Artist: Kyla Culbertson
Kyla Culbertson, ILLINOIS
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Countless hours spent walking through nature was the only way I knew how
to occupy my solitary time, before I discovered clay as an outlet. Each earthy-
colored coil I overlap and press into the last holds a reminiscence of my
footsteps. I cherish every small coil and leave every pinch mark simply to
satisfy the need to create a rhythmic, forward motion. Clay has a memory that
records the successive layers from my fingerprints and captures an intimacy
found in each layer. I anticipate the dynamic flow of the pieces while
permitting the process to generate its own intentions. The final wandering
forms correlate to my undetermined walking journey. The repetitive coils lead
me to a pensive state of mind. I patiently embrace the pace of nature as it
unfolds in quiet, meditative hours in the studio.
EDUCATION
2019 University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
(Candidate) Post-Baccalaureate Ceramics
2017 Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois
B.F.A. Ceramics
2011 Spoon River College, Canton, Illinois
Associate in Arts & Science
LECTURES / WORKSHOPS / DEMONSTRATIONS
2019 Artist Lecture: University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. Lecture given on my artwork, chronology of my work, and pathway through BFA and Post-Baccalaureate program.
2018 Abstract Embroidery Workshop: Rena Wood, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Action, Time, Vision Workshop: Pattie Chalmers and Matt Mitros, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Pinch-Forming: A Mindful Approach Workshop: Paul Briggs, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina
Artist Lecture: Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina. Lecture given on my artwork, chronology of my work, and pathway through BFA and MFA program.
Artist Lecture: Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Lecture given on my artwork, chronology of my work, and pathway through BFA and MFA program.
2017 Artist Lecture: Western Illinois University Art Gallery, Macomb Illinois. Lecture given on my artwork, the chronology of my work, and pathway through BFA program.
2016 Artist Lecture: Western Illinois University, Macomb Illinois
Lecture given on the chronology of my work and pathway through BFA program.
2015-2017 Hand-building Workshop: First Wednesday, Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois
Workshop assistant to Ian Shelly demonstrating coiling and other hand-building techniques for a monthly public group project.
2015 Hand-building Demonstration: Art in the Park, Macomb, Illinois
Outside public event showing hand-building techniques used in my studio practice.
Artist Lecture: Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois
Lecture given about my work and inspiration from other ceramic artists.
EXHIBITIONS
2019 Wit and Whimsy: National Juried Exhibition, Clay Center of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana - Juror: Brett Kern
Conroe Art League 4th National Invitational Show: National Juried Exhibition, Conroe Art League, Conroe, Texas - Juror: Jessica Locheed
Art of Clay National Juried Show: National Juried Exhibition, North Carolina Pottery Center, Seagrove, North Carolina - Juror: Douglas Fitch
Alumni Invitational Exhibition: Group Exhibition, Western Illinois Art Gallery, Macomb, Illinois
The Collective: The University of Iowa Ceramics Graduate Show, Group Exhibition, Art + Design Gallery, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
2018 Living Room: Solo Exhibition, University of Iowa Visual Arts Building Gallery, Iowa City, Iowa
The Art and Science of Restoration Ecology: Group Exhibition, Museum of Texas Tech University, Lubbock Texas
Growth of a Foreign Entity: Collaboration Exhibition with Nate Collins, Charles Adams Studio Project, Studio 4, Lubbock, Texas
Environmentally Aware: National Juried Exhibition, Clay Arts Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada - Juror: Margaret Hayden
Flora and Fauna: National Juried Exhibition, Clay Center of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana – Juror: Shoko Teruyama
100 Best Show: International Exhibition, 136 Eldridge Street, New York City, New York.The work of the Creative Quarterly winners are exhibited in a New York gallery.
