Nolan Baumgartner, ILLINOIS
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I focus on making work that can be used comfortably and easily. I want my work to vaguely reference some sort of thing you’ve seen before, but you’re not quite sure where. The surface is defined with arches, ellipses, and “lotus” petals that I render in slips and glaze. The patterns are mapped out based on the golden ratio, and by repeating and flipping simple math equation graphs, certain Asian or Middle Eastern motifs emerge. After the precise formation and decoration, the elements and atmosphere of the soda kiln complete the work. Ultimately, the interaction of the glazes, slips, and fire obscure, yet enhance, the preconceived cogency of the patterns.

CURRENT POSITION
2016-2017 Artist in Residence. Lillstreet Art Center. Chicago, IL.

EDUCATION
2004 Master of Fine Arts, Ceramics, Cranbrook Academy of Art.

2001 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ceramics Emphasis, University of Utah.

RESIDENCIES/ASSISTANTSHIPS/STUDIO POSITIONS
2016-17 One-Year Artist Residency. Lillstreet Art Center. Chicago, IL.

2015-16 8-Month Residency. Armory Art Center. West Palm Beach, FL.

2014 6-week Residency (July/August). The Clay Studio of Missoula. Missoula, MT.

2001 Summer Class Assistant, Full-Summer position, Peter’s Valley Craft Education Center, Layton NJ. Skills include assisting various artists from all over the country and students from all age groups. Duties include loading and firing kilns, mixing glaze, mixing clay, basic studio maintenance.

2000-01 Artist Assistant for Brad Taylor, Salt Lake City, UT. Duties include assisting in fabricating a support structure for, and installation of, a large public sculpture in the South Towne Exposition Center in Sandy, UT.

2000-01 Artist Assistant for Kathleen Royster, Salt Lake City, UT. Duties include assisting in fabrication of and installing sculpture for the 2001 Scripps Annual Invitational at Scripps College, Claremont CA.

2001-2002 Winter Resident. Peter’s Valley Craft Center. Layton, NJ.

2001 Summer Studio Assistant, Half-Summer position, Peter’s Valley Craft Center, Layton, NJ.

2000-01 Studio Manager, Kimball Art Center, Park City, UT.

2000 Studio Assistant, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.

1997, 1998 Summer Apprenticeships for Thanos Johnson, Marble, CO.


COLLEGE LEVEL TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2013-2015 Assistant Professor (Lecturer) in Ceramics and Foundations. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.

2006-2013 Associate Instructor, beginning-advanced, major and non-major wheel-thrown pottery, beginning-advanced hand-built ceramics, glaze calculation, and 3-D foundations. Up to 4 classes/semester. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.

2007 Sabbatical Relief for Brian Snapp, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.

2003 Adjunct Instructor. Two summer accelerated semesters. Beginning Hand-built Ceramics. Oakland County Community College, Auburn Hills, MI.

OTHER TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2016-17 Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced wheel thrown pottery, Advanced Soda Firing. Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago, IL.

2015-16 Beginning wheel, Large forms, Raku, and High-Fired Surfaces classes. Armory Art Center, West Palm Beach, FL.

2012 Photography Workshop. Construction of an inexpensive soft box for shooting small- to medium-sized work. Photographic principles and concerns discussed. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.

2012 Soda Kiln Building Workshop. Design and build of a 26 ft3 downdraft soda kiln. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.

2008-14. Advanced Hand-built and Wheel-thrown ceramics. Community education classes, Kimball Art Center, Park City, UT.

2002 Raku-firing day workshop instructor, 3 classes, Peter’s Valley Craft Education Center, Layton NJ. Skills include teaching the basic concepts and history of the Raku process. The ages of the students range from 6th graders to middle-aged and retirees.

2001 Beginning Wheelthrown Ceramics, 2 Community Classes, Kimball Art Center, Park City, UT.

PUBLICATIONS
2017 (Upcoming) “Batter Bowls.” Potter’s Kitchen Feature. Pottery Making Illustrated.

2015 Image of “3 Jars.” Ceramics Monthly’s Guide To Materials and Glazes. Pg. 30, 31.

2015 “Soda Surfaces.” Ceramics Monthly’s Guide To Materials and Glazes. Pg. 147, 148.

2015 Annual Ceramics Monthly Poster. March 2015.

2015 The Clay Studio of Missoula promotional Poster. March 2015.

2014 Ceramics Monthly. Cover Image. December 2014.

2014 Ceramics Monthly. “Building Conversations.” Pg. 34-37,70. December 2014.

2014 Ceramic Arts 2015 Yearbook and Annual Buyers Guide. Short Term Residents section.

2013 American iPottery (ibook). Kevin A. Hluch publisher via Apple iBooks.

EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS
2017 (Upcoming) Yunomi Invitational. AKAR Gallery. Iowa City, IA.

