exhibition of McKnight fellowship recipients, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN |
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2008 |
The Archie Bray Foundation: Present and Past Residents Invitational group exhibition, The Galaxie, Chicago, IL |
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2007 |
John Utgaard: Featured Artist Solo exhibition, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT |
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2007 |
NCECA Clay National National juried exhibition in conjunction with NCECA, Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, Louisville, KY |
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2007 |
Resident Artist Scholarship Benefit Auction National invitational exhibition and auction to benefit the Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT |
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2007 |
2007 Invitational Heike Pickett Gallery, Versailles, KY |
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2007 |
Unadorned National invitational exhibition, Santa Fe Clay, NM |
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2007 |
Best of Kentucky Clay Regional juried exhibition in conjunction with NCECA, Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, Louisville, KY |
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2007 |
Kentucky Faculty Exhibition Regional invitational in conjunction with NCECA, Mellwood Arts Center, Louisville, KY |
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2007 |
Two By Two National juried exhibition of small sculpture, Eastern Washington University Gallery of Art, Cheney, WA Juror’s Award—Best in Show |
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2006 |
Mastery In Clay Invitational group exhibition and benefit auction, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA |
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2006 |
Archie Bray International Invitational group exhibition and benefit auction for the Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT |
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2006 |
Ceram-a-rama Invitational group exhibition and benefit auction for the ASU Art Museum, Nelson Fine Arts Center, Tempe, AZ |
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2006 |
Minimal/ist Invitational group exhibition in conjunction with NCECA, Archer Gallery, Clark College, Vancouver, WA |
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2005 |
School’s out Invitational group exhibition in conjunction with NCECA, Community College of Baltimore County Catonsville, Baltimore, MD |
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2005 |
NCECA Clay National Juried group exhibition, Center for Art and Visual Culture, University of Maryland, Baltimore |
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2004 |
Benchmark Invitational group exhibition, The Longhouse Reserve, East Hampton, NY |
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2004 |
The Clay Studio 30th. Anniversary Exhibition Auction Invitational group exhibition and benefit auction, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA |
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2003 |
John Utgaard Solo exhibition, Garth Clark Gallery L.I.C, Long Island City, NY |
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2003 |
Facets of Clay Invitational group exhibition, Macalester College Art Gallery, St. Paul, MN |
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2003 |
Impending Lineage Invitational group exhibition, Arts and Industry Gallery, San Diego, CA |
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2002 |
Mastery In Clay Invitational group exhibition and benefit auction, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA |
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2002 |
New Talent/New Work Invitational, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA |
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2002 |
Lilian Fellowship Exhibition Solo exhibition, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT |
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2002 |
34th Annual Art Auction Invitational group exhibition, Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings, MT |
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2001 |
Gallery Group + Invitational group exhibition, Helen Drutt Gallery, Philadelphia, PA |
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2001 |
In the Spirit of sharing Group exhibition curated by regional collectors, Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings, MT |
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2001 |
Viewpoint: Ceramics 2001 Juried national exhibition, Grossmont College, El Cajon, CA |
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2000 |
Clay on the Cusp Juried national exhibition, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD |
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2000 |
Ceramic International Juried international exhibition, Zanesville Arts Center, Zanesville, OH |
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2000 |
Ceramics USA Juried national exhibition, University of North Texas, Denton |
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1999 |
61st Annual Art Faculty Exhibition Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art, College of Fine Arts, The University of Texas at Austin |
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1999 |
Departures from the Midwest: KCAI Instructors and Alumni Invitational, Baltimore Clayworks |
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1999 |
MFA Thesis Exhibition New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, School of Art and Design, Alfred, NY |
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1997 |
Feats of Clay Juried national exhibition, Lincoln, CA Merit Award |