2017 Walking the Peripheral: Texas Tech Sculpture Exhibition, Group Exhibition, Louise Hopkins Underwood Art Center, Lubbock, Texas
Stratum: BFA Exhibition, Western Illinois University Art Gallery, Macomb, Illinois
Naked and Refined Show, International Juried Exhibition, Clay Arts Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada – Juror: Peter Jakubowski
Nature: Surface, Form, Content, National Juried Exhibition, The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, Montana – Juror: Adrian Arleo
Vessels: Interpretations and Iterations, National Juried Exhibition, Kentucky Mudworks, Louisville, Kentucky – Juror: Bill Wilkey
2016 College Invitational, Regional Juried Exhibition, Figge Art Museum, Davenport, Iowa
Talent Grant/Tuition Wavier Exhibition, Annex Gallery, Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois
Metamorphic, Solo Exhibition, Annex Gallery, Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois
Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Juried Exhibition, Western Illinois University Art Gallery, Macomb, Illinois
2015 Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Juried Exhibition, Western Illinois University Art Gallery, Macomb, Illinois
Talent Grant/Tuition Wavier Exhibition, Annex Gallery, Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois
2014 Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Juried Exhibition, Western Illinois University Art Gallery, Macomb, Illinois
College Invitational, Regional Juried Exhibition, Figge Art Museum, Davenport, Iowa
Cardboard Exhibition, Western Illinois University Art Gallery, Macomb, Illinois
AWARDS / GRANTS / HONORS
2018 Arrowmont Educational Assistance Work Study Scholarship, Arrowmont School of Art and Crafts, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Penland Teaching Assistant Scholarship: Instructor Paul Briggs, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina
2017 Lott Regents Dissertation Art Scholarship, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
CH Foundation Doctoral Scholarship, Texas Tech University, Lubbock Texas
Talent Grant – Cash Award, Talent Grant/ Tuition Wavier Competition, Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois
2016 Second Place - Cash Award, College Invitational, Figge Art Museum, Davenport, Iowa
Talent Grant – Cash Award, Talent Grant/Tuition Wavier Competition, Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois
2015 Second Place – Cash Award, Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois
Talent Grant – Cash Award, Talent Grant/ Tuition Wavier Competition, Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois
2014 Third Place – Cash Award, Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Western Illinois University
Tuition Wavier – Cash Award, Talent Grant/ Tuition Wavier Competition, Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois
PUBLICATIONS / ARTICLES / REVIEWS
2019 APERO Fine Art Catalogue, ‘Capture’, February 2019, Southern California
A juried and curated publication showcasing established and emerging artists from around the world.
2017 Creative Quarterly Journal, 100 Best of 2017, Brooklyn, New York - Judges: Baldwin Guggisberg, Johnny Selman, Frank Viva, and Nigel Parry
The year-end juried competition selects the top 100 entries from the year. Winners are exhibited in a New York gallery.
Creative Quarterly Journal, Online Issue 48, Fall 2017, Brooklyn, New York
Creative Quarterly is an international journal focusing on promoting the work of the creative community of graphic design, illustration, photography, and fine art.
Creative Quarterly Journal, Issue 47, Fall 2017, Brooklyn, New York
Creative Quarterly is an international journal focusing on promoting the work of the creative community of graphic design, illustration, photography, and fine art.
PUBLIC INSTALLATIONS
2016 Traffic, Rocky-on-Parade, Toyota Dealership Building, Macomb, Illinois
Permanent sculpture installation in a car dealership building.
Elephant, Western Illinois University Garwood Building, Macomb, Illinois
Permanent cardboard sculpture installation in the third floor of the building.
3D Annex Sculpture, Western Illinois University Heating Annex, Macomb, Illinois. Permanent metal sculpture installation outside the 3D Heating Plant building.
RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE
2017-2018 Workshop Teaching Assistant: Penland School of Crafts. Workshop teaching assistant for Paul Briggs’s Pinch-Forming: A Mindful Approach workshop.
Work Study: Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Housekeeping work study for all of Arrowmont’s facilities. Assisting with making beds, cleaning bathrooms, gardening, and ensuring all products are well stocked.
Graduate Teaching Assistant: Texas Tech University. Graduate teaching assistant for Juan Granado’s three-dimensional design course.
Graduate Teaching Assistant: Texas Tech University. Graduate ceramics teaching assistant for Juan Granado's Advancing Hand-building course.
Graduate Studio Technician: Texas Tech University. Graduate ceramics technician whose responsibilities included cleaning the studios, stocking materials, replenishing the glazes, maintaining the kiln yard, and repairing kilns.
2017 Undergraduate Ceramics Gallery Technician: Western Illinois University,
Maintaining, painting, installing exhibitions, and keeping the gallery clean
Undergraduate Ceramics Glaze Technician: Western Illinois University,
Maintain and replenish the glazes in the studio.
2016-2017 Undergraduate Ceramics Kiln Technician: Western Illinois University, Undergraduate ceramics technician whose responsibilities included cleaning, repairing, and maintaining the kiln yard as well as firing the electric, gas, salt, and soda kilns.
2015-2016 Undergraduate Ceramics Inventory Technician: Western Illinois University, Undergraduate ceramics technician whose responsibilities included cleaning, measuring, and maintaining the materials in the glaze and clay rooms.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
2018-2019 Clay Club: University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Clay Siblings: Non-Profit Organization started by Gerald Brown and Mike Tavares.
2017-2018 Clay Club: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
2016-2017 Kappa Pi: Delta Delta Chapter, Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois
International Honorary Art Society where we volunteer around the area and organize art department events.
2015-2017 Clay Club: Western Illinois University, Macomb Illinois
2014-2019 NCECA: National Council on the Education of Ceramic Arts