Artist: Matthew Metz
Matthew Metz, NEW YORK
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My work is influenced by a variety of sources: Asian pottery traditions, Greek and Roman pots, early American decorative arts, face jugs, and other folk traditions. The images on my pots are decorative. Our culture tends to look at decoration as embellishment without meaning- frosting on the cake. While I resist applying direct narrative and literal definition to my iconography, the patterns and images I choose come from my life and experience. Interest in the natural sciences (evolutionary biology, ethology) and history (archaeology, physical culture) find there way, obliquely, into the work. A coffee cup has as much capacity to carry meaning as any other form of expression.
BORN
1961, Kendallville, Indiana
EDUCATION
1985
Master of Fine Arts – Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
1983
Bachelor of Fine Arts – Ball State University, Indiana
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2006 – present
Studio Potter, Alfred Station, NY
1990 - 2006
Studio Potter, Houston, MN
1989 – 1990
Resident, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
1986 – 1989
Technician, Ceramics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
1982 – 1983
Apprenticeship, Bethel Pike Pottery, Albany, IN
TEACHING WORKSHOPS AND LECTURES
2002
Workshop/Lecture, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Summer Session
Workshop, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
Demonstrator/Lecture, 15th North Carolina Potter’s Conference, Asheboro, NC
2001
Demonstrator, 2001: Clay Odyssey, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena,
MT
2000
Workshop, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
Demonstrator, Utilitarian Clay III National Symposium, Gatlinburg, TN
Workshop, University of Fairbanks, AK
1999
Workshop, Santa Barbara City College, Santa Barbara, CA
Workshop, Southwest School of Art & Craft, San Antonio, TX
1998
Workshop, Peter’s Valley craft Education Center, Layton, NJ
Workshop/Lecture, Sheridan College, Oakville, ON, Canada
Workshop/Lecture, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Workshop/Lecture, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL
Workshop/Lecture, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. LO
1997
Workshop, 92nd Street Y, New York, NY
Workshop, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
Workshop, Boulder Potter’s Guild, Boulder, CO
Workshop, Southwest Missouri State, Springfield, MO
Workshop, Alberta College of Art, Calgary, AB, Canada
1996
Lecture, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Teaching, Spring Concentration, Penland School, NC
1995
Workshop, Edina Arts Center, Edina, MN
Workshop, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
1994
Workshop, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Workshop, University of Whitewater, WI
Workshop, Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, PA
1993
Teaching (adjunct until 1995), Winona State University, MN
1989
Teaching, Center for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI
1988
Teaching, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI
1987
Teaching, Concordia College, Ann Arbor, MI
GRANTS
2005
McKnight Artist Fellowship for Ceramic Artist, Northern Clay Center,
Minneapolis, MN
1997
McKnight Artist Fellowship for Ceramic Artist, Northern Clay Center,
Minneapolis, MN
1990
National Endowment for the Arts – Individual Craft Fellowship
1986
Mid-Atlantic States Arts Consortium and the National Endowment for the Arts, Residency Grant
EXHIBITIONS
2007
“The Cup Show”, dowstudio, Deer Isle, ME
“Annual Clay National”, Deer Isle, ME
“La Mesa”, NCECA Exhibition by Santa Fe Clay Gallery, Louisville, KY
“SOFA NCECA”, Leslie Ferrin Gallery, Louisville, KY
“Earth and Fire: A Celebration of Clay and Ceramics - Containing
History”, Albany Institute of History and Art, Albany, NY
“Contrast: Ceramic Explorations In Black and White”, Atrium Gallery,
Ball State University, Muncie ,IN
2006
One Person Exhibition, “ Matthew Metz”, Red Star Gallery, Kansas City, MO
“Ceramic Invitational”, Westchester Gallery, White Plains, NY
“Surface Tension”, Foster Gallery, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire,
WI
“Ceramic Surface – Four Approaches”, Opus X Gallery, Eugene, OR
“30 x 5”, AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA
Two Person Exhibition, Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington, WV
‘Yumomis’, AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, Iowa
“La Mesa”, NCECA Exhibition by Santa Fe Clay Gallery, Portland, OR
‘30/30’, Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago, IL
‘Kissed by Ash – Wood Fired Ceramics’, Paul Watkins Gallery, Winona
State University, Winona, MN
2005