2017 March Featured Artist. Lilllstreet Gallery. Chicago, IL

2017 “Mugshot Monday.” Lillstreet Gallery. Chicago, IL

2017 “Functional Roots.” Solo Show. Clay Arts Vegas. Las Vegas, NV.

2016 “Workhouse Clay International.” First Place. Juror Jack Troy. Lorton, VA.

2016 “Cup: The Intimate Object XII.” Charlie Cummings Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC.

2016 “2016 Artist In Residence Show.” Armory Art Center Annex. Lake Worth, FL.

2016 “Last Call.” Companion Gallery. Humboldt, TN.

2016 “Art Junction.” Presented by Urban Arts Lofts, in partnership with Art Synergy and Art Palm Beach. Lake Worth, FL.

2016 “Beyond The Brickyard.” Archie Bray Foundation. Helena, MT.

2016 “To Set The Table.” Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts. Gadsden, AL.

2015 “Cup: The Intimate Object XI.” Charlie Cummings Gallery. Gainesville, FL. Invitational.

2015 “New & Now.” Greenfield Gallery. West Palm Beach, FL.

2015 “Serve It Up!” Best In Show. Clay Arts Vegas. Las Vegas, NV.

2014 “New Narratives.” University of Utah Department of Art and Art History Faculty Show. Utah Museum of Fine Arts. Salt Lake City, Ut.

2014 “Cup: The Intimate Object X.” Charlie Cummings Gallery. Gainesville, FL. Invitational

2014 Solo Show. Art Access Gallery. Salt Lake City, UT.

2014 “Distilled Essences II.” Charlie Cummings Gallery. Gainesville, FL. Invitational.

2013 “Unwrapped.” LUX Center For the Arts. Lincoln, NE.

2013 “Riding the Wave: 30 Years Firing the Peters Valley Anagama.” Sally D. Francisco Gallery. Layton, NJ.

2013 “Medalta’s First Annual Cup Show”. Medalta. Medicine Hat, AB, CA.

2013 “12th Annual National Juried Cup Show.” Kent State University Downtown Gallery. Juried.

2013 “La Mesa” (NCECA conference). Presented by Santa Fe Clay. Holiday Inn Express. Houston, TX.

2013 “Artists of Utah’s 35x35.” Finch Lane Gallery. Salt Lake City, UT. Juried.

2013 “Biomimicry.” Art Access Gallery. Salt Lake City, UT. Juried.

2012 “Clay Arts Utah Summer Group Show.” Patrick Moore Gallery. Juried.

2012 “Cups of Fire-National Ceramic Cup Competition.” The Clay Gallery. Ann Arbor, MI.

2011 “Peter’s Valley Clayworks: Selected Artists by Bruce Dehnert.” Invitational. Moscow Clay Works. Moscow, PA.

2011 “22nd Annual Teapot Exhibition: On The Road Again.” Juried. Chiaroscuro Galleries. Chicago, IL

2011 “National Juried Cup Show.” Juried. LUX Center For the Arts. Lincoln, NE.


2010 “Utah ’10: Mixed Media and Works on Paper.” Juror’s Award. Juried. Rio Gallery.
Salt Lake City, UT.

2009 “Utah Fine Craft and Photography.” Juried. Rio Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT.

2009 “MACRO micro.” Group Show. Garfo Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT.

2009 “Ancient Arts: Clay and Thread.” Group Show. Patrick Moore Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT.

2009 “Digging Local Clay.” Juried. Gittins Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT.

2008 “Intimate Wares.” Juried. Red Kiln Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT.

2007 “New Works by Nolan Baumgartner, Todd Christensen, and Stephanie Leitch.” Group Show. The Pickle Company, Salt Lake City, UT.

2006 “University of Utah Art and Art History Department Faculty Exhibition.” Utah Museum of Fine Art, Salt Lake City, UT.

2004 “Treasures from the Bling Dynasty.” Group Show. Forum Gallery, Bloomfield Hills, MI.

2003 “The GM Show.” Group Show. GM Design Center, Warren, MI.

2003 “Xchange.” Juried. Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.

2002 “Ceramics Wins.” Group Show. Forum Gallery, Bloomfield Hills, MI.

2002 “Winter Resident Group Show.” Peter’s Valley Craft Center. Layton, NJ.

2001 “Utah Crafts Annual.” Juried. Kimball Art Center, Park City, UT.