Artist: Nicole Rene Woodard
Nicole Rene Woodard, WISCONSIN
I am inspired by questions that do not have clear answers. My search for self has been my most challenging inquiry. Being raised between two military career households presented both flux and constancy throughout my childhood. Traumas that I have endured have shaped and haunted me, from losing a sibling to emotional manipulation. My practice explores my deep-rooted vulnerabilities without embellishment or apology. I view my identity as a combination of differing perspectives and experiences, coexisting with lived traumas through both consciousness and dreams. Through drawing and sculpture, I make human representations that reveal human resilience. Juxtaposing different materials and processes represents how human experience is not singular, rather, it is a spectrum of varying modes of being, perspectives, identities, and memories.
Nicole Rene Woodard is an interdisciplinary sculptor from southeastern Wisconsin. She earned a Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics from the University of Kansas in 2021. In 2017, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. Nicole was awarded the Foundation Residency at Belger Crane Yard in Kansas City, MO in 2021. During 2020, she completed short term residencies at Penland School of Crafts and the Hambidge Center for Creative Arts and Sciences. From June 2017-2018, she was the artist-in-residence/intern at James May Gallery in Algoma, WI. Nicole has been exhibiting nationally and has received awards for her artwork, including Best in Show for “Self Portrait” from the Southern Miss Ceramics National in 2020, and the Brosseau Art Award for “Hesitant” from the Spencer Museum of Art in 2021.
Education
2021 Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 2017 Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI Residencies
2021-2022 Foundation Residency, one year, Belger Crane Yard, Kansas City, MO
2020 Residency, two-week residency at Hambidge Center for Creative Arts and Sciences, Rabun Gap, GA
Winter Residency, two-week residency at Penland School of Craft, Penland, NC
2017-2018 Intern/Resident Artist, James May Gallery, Algoma, WI
Solo Exhibitions
2021 Into the Void, Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, Kansas City, MO
Strange Being, Art and Design Gallery, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022 TBA, Belger Crane Yard Studios, Kansas City, MO
Yunomi Invitational, Clay Akar, Iowa City, IA
Plant Playground: A Planter Show, Kansas City Urban Pottery, Kansas City, MO
Deliberate Reverie, Beco Flowers, Kansas City, MO
Respire, Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX
Belger Crane Yard Studios Artists in Residence, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO
Platter Project 2.0, Lawrence Art Center, Lawrence, KS
2021 Faculty Exhibition, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS
14th Annual Contemporary Figurative Show, Hillard Gallery, Kansas City, MO
Restoring & Redefining the Body, Spencer Museum of Art, Lawrence, KS
2020 Southern Miss Ceramics National, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, Juror: Richard Notkin
A Ceramic Exhibition, The In Art Gallery, www.theinartgallery.com, Juror: Mathew McConnell
Bloom Fest: Head Outside, Powell Gardens, Kingsville, MO
The 23rd San Angelo National Ceramic Competition, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, TX, Juror Jo Laura
Small Favors, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, Jurors Leila Cartier and Jennifer Zwilling All the Way Home, Art and Design Gallery, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Paper and Clay Exhibition, Utah State University, Logan, UT, Juror Jessica Brandl
2019 Between the Coasts, Art and Design Gallery, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Materialize: A Survey of Emerging Artists Working in Clay, Art and Design Gallery, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
The New Cool: Emerging Regional Artists, Mark Arts Center, Wichita, KS
Paper and Clay Exhibition, Utah State University, Logan, UT, Juror Yoonmi Nam
KU/UI Graduate Exchange, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
2018 2018 Arts Council Juried Exhibition, City Arts, Wichita, KS, Juror Rebecca Hoyer Art of Water II, James May Gallery, Algoma, WI
Woman Made Midwest, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL, Juror Deb Flagel
2017 Figure Exhibition, Var Gallery and Studios, Milwaukee, WI, Juror Josh Hintz Woven Images, Kenilworth 3rd Floor Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
BFA Exhibition, Kenilworth 3rd Floor Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
Academic Teaching Experience
2021 – Present Instructor of Record, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS
2D Concepts(1 term) and Drawing I (2 terms), Ceramics I (2 terms), Ceramics II-IV (1 term) 2018 – 2021 Instructor of Record, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Fundamentals of Ceramics (5 terms), Hand Building (1 term)
Non-Academic Teaching Experience
2021 – Present Instructor, Belger Crane Yard Studios, Kansas City, MO
2017 – 2018 Instructor, Clay on Steele, Algoma, WI
Wheel throwing and private lessons
2014 – 2017 Instructor, Studio Arts and Craft Centre, Milwaukee, WI
Wheel throwing and Hand building
2016 Teaching Assistant, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI Introduction to Ceramics
Instructor, College for Kids, Milwaukee, WI
Summer camp workshops for ages 4-18
2015 – 2016 Instructor, Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI
Hand building and throwing for children 4-13, summer camp workshops for children 4-13
Presentations
2022 Artist Talk and Demonstration, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 2020 Artist Talk, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
2019 Artist Talk, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Awards
2021 Summer Funding, awarded to support material needs at upcoming residency and workshops by the University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Brosseau Art Award, Restoring & Redefining the Body awarded by the student advisory award, Spencer Museum of Art, Lawrence, KS
Research Project Grant, awarded to support MFA thesis research for Strange Being, funded by the University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
2020 Best in Show, Southern Miss Ceramics National awarded by Richard Notkin, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
Windgate Scholarship, awarded by Arrowmont School of Crafts and University of Kansas to fund workshop tuition and travel
2019 Presidential Scholarship, awarded by Anderson Ranch Arts Center and University of Kansas to fund workshop tuition and travel
Burrows Scholarship, awarded by the University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
2018 Geier Scholarship, awarded by the University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Top 10 Award, 2018 Arts Council Juried Exhibition awarded by Rebecca Hoyer, City Arts, Wichita, KS
Professional Activities & Experience
2022 Juror, 53rd Annual Citation Show, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO
2021 Juror, Loomings, Student Publication, Visual Art and Photography, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS
2020 Social Media Coordinator, Graduate Art Association, Lawrence, KS
Juror, Hambidge Center for Creative Arts and Sciences, Rabun Gap, GA
2018 – 2020 President/Secretary, KU Ceramics Club, Lawrence, KS
2018 Volunteer, Ceramics Symposium, Lawrence Art Center, Lawrence, KS 2017 Juror, Shanty Days Craft Fair, Algoma, WI
Organizer, Art in Small Spaces at The Haven, Algoma, WI
2015 – 2017 Art and Design Representative, Black and Gold Committee, Milwaukee, WI President, Ceramic Art Students Association, Milwaukee, WI
Volunteer, Milwaukee Empty Bowls, Milwaukee, WI
2016 Workshop Assistant, Jeremy Hatch Workshop, Charles Allis Museum, Milwaukee, WI Designer and Fabricator, Rishi Tea Holiday Tea ware, Milwaukee, WI
Designed and created 100 teacups.
Fabricator, Milwaukee Art Museum Pieper Gallery Project, Milwaukee, WI
Fabricated iPhone case for Ray Chi’s Teen Lab project.
2013 – 2015 Member, Ceramic Art Students Association, Milwaukee, WI
Catalogs and Publications
2021 Transitions Feature, Ceramics Monthly Magazine
2020 The 23rd San Angelo National Ceramic Competition, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, TX, Juror Jo Laura
Affiliations
2021-Present ArtAxis.org, Member, Online artist network of ceramic artists
2020-Present ClayCrits, Organizer, Online resource for emerging artists
2014-Present National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, Member