“Four Minnesota Potters – Crane, Metz, Kloppman, Pharis”, Trax
Gallery, Berkeley, CA
“Six McKnight Artists”, Nothern Clay Center Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
“New Talent 2005”, WeissPollack Galleries/Museum of Ceramic Art, NY
“Fill It To The Rim”, John Michael Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, WI
“Box”, Santa Fe Clay Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
“Karen Karnes and Brown, Shapiro, Sikora, Metz”, Ferrin Gallery,
Lenox, MA
“Cups, Cups, Cups”, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
“Ferrin Gallery at SOFA Chicago”, Chicago, IL
“Freehand 25: Clay”, Freehand Gallery, Los Angeles,
Two Person Exhibition, “Recent Work”, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
“31st Annual Invitational Pottery Show and Sale”, The Art School at Old Church, Demarest, NJ
“La Mesa”, NCECA Exhibition by Santa Fe Clay Gallery, Baltimore, MD
2004
“clay@penn - Faculty and Invited Artists, Addams Gallery, University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
“New York Ceramics Fair”, Ferrin Gallery /National Academy of Design,
New York ,NY
Two-person Exhibition, ‘Summer Work”, Baltimore Clayworks Gallery,
Baltimore, MD
“Studio Potter Invitational”, Ferrin Gallery, Lenox, MA
“Our Cups Runneth Over – Functional and Sculptural Ceramic Cup
Exhibition ,The Society of Art and Crafts, Boston ,MA
‘Two-person Exhibition’, Akar Gallery, Iowa City, IA
“Old World, New World”, La Coste Gallery, Concord, MA
Two-person Exhibition, Trax Gallery, Berkeley, CA
“OCCC 30th Year Exhibition and Sale”, Old Church Cultural Center,
Demarest, NJ
‘Hoosier Expatriates’, NCECA, Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis, IN
‘Ball State University Alumni Ceramics Exhibition’, Atrium Gallery, Ball State
University, Muncie, IN
2003
‘Intentional Surface’, One-Person Show, Ferrin Gallery, Lenox, MA
‘Archie Bray Benefit Exhibition’, Gallery Materia, Scottsdale, AZ
‘Recent Work’, Trax Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2002
‘Two-Person Show, Sikora & Metz – Recent Work", Mackerel Sky
Gallery, East Lansing, MI
‘Yankee Clay: Ceramic Artists of the Northeast’, The Slater Memorial
Museum of Art, Norwich, CT
‘North Carolina Potters Conference 2002 – Exhibition of Presenters’,
North Carolina Pottery Center, Asheboro, NC
2001
‘Objects for Use - Handmade By Design’, American Craft Museum, New
York, NY (publication)
‘Clay, Wood, Fire, Salt’, Southern Highland Guild, Asheville, NC
‘National Teapot Exhibition’, Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA
‘American Pottery Festival’, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
‘National Clay Invitational’, (NCECA), Blue spiral Gallery, Asheville, NC
2000
‘Mashiko Group Show 2000’, Moegi Gallery, Japan‘Ten Years in Retrospect – Exhibition and Collection’, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
‘Ten Years in Retrospect – Exhibition and Collection”, Northern Clay Center,
Minneapolis, MN
‘Duality in Clay’, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
‘Utilitarian Clay III, Celebrate the Object’, Arrowmont School, Gatlinburg, TN
‘Studio Days 2000’, Chester Springs Gallery, Chester Springs, PA
‘Two-Person Show – Functional Ceramics’, The Clay Place, Pittsburgh, PA
‘Beautiful Use: Contemporary American Ceramics’, Montgomery college Art
Gallery, Montgomery College, Rockville, MD
‘Archie Bray & The Colorado Connection’, NCECA, The Colorado Gallery of the
Arts, Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, CO
‘25th Anniversary Cup Exhibition 2000’, Gallery 2021: Lill Street, Chicago, IL
‘Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts Summer Faculty Invitational’, Sandra M. Blain
Gallery, Gatlinburg, TN
1999
‘Artists Collect;, The Minneapolis Institute of Arts’, Minneapolis, MN
‘Four-Person Show, Recent Work”, Gallery 2021: Lill Street, Chicago, IL
‘Atmospheric Fired Ceramics’, Odyssey Gallery, Asheville, NC
‘Couples in Clay’, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
‘American Pottery Festival’, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
‘Domestic Pottery’, Materia: Hand and Spirit, Scottsdale, AZ
1998
‘Functional Ceramics’, John Elder Gallery, New York, NY
‘Pouring Vessels’, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
‘Functional Ceramics’, Wayne Center For The Arts, Wooster, OH
‘Northern Michigan University Functional Invitational’, University Art Museum,
Marquette, MI
Recent Work, Two-Person Show’, St. Louis Community College, St, Louis, MO
1997
’18 American Potters’, Moegi Gallery, Mashiko, Japan
'Two-Person Show, Briscoe & Metz’, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
‘SOFA Miami’, Joanne Rapp Gallery
‘Two-Person Show’, Iowa Artisans Gallery, Iowa City, IA
‘Fifth Annual Strictly functional Pottery National’, Market House Craft Center, Ephrata, PA (Award)
