Artist: Karl Borgeson
Karl Borgeson, WISCONSIN
View Artist's Products
My current work takes two overlapping directions. I produce utilitarian pots intended for everyday use and more sculptural but still functional covered vessels. I am particularly intrigued by textiles, baskets, tribal masks and vernacular architecture witnessed during recent travel in West Africa and Indonesia. Inspiration comes in many forms but usually manifests itself subtly and abstractly.
Although I hand build some pieces, most are wheel thrown and some are altered to create squared, oval or triangular forms. To satisfy my minimalist instincts I restrict my color palette using just two slips and four glazes. I use two clays (stoneware and porcelain) which results in slightly different color responses. Surface embellishment, when employed, incorporates basket weave imagery, checkerboard patterns or parallel lines. Subtle surface variations, color and texture are achieved by the addition of wood ash to the surface of the pots before loading and the introduction of a small amount of salt at the end of the firing. These actions provide, for me, just the right combination of control and "happy accidents" which I seek in my work. I love making things and especially things that others use to continue the tradition of the handmade object.
EDUCATION
1970 M.F.A, Ceramics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
1965 B.A., Art, St. Cloud State College, St. Cloud, MN, 1965
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2002-Present
Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
1970-2002
Professor, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
1969-1970
Assistant Professor, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
1968-1969
Teaching Assistant, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
VISITING ARTIST WORKSHOPS
Appalachian Center for Crafts, Smithville, TN
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
Cambridge Potters’ Guild, Cambridge, WI (with Simon Levin)
Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, WI
Functional Ceramics 2009, Wooster, OH
Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA
Murray Hill Pottery, Milwaukee, WI
Pennsylvania State University, Edinboro
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville
Terra Incognito Studios, Oak Park, IL (with Robert Briscoe)
University of Missouri-Columbia
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
University of North Carolina-Pembroke
Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, WI
Wooster College, Wooster, OH
EXHIBITIONS
2012
30X5 Dessert Plates, Akar, Iowa City, IA
Gifted, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Small Favors VII, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Yunomi Invitational, Akar, Iowa City, IA
Chocolate DAZE, Trax Gallery, Berkley, CA
Biennial Fundraising Auction, Ceramics Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Beer Steins, NCECA Conference, Seattle, WA
De la Fleur, Mudfire, Decatur, GA
2011
Salt/Soda Ceramics, Akar, Iowa City, IA
Gifted, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Harvest: A Ceramics Invitational, Edwarsville Art Center, Edwardsville, IL
Generations: a Family of Clay, Verona Area High School, Verona, WI
Vapor... of Salt, Soda and Wood, Schaller Gallery, St. Joseph, MI
6th Annual Ceramics Invitational, Artisan Gallery, Paoli, WI
Cups and Coffee, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Karl Borgeson, Akar, Iowa City, IA
Not So Still Life: 3D and 2D from RAM's Collection, Racina Art Center, Racine, WI
Yunomi Invitational, Iowa City, IA
Small Favors, VI
2010
Small Favors V, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Yunomi Invitational, Akar, Iowa City, IA
Smorgasbord, Schaller Gallery, Red Lodge, MT
Contained: variations on the lidded vessel, Schaller Gallery, Red Lodge, MT
35th Annual Whitewater Ceramics Invitational, Crossman Gallery, University of Wisconsin, Whitewater
5th Annual Ceramics Invitational, Artisan Gallery, Paoli, WI
Recent Acquisitions, RAM, Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI
2009
Small Favors IV, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Functional Ceramics 2009, The Wayne Center for the Arts, Wooster, OH
Yunomi Invitational, Akar, Iowa City, IA
The Infinite Teapot, Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH
Karl Borgeson: Inspired By West Africa, Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, WI
Faculty and Mentor Show, Schlueter Art Gallery, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, WI
Winterfest 2009, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
2008
All Fired Up: Contemporary Wisconsin Ceramics, Museum of Wisconsin Art, West Bend, WI
DOUBLE CHAMBER: from the kilns of Minnesota and Wisconsin, 16 potters, Trax Ceramic Gallery, Berkeley,CA
La Mesa 2008, NCECA, Pittsburgh, PA
Yunomi Invitational, Akar, Iowa City, IA
Featured Artist, January-February, Akar, Iowa City, IA
Featured Artist, November, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT
2007
National Studio Pottery Exhibition, Blue Spiral 1, Asheville, NC
Hand Held Drinking Vessels, Main Street Art Gallery, Edwardsville, IL
Pitcher This, AD Gallery, University of North Carolina-Pembroke
Focused Function, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT
90 Teapots That Pour, Xen Gallery, St. Louis, MO
Karl Borgeson-New Work, Murray Hill Pottery, Milwaukee, WI
Karl Borgeson and Robert Briscoe, Terra Incognito Gallery, Oak Park, IL
Karl Borgeson and Charlie Olson-Recent Work, Gallery on the Main, Fort Atkinson, WI
2006
30 x 5, Akar, Iowa City, IA
Forms and Shapes: The Useful Teapot, Akar, Iowa City, IA, Best in Show Award
Functional Ceramics, Wayne Center for the Arts, Wooster, OH
An Extravagance of Salt and Pepper: Containers, Shakers, Concepts, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore
Grounded, Cedarburg Cultural Center, Cedarburg, WI
36th Annual Ceramics Exhibition, Crossman Gallery, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
2005
Charlie Olson and Karl Borgeson: Recent Ceramic Work, Priebe Art Gallery, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
A Passion for Pottery: Eight Wisconsin Ceramics Artists, Ahron Bohrod Gallery, University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley, Menasha, WI
Karl Borgeson: Clay, Wood, Salt, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI
Bowled Over, Harrison Gallery, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia
2004
Karl Borgeson–New Works, Schlueter Art Gallery, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, WI
30th Anniversary Auction, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia
MOVE, Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN
A Night at the Oscars II, Wayne Center for the Arts, Wooster, OH
2002
Karl Borgeson and Friends, Crossman Gallery, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
2001
9th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National, Market House Craft Center at The
Artworks, Ephrata, PA, Jurors Choice Award
2000 Karl Borgeson and Charlie Olson, Artspace Gallery, John Michael Kohler Art Center, Kohler, WI
1999
Art of the Pour, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia
20th Anniversary Teapot Exhibition, Ferrin Gallery, Northampton, MA
The End is Near: Artists Look at the 20th Century, Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI
National Artists Exhibition and Auction, John Michael Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, WI
1998
Teapot Show, Ariana Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
Put a Lid On It, Appalachian Center for Craft, Smithville, TN
28th Annual Whitewater Ceramics Invitational Woodfire, Crossman Gallery, University of Wisconsin
1997
Anything That Pours, Appalachian Center for Craft, Smithville, TN
Platter Show, Jessie Metcalf Gallery, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In conjunction with NCECA.
