Artist: Nathan Bray

Nathan Bray, MINNESOTA
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The work I create with clay is driven by the continuous flow of new
ideas and techniques involved with the processes. I gather influence from
my passion with electricity, flowers, music, racecars, as well as graphic and
pop art. I enjoy using the plasticity of clay to emphasize the soft and rigid
qualities the medium has to offer. I am intrigued to capture movement
through the colors I use in the forms I create.

I currently work with terra cotta clay, which is fired in the kiln to a
temperature of about 2100 degrees F, cone 3. This brings the earthenware
clay near its melting point, which makes for a very vitreous strong finished
piece of ceramic art.

EDUCATION
2009 Bachelor of Fine Arts, ceramic emphasis, Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN

2007 Associate of Arts, Hibbing Community College, Hibbing, MN

2003 Electrical Construction and Maintenance Degree, Hibbing Community College

TEACHING EXPERIENCE/ POTTERY INSTRUCTOR
2011
Adult wheel throwing and hand building, January-July, Carbondale Clay Center
Kids wheel throwing, March-May, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale CO

2010
Adult wheel throwing and hand building, September-December, CCC
Kids wheel throwing, September-November, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
Teaching assistant, beginning and intermediate ceramics, Bemidji State University, MN

2009 Teaching assistant, ceramics, Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN

2007 Teaching assistant, ceramics, Hibbing Community College, Hibbing, MN

WORKSHOPS TAUGHT
2012 one week of working and firing, Hibbing Community College, Hibbing, MN

2008 Altering thrown forms workshop, MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, MN

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2012-2018 current-Ceramic Artist

2011 Studio technician and resident artist at Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale CO

2010 Teaching assistant and studio technician, Ceramics, Bemidji State University

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2018
AKAR Yunomi Invitational, Clay AKAR, Iowa City, IA
Last Call 3 National, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN
Ware/Wear A Show of Cups and Jewelry, Pocosin Art Center, Columbia, NC
“SIP” A Cup Show, Savannah Clay Community, Savannah, GA
International Cup Show, Clay Arts Vegas, Las Vegas, NV

2017
Mug shots 8 , National Cup Show, LUX Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE
Holiday Invitational, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Alumni Art Show, Talley Gallery, Bemidji Sate University, MN
First annual cup show, Eye of the Dog Art Center, San Marcos, TX
Last Call 2 National Show, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN

2016
The Clay Cup “Canvas, Icon, Vessel”, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Miniatures, MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, MN
Pairings, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO

2015 Its Only Clay, Watermark Art Center, Bemidji, MN

2013 Three Jerome Artists, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN

2012
Place Makers Regional Dinnerware, MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, MN
Tea Bowl National, KC Clay Guild, Kansas City, MO
MacRostie Art Center Annual Juried Exhibition, Grand Rapids, MN

2011
Holiday Invitational, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale CO
Holiday Show, MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, MN
Resident Artist exhibition, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale CO (solo)
National Juried Cup show, Lux Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE
Tea Bowl National, KC Clay guild, Kansas City, MO
Pairings, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
Atmospheric Fired National, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO

2010
Holiday invitational, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale CO
Tea Bowl National, KC Clay guild, Kansas City, MO
4th Foot in the Door Exhibition, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
10 th Annual National Juried Cup Show, Kent University, Downtown Gallery, Kent, OH
Steins, Pints, and Plates, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
Landscape Sculptures, invite group show, MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, MN
College Collective, Greenwich House Pottery, New York, NY

2009
Influenced Altered, MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, MN (solo)
Influenced Altered senior exhibition, Talley Gallery, Bemidji State University (solo)
Recent Works by Nathan Bray, Brigids Cross Irish Pub, Bemidji, MN (solo)

2008
It’s Only Clay National Juried Exhibition, Bemidji Community Art Center, Bemidji
MacRostie Art Center Annual Juried Exhibition, Grand Rapids, MN

2007
MacRostie Art Center Annual Juried Exhibition, Grand Rapids, MN
International Wood Fire Conference Exhibition, Lake Superior College, Duluth MN

AWARDS AND HONORS
2018
Featured Potter, Minnesota Pottery Festival, Hutchinson, Minnesota
First Place Award, International Cup Show, Las Vegas, NV $200 award

2017 Individual Artist Fellowship Grant, Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, Duluth, MN

2015 Margaret Harlow Ceramic Collection, Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN

2012 Jerome Ceramic Artist Project Grant through the Northern Clay Center, MN

2011 Scholarship recipient, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass Village, CO

2010 Margaret Harlow Ceramic Collection, Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN

2009 Margaret Harlow Ceramic Collection, Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN

2008
3rd Place MacRostie Annual Juried Exhibition $175 award
Rick and Marcella Sherman Scholarship $2,700

2007 Presidential Award for 2000 hours of volunteer service for Empty Bowl fundraisers

GALLERY REPRESENTATION
Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Paramount Gallery, St. Cloud, Minnesota
SoHo Art Gallery, Hibbing, Minnesota
MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Kess Gallery, Ely, Minnesota
Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, Colorado
Taupe Gallery, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Watermark Art Center, Bemidji, Minnesota