‘Pottery Exhibition II’, Joanne Rapp Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
‘Tureen Du Jour’, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
‘Anything That Pours’, Appalachian Center for Crafts, Smithville, TN
‘Companions Of The Cupboard’, Lill Street Gallery – SOFA, Chicago, IL
‘Clay, Wood, Fire, Salt’, Contemporary Artifacts Gallery, Berea, KY
'Visiting Artists Exhibition’, Edina Art Center, Edina, MN
‘National Summer Faculty Exhibition’, Sandra M. Blain Gallery, Gatlinburg, TN
1996
‘Side By Side’, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
‘Domestic Pottery’, Joanne Rapp Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
‘The Tempestuous Teapot’, Friedman Gallery, Louisville, KY
‘Clay, Wood, Fire, Salt’, contemporary Artifacts Gallery, Berea, KY
‘Studio Days 96’, Chester Springs Gallery, Chester Springs, PA
‘Steeped in Tradition’, Ariana Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
‘Form & Surface’, Baltimore Clayworks, MD
‘Two-Person Show, Sikora & Metz’, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
1995
‘NCECA Contemporary Clay’, Premier Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
‘Marks Of An Artist’, Northern Clay Center, St. Paul, MN
‘Atmosphere and Element’, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
‘SOFA Miami’, Joanne Rapp Gallery
‘SOFA Chicago’, Joanne Rapp Gallery
‘Feature’, Joanne Rapp Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
'Counter-active Teapot’, Albertson-Peterson Gallery, Winter Park, FL
‘Teapot Invitational’, MIA Gallery, Seattle, WA
‘Cups 4’, Artworks Gallery, Seattle, WA
‘Bowl Show’, Margot Jacobson Gallery, Portland, OR
‘Feature’, Katie Gingrass Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
‘Studio Days’, Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, PA
‘Teapot Invitational’, Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO
,Teapot Show’, Ariana Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
‘Cambridge Invitational’, Cambridge, WI
‘Teapot Invitational’, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
‘Chicago New Art Forms Expo’, Joanne Rapp Gallery
1994
‘Teapots’, Margot Jacobson Gallery, Portland, OR
‘ Mad Hatter’s Tea Party’, Ferrin Gallery, Northampton, MA
‘ Ceramics and fivers – A New Generation’, Wustum Museum, Racine, WI
‘A Gathering of Tea’, Freehand Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
‘SOFA Chicago’, Joanne Rapp Gallery
‘SOFA Chicago, Lill Street Gallery
‘Feature’, Joanne Rapp Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
‘One-Person Show’, Artworks Gallery, Seattle, WA
‘Functional Pottery’, University of Wisconsin – Whitewater
1993
‘One-Person Show’, Miller Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
’11 Studio Potters’, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA
‘The Legacy of the Archie Bray Foundation, 1957-1993’, Bellevue Museum of Art,
Bellevue, WA
‘Tabletop Exhibition’, Works Gallery, Seattle, WA
‘Vessels – A New Viewpoint’, Artworks Gallery, Seattle, WA
‘Soup Tureens 1993’, Helen Drutt Gallery, Chicago, IL
‘Two-Person Show’, Paul Watkins Gallery, Winona State University, WI
1992
‘Teapot Show’, Swidler Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
‘Bindley Collection’, University of Wisconsin – Whitewater
‘Archie Bray Potters’, NCECA, Owen Patrick Gallery, Philladephia, PA
‘A Tea Party’, Ferrin Gallery, Northampton, MA
‘Platters’.\, Twist Gallery, Portland, OR
1991
‘Matthew Metz, Bruce Cochrane, Walter Ostrom, Dale Pereria’, Swidler Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
‘Archie Bray Potters’, Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO
‘Archie Bray Potters’, The Clay Place, Pittsburg, PA
‘Funky Figurative’, Objects Gallery, St. Louis, MO
‘Monarch Tile National Ceramic Competition’, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts,
TX
‘Teapot Show’, Swidler Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
1990
Teapot Show’, Swidler Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
1989
‘Michigan Potter’s Association Show’, Slusser Gallery, University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, MI
‘Three-Person Show’, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
‘Teapot Show’, Swidler Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
PUBLICATIONS
1997
Ceramics Monthly, “Philadelphia Museum Show”, January
1996
American Craft, “Portfolio – Matthew Metz”, July, Pg. 52
1993
Ceramics Monthly, “The Archie Bray Legacy”, December, Pg. 47 - 62
1990
Ceramics Monthly, “1990 NEA Grants”, December, Pg. 40 - 47
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Minneapolis Art Institute, Minneapolis, MN
Erie Art Museum, Erie, PA
Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI
Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT