Artist: Meredith Host
Meredith Host, MISSOURI
View Artist's Product
Meredith Host produces contemporary tableware and textiles with retro flair. Her dot patterns are inspired by her collection of toilet paper and paper towel designs. She obsesses about these ubiquitous domestic patterns subtly quilted on the paper products we see, use, and throw away every day. Meredith reinterprets these motifs and celebrates them in the context of other domestic objects meant for daily use.
Artist Statement
I am a collector of overlooked patterns, patterns you see on a daily basis. Every time I enter a restroom, my eyes immediately look to the toilet paper roll. If I have not seen this subtle debossed design before, I will take a few squares and place them in my pocket. I obsess about these found ubiquitous domestic patterns subtly quilted on the paper products we see, use, and throw away every day.
The prevalence of these dimpled decorations in our daily life renders them invisible, their utility questionable. We barely notice them and take them for granted. In this body of work, I reinterpret these motifs and transform them from something ephemeral into something permanent. Ultimately, I give these patterns greater visibility and celebrate their presence in the context of other domestic objects meant for daily use.
BIO
Meredith Host (she/her) received her BFA in Ceramics from Kansas City Art Institute in 2001 and her MFA in Ceramics from The Ohio State University in 2008. She was named one of the 2011 Emerging Artists for NCECA and Ceramics Monthly, and in 2016 was a Presenter at the Utilitarian Clay Symposium. Meredith has spent time at numerous ceramic residencies including Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in Newcastle, ME, The Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, MT, Dresdner Porzellan Manufactory in Dresden, Germany, and West Virginia University through The Pottery Workshop in Jingdezhen, China. Currently, Meredith lives in Kansas City, MO, teaches workshops around the country, and is a founding member of the Kansas City Urban Potters.
EDUCATION
2008 The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH - Master of Fine Arts, Ceramics
2001 Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO - Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ceramics
RESIDENCIES
2020-present Print League KC. Kansas City, MO
Artist in Residence
2024 Archie Bray Foundation for Ceramic Arts. Helena, MT
Invited Artist Residency
2020 Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Gatlinburg, TN
Pentaculum Participant
2012-2020 Belger Crane Yard Studios. Kansas City, MO
Long Term Resident Artist
2019,18,11 Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts. Newcastle, ME
2011 Material Commonality AIA Summer Resident
2018 Working Collectively AIA Summer Resident
2019 25th Anniversary of Salad Days Summer Resident
2016, 2012 Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Gatlinburg, TN
Surface Forum Participant2008 Porcelain Society of Saxon Porcelain Manufactory. Dresden, Germany
Ceramic Residency at Dresdener Porzellan
2007 The Belden Brick Company. Sugarcreek, OH
Ceramic Residency in Factory
2005-2006 Kansas City Art Institute. Kansas City, MO
Post-Baccalaureate Assistant in Ceramics
2004-2005 Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts. Newcastle, ME
Juried Winter Resident and Salad Days Artist
2002-2004 School for American Crafts, Rochester Institute of Technology. Rochester, NY
Studio Resident in Ceramics
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018 Dot Pop! Bredin Lee Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2016 Domestic Landscape. East Central College, Union, MO
2015 Translated Pattern. Belger Crane Yard Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2014 Overlooked & Overlapped. Mudfire, Decatur, GA
2013 Domestic Setting. Hallmark, Kansas City, MO
2011 Dot Domestic. Naked City Gallery, Wichita, KS
2010 Dot Dot Dash. Flotsam + Jetsam, Philadelphia, PA
2008 Residue. Kingswood Gallery, Bloomfield Hills, MI
2007 Body Organs & Wedding Bells. Beco Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2004 Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice. Genesee Pottery, Rochester, NY
Slice ‘n Dice. The Mary Switzer Gallery, Dyer Arts Center, Rochester, NY
SELECTED AWARDS & GRANTS
2023 Best In Show. Art Birmingham, Birmingham, MI
2019 Invitation Award. Plaza Art Fair, Kansas City, MO
2017 Friends of Arrowmont Scholarship. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts,
Gatlinburg, TN
2016 Martha Rhea Award of Merit (Best of Show). Smoky Hill River Fesitval, Salina, KS
2015 Invitation Award. Plaza Art Fair, Kansas City, MO
2011 NCECA Emerging Artist. National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts Tampa, FL
Ceramics Monthly Emerging Artist. Ceramics Monthly Magazine.
Best Table Setting. Dining In. 18 Hands Gallery, Houston, TX
2008 LIAEP International Travel Grant. Kansas City Artists Coalition, Kansas City, MO
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
Yunomi Invitational. ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA
American Pottery Festival Preview. Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Midwest Pottery Fest. Zhou B Art Center of Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Northern Clay Center NCECA Gallery Expo. Richmond, VA
2023
Mo’town Studio Tour. Morgantown, WV
FAB Five: 5 Years of the Mo’town Studio Tour. Monongolia Arts Center, Morgantown, WV
Authenticity. 80 Santa Fe Art Gallery. Overland Park, KS
Kansas City Urban Potters. Gallery Expo, NCECA, Cincinnati, OH
KCKCC Faculty Exhibition. Alcott Arts Center, Kansas City, KS
Impostor’s Cup. Online exhibition.
2022
Lamp-Lighters. Vulpes Bastille, Kansas City, MO
Mug Shots. Phoenix Gallery, Lawrence, KS
Midwest Pottery Fest. Morton Hall, Kansas City, MO
Smokeshow. KC Urban Potters, Kansas City, MO
Plant Playground. KC Urban Potters, Kansas City, MO
Valentine’s Day - Dessert Night. ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA
Impostor’s Cup. Gallery Mostaza, Harper, KS
2021
Still Shakin’. Belger Arts, Kansas City, MO
Housewarming. KC Urban Potters, Kansas City, MO
Impostor’s Cup. Gallery Mostaza, Harper, KS
The Cup Show. KC Urban Potters, Kansas City, MO
2020
Yunomi Invitational. ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA
Surface Exploration- From the Uncanny, the Uncouth, to the Sublime. Longwood
Center for the Visual Arts, Farmville, VA
Southern Crossings Pottery Festival. Louisville, KY
Margarita Cup Invitational. Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN
Midwest Pottery Fest. Kansas City, MO
2019
Highland Park Pottery Tour. Pittsburgh, PA
The Cup Show. Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, MA
One & Only. John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI
Lip. Body. Foot. Blockfort, Columbus, OH
Art Blender. KC Urban Potters, Kansas City, MO
Exuberant Ornament. The California Building, Minneapolis, MN
Yunomi Invitational. ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA
Pittsburgh Pottery Invitational. Standard Ceramics Supply, Pittsburgh, PA
Cup: The Intimate Object XV. Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
Garden Party. Watson McRae Gallery, Sanibel, FL
Salad Days Invitational. Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, ME
2019
Midwest Pottery Fest. Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Urban Potters. Gallery Expo, NCECA, Minneapolis, MN
The Cup Show. Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, MA
2018
Bling! Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT
Cup: The Intimate Object XIV. Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
Salad Days Invitational. Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, ME
The Cup Show. Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, MA
Midwest Pottery Fest. Kansas City, MO
American Graphic. Skelton Jewelry, Pittsburgh, PA
Growlerfest. Brewhouse Association, Pittsburgh, PA
Darkslide. Gallery East, Cuyahoga Community College, Highland Hills, OH
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2014- present Founding Member. Kansas City Urban Potters. Kansas City, MO
2021- present Adjunct Faculty. Ceramics I, II, III. Kansas City Kansas Community College,
Kansas City, KS
2024
Workshop Instructor. Cornell Studio Supply, Dayton, OH
2017-2023 Adjunct Faculty. Professional Practice. Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO
2023
External Reviewer. University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO
Visiting Artist. University of West Virginia, Morgantown, WV
2022
Adjunct Faculty. Ceramics I, II, III, IV. Metropolitan Community College – Longview, Lee’s Summit, MO
Visiting Artist. University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Demonstrator. Midwest Pottery Fest, Morton Hall, Kansas City, MO
2021
Visiting Artist (virtual). Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Visting Artist (virtual). Haywood Community College, Clyde, NC
2020
Workshop Instructor. Decals for Post-Glaze Ware. Frankarts.com
Juror. PMA Craft Show. Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Guest Speaker. Wheel Throwing Panel. Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
Guest Speaker. Dinnerware Surface. Doane University, Crete, NE
Visiting Artist in Foundations. University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO
Podcast Interview. Meredith Host: Moving Forward, The Boldli Podcast, January 20, 2020
2019
Demonstrator. Pace Academy, Atlanta, GA
Demonstrator & Lecturer. Hugdens Art Center, Duluth, GA
Guest Speaker for Entrepreneur Class. Morehead State University, Morehead, KY
Demonstrator. Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, ME
Demonstrator & Lecturer. Clay Studio of Craft Council of Labrador & Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
Part Time Faculty. Ceramics Senior Presentations. Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO
Visiting Artist. Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, KS
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2023 The Beginner's Guide to Decorating Pottery. Emily Reinhardt, Quarry Books,
Beverly, MA, p. 44, 89, 106, 151, 152.