Colorform: Teapots and Cups, Ferrin Gallery, Northampton, MA
1996
Contemporary Teapots at SOFA, Represented by Ferrin Gallery, Chicago
Birthday Exhibition, Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN
Twisted Tea, Twist Gallery, Portland, OR
32 Years of Ceramics, Alumni of St. Cloud State, St. Cloud, MN
Coffee and Teapot Invitational, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago
Contemporary Teapots at SOFA, Represented by Ferrin Gallery, Miami
The Teapot Show, Art Resources Gallery, St. Paul, MN
Just Add Water: Artists and the Aqueous World, Charles A. Wustum Museum of
Fine Arts, Racine, WI
Two Person Exhibition, Boulder Arts and Crafts Cooperative, Boulder, CO
Enhancing the Living Space, West Bend Art Museum, West Bend, WI
1995
Alumni Show, Katherine Nash Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Confluence, Continental Clay Company, Minneapolis
The Third Annual Teapot Exhibition, Craft Alliance Gallery, St. Louis
First Cup of the Day, Ariana Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
Collectors Show, Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock
50th Anniversary Faculty Show, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
Clay at the Caves, Northern Clay Center, St. Paul, MN
Contemporary Teapots at SOFA, Represented by Ferrin Gallery, Chicago
20th Anniversary Ceramics Invitational, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago
Teapots, Avanti Gallery, Cleveland
East of the Big Muddy: Clay Artists of Wisconsin, Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI
1994
A Discerning Passion, FOVA Gallery, Texas Tech University, Lubbock
Candlesticks, Craft Alliance Gallery, St. Louis
A Home for Joe, Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, OH
Collectors Show, Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock
The Cup, The Works Gallery, Philadelphia
Warren MacKenzie: His Sphere of Influence, Southern Illinois University Gallery, Edwardsville
Contemporary Teapots, Ferrin Gallery at SOFA, Chicago
Goblet Show, Edgewood Orchard Gallery, Fish Creek, WI
Fifth Annual Invitational Teapot Show, Gallery Alexander, La Jolla, CA
Scents and Nonscents, Signature Gallery, Boston
Artists Boxes, Artspace Gallery, John Michael Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, WI
Teapot Show, Craft Alliance, St. Louis
1993
Functional Ceramics, Wayne Center for the Arts, Wooster, OH
The Tea Party, American Craft Museum, New York
National Teapot Invitational, Craft Alliance, St. Louis
A Tea Party, National Museum of Ceramic Art, Baltimore
American Craft Expo, St. Paul, MN
MAJOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
Bindley Collection, Middelton, WI
Byer Museum of the Arts, Chicago
Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI
Columbia Pictures, Burbank, CA
D.A.G. Unomie Collection
Earl Millard Collection, St. Louis
First Bank System, Minneapolis
Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA
Milwaukee Art Museum
Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI
Regional Museum of Ontario, Toronto
Sanford M. Besser Collection, Little Rock, AK
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville
St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN
St. Louis Art Museum
University of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Telephone, Milwaukee
GALLERY AFFILIATIONS
Akar Design, Iowa City, IA
Murray Hill Pottery, Milwaukee, WI
Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT
Schaller Gallery, St. Joseph, MI
The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Elements, Racine, WI
Artisans Gallery, Paoli, WI
Studioworks, Elizabeth, IL
Terra Incognito Gallery, Oak Park, IL
PUBLISHED REVIEWS/PHOTOS
2011
Ceramics Monthly, February
2006
Ceramics Monthly, May
2005
Shelter Interiors, September/October
Ceramics Monthly, June/July/August
1998
Ceramics Monthly, November
1994
Ceramics Monthly, February
1990-1991
NCECA Journal, Volume II
1990
American Craft, June/July
1989
Milwaukee Journal, September 3
American Craft, June/July
American Craft, December/January
1988
Milwaukee Sentinel, August 8
1987
Studio Potter, December
1986
Minneapolis Star Tribune, November
Ceramics Monthly, January
1985
Ceramics Monthly, March
Milwaukee Journal, January 20
Fine Tuning, Channel 10/36, January