“Midwest Pottery Fest” Ceramic Arts 2023 Yearbook and Buyers Guide, p. 25.
2022 “Lamplighters, Vulpes Bastille”, Neil Thrun, KC Studio, October 13, 2022, online
review, kcstudio.org
“Midwest Pottery Fest” Ceramic Arts 2022 Yearbook and Buyers Guide, p. 23.
2021 The Beginner’s Guide to Wheel Throwing. Julia Claire Weber, Quarto Publishing,
- 32, 64, 90, 136.
The Anatomy of a Good Pot. Ryan Coppage, PhD, The American Ceramic
Society, p. 110.
2020 “Collectives: The Model for Success”, Ceramics Monthly, March 2020, Vol. 68
No. 3, p. 46-51.
“Midwest Pottery Fest”, Ceramic Arts 2020 Yearbook and Buyers Guide, p. 21.
2017 “Hey Bud”, KC Studio, July/August 2017. Vol. 9, issue 4, p. 72.
2016 “Making It: Artist as Entreprenuer”, NCECA Journal 2016: Makers, Mentors & Milestones, Volume 37, p. 60-62.
The Clay Studio: 100 Artists 1000 Cups. The Clay Studio, Kirkwood Printing, p. 89-90.
“Clay for All” KC Studio, March/April 2016. Vol. 8, issue 2, p.45.
“Merging Mid-Century Inspiration”, Pottery Making Illustrated,Jan/Feb2016,p.21-23
“Meredith Host : Translated Pattern”, Tanya Hartman, Ceramics Art and Perception, December 2015-February 2016, Issue 102, p. 28-31.
2015 New Ceramic Surface Design. Molly Hatch, Quarto Publishing, p. 130.
“the BIG picture”, American Craft, Aug/Sept 2015, Vol. 75 No. 4, p.65.
“Taming Nature”, Ceramics Art and Perception, June-Aug 2015, Vol. 25, Iss 2, p. 8.
Graphic Clay: Ceramic Surfaces & Printed Image Transfer. Jason Bige Burnett,
Lark Books, New York, NY p. 99, 131.
Electric Kiln Ceramics. Richard Zakin & Frederick Bartolovic, The America Ceramic Society, p. 65, 104.
2014 “Made in China”, China Ceramic Art, December 2014, p.62-65.
Glaze: The Ultimate Ceramic Artist’s Guide to Glaze and Color. Brian Taylor and Kate Doody, Quarto Publishing, p. 278-9.
“The New Philadephia Story: Culture & Collaboration”, Modern, Fall 2014, p. 62.
“These Vases Stand Alone”, The Kansas City Star, May 4, 2014, C1,C6.
2014 “Surface Decoration by using Image-Transfer Techniques”, Monthly Ceramic Art, February 2014, Vol. 215, p.36-41.
2013 “Red Star Rising”, The Kansas City Star Magazine, August 4, 2013, p. 4-11.
“Carving out the Future”, NCECA Journal 2013: Earth/Energy, Vol. 34, p.112-113.
2012 500 Prints on Clay. Lark Books, NY, NY p. 222.
“Connect the Dots“, American Craft, Dec/Jan 2012, Vol. 71 No. 6, p.16-17.
2011 “Emerging Artists 2011”, Ceramics Monthly, May 2011, Vol. 59 No. 5, p. 66.
“For the Table: Dinnerware Review”, May 2011, Vol. 59 No. 5, p. 80.
“Dot Dot Dash - 2011 NCECA Emerging Artists”, NCECA Journal 2011: Tidal
Forces – The Next Wave, Volume 32, p. 24-25, 127.
“Kansas City Clay: What’s Happening Now”, Ceramics Art and Perception, March-May 2011, Issue 83, p. 22-25.
2009 “Made in KC”, KC Magazine, July 2009, Vol. 16 No. 11, p. 77.
“Ceramelicious”, Ceramics Monthly, January 2009, Vol. 57 No. 1, p. 6, 16.
2007 “The New Aesthetics of Ceramics”, Ceramics Monthly, April 2007, Vol. 55
No. 4, p. 30, 32.
2006 “Common Ground: A Showcase of National Ceramics Artists-in-Residence”,
Ceramics Monthly, January 2006 Vol. 54 No. 1, p. 34-39.
2005 “A Partnership in Clay“, Ceramics Monthly, Sept. 2005, Vol. 53 No. 7, pg. 6, 24.
2004 500 Cups: Ceramic Explorations of Utility & Grace. Lark Books, NY, NY p. 394.