Artist: Sara Ballek
Sara Ballek, ILLINOIS
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ARTIST BIO
Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, Sara Ballek attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, where she earned a BFA in Ceramics in 2016. After graduating, she relocated to Asheville, North Carolina and became deeply involved in the local clay community there. While living in Asheville, she completed a five-year residency and assistantship and began her teaching career at Odyssey ClayWorks. She is currently based in Southern Illinois where she makes work from her home studio. Sara is known for her playful nostalgic pottery. Her work blends a deep-seated love for color, pattern, and texture with the functional aspects of ceramics, resulting in pieces characterized by bold patterns and vibrant color palettes inspired by the 1960s and 1970s. Sara was recognized as one of Ceramics Monthly’s 2023 Emerging Artists. In addition to her full time studio practice, she remains a dedicated instructor, teaching various community ceramics classes at the Paducah School of Art and Design along with traveling to teach surface design workshops.
ARTIST STATEMENT
The collective details in a space can create lasting impressions that may evoke memories from a specific time or place. The inventiveness of integrating form and surface in my work is often inspired by the visual elements from my recollection of physical envi- ronments. Memories of homes, gardens, familiar and foreign places. Texture, color, and pattern are the main components I hone in on when designing an object. I enjoy wheel-throwing as it allows for consistency and repetition, and later altering the form by pinching to add distinctive qualities to the object. Each piece becomes a canvas, as well as a puzzle. With the combination of techniques I incorporate in my work through tactile expression, using a wide array of color combinations, and various patterns, each piece made is one-of-a-kind.
Education:
2011-2016- BFA in Ceramics — Southern Illinois University, Carbondale,
Illinois
Exhibitions and Invitational Shows:
2026- Yunomi Invitational with Clayakar in Iowa City, Iowa.
2026- Mug Madness at Saltstone Ceramics in Seattle, Washington. Mug Madness is a single-elimination bracket-style tournament, where 64
mugs compete for the top prize and title of Mug Madness Champion. It is a juried competition that all doubles as a gallery show for the month of March.
2024- Odyssey ClayWorks Alumni Show at the NCECA Gallery Expo. A juried show for the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NECECA) that takes place in the expo hall for the conference. A group show of 18 alumni artists from Odyssey ClayWorks. Richmond, Virginia.
2023- Clayfest 2023; An annual holiday invitational exhibition of functional and decorative ceramics and jewelry featuring 23 artists from across the US. Saratoga, NY
2023- Contemporary Pattern; A ceramics invitational exhibition featuring various ceramic pieces by a group of artist using pattern a Companion Gallery in Humboldt, TN
2023- Ceramics Invitational at Blue Spiral 1; A ceramics invitational exhibition featuring a group of ceramic artists work at Blue Spiral 1, a gallery in Asheville, NC
2022- Summer Clay Jam 2022: A ceramics invitational exhibition featuring a group of five functional ceramic artists work at Charlie Cummings Gallery in Gainesville, FL
2022- Margarita Cup Invitational: A ceramics invitational exhibition featuring ceramic margarita cups curated by Brett Kern at Companion Gallery in Humboldt, TN
2021- Sweet Things: A ceramics invitational exhibition featuring candy dishes, cookie jars, or anything else used to hold sweet things at Riverside Pottery Studio in Cape Girardeau, Missouri
2021- CANDY SHOP: A delectable collection of work inspired by iconic candy colors at the Focus Gallery at Penland Gallery, Penland, NC
2020-2021 - Bloom: The Works of Sara Ballek and Amy Massey, an exhibition of current works curated by myself and Amy Massey at Ananda
West, Asheville, NC
2020- Featured artist in Lip, Body, Foot: A Cup Shaped Thing curated by Cat Sheridan and Lisa Belsky. (Invitational) Columbus, OH
2019- Featured artist at Chow Chow: An Asheville Culinary Event. (Invitational) Asheville, NC
Awards, Scholarships, & Grants:
2025- CERF+ Get Ready Grant. Received this grant thought CERF+ to help safeguard my studio, protect my career and prepare for emergencies. ($1,000)
2025- Etsy Disaster Emergency Relief Fund Grant. This grant is provided on behalf of CERF+ and Etsy to help artists recover from emergencies and disaster. This grant is eligible for any Etsy sellers who have experienced a federally declared disaster within the past year. ($2,000)
2024- CERF+ Emergency Relief Grant. CERF+ provided relief grants for craft artists affected by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina through direct emergency grants in fall of 2024 through their extended relief program. ($3,000)
2023- Ceramics Monthly Emerging Artist (featured in the March 2023 issue of Ceramics Monthly; annual contest with 21 finalists in 2023)
2019- Summer General Work Study Scholarship (Full tuition), Penland School of Craft, Penland, NC.
2015 & 2016- Windgate Charitable Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship ($1,500 & $2,000)
2015- Bullard Hardy Art and Design Award 2015-2016 ($6,000), Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Residencies and Related Work Experience:
2025- Invited to attended the Summer Residency Program at Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft in Columbia, NC.
2025- Attended “Pentaculum” at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Pentaculum is an invitation-only, weeklong retreat designed to provide artists with unfettered time & space to work alongside peers at Arrowmont in Gatlinburg, NC.
2021-2024- Founding member of Fire Pink Clay Collective, a ceramics collective in Alexander, NC consisting of four artists running our individual ceramics businesses and studios out of a shared space.
2019-2021- Resident Artist at Odyssey ClayWorks in Asheville, NC. This residency program provided me with access to a personal studio space which allows me to make work as a full time artist. I taught a broad dynamic of groups and individuals, helping with an array of events, worked a weekly shift contributing to keeping the studio running efficiently.
2017- 2019- Studio Assistant at Odyssey ClayWorks, Asheville, NC.
2017- Summer Resident Artist at Odyssey ClayWorks, Asheville, NC In this residency I helped coordinate and assist children’s summer camp for ten weeks. Shared the responsibilities of teaching children, maintaining a creative and safe space for children to come and learn. Processed all of the student work from start to finish. Had the opportunity to work on my own body of work and try new techniques.
2016 and 2017-Attended the Spring Independent Study course at Odyssey ClayWorks, Asheville, NC
2015-2016- Student Manager of the Vergette Gallery, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
2014-2016- Secretary of Southern Illinois University Clay Club, Carbondale, IL
2012- Saturday Young Artist Workshop (S.Y.A.W) Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL - Worked with young children in a classroom environment, teaching them different methods and approaches of creating through using different materials/putting together a children’s art display for a week and reception
Teaching: Classes & Workshops:
2017-Present- “Ready Set Throw” & “Clay Date” Taught one-time classes and events for kids, adults, special groups. Asheville, NC (2017-2024)
& Paducah, KY (2025-Present)
2025-Present- “Intro to Wheel Throwing” 8-week beginning wheel classes taught at Paducah School of Art and Design in Paducah, KY
2025-Present- “Beginning Ceramics” 8-week after school classes for kids ages 7-14 at Paducah School of Art and Design in Paducah, KY
2025 Summer- Lead three, one week long, kids classes as part of Paducah School of Art and Design’s Kids Summer Program. Classes ranged from all forms of hand-building and wheel throwing for ages 8-18.
2017-2024- Assisted and lead one night clay classes for “The Willows At Red Oak”, a women’s inpatient addiction treatment center, on many
occasions at Odyssey ClayWorks in Asheville, NC
2017-2024- Assisted and lead one night clay classes for “Red Oak Recovery”, a men’s inpatient addiction treatment center, on many occasions at Odyssey ClayWorks in Asheville, NC
2024 Summer- “Scratching the Surface” A 2-Day virtual workshop on surface techniques taught through Pocosin Arts School of Fine Crafts
in Colombia, North Carolina
2024 Spring- “Vibrant Vessels” An 8-week adult intermediate and advanced surface design and wheel throwing class at Odyssey ClayWorks in Asheville, NC
2024 Winter- “Throw and Alter” An 8-week adult class for intermediate to advanced students led by artist Gillan Doty. I was the teaching assistant for this class. At Odyssey ClayWorks, Asheville, NC
2024 Winter- “Family Class: Adventures In Clay With Sara Ballek”. An 8 week class for kids and their parent(s) covering an array of different projects from hand building to wheel throwing.Taught at Odyssey ClayWorks, Asheville, NC
2023 Summer- “Pots and Patterns” A 3-Day hand-building and surface design workshop at Woods Hall Studios. Two of the three days were dedicated to teaching adults. The third day was a children’s workshop with tile making and surface decoration. Madeline Island in La Pointe, Wisconsin.
2018-2023 Summer- Lead kids classes as part of the Odyssey ClayWorks Kids Summer Program in Asheville, NC
2023 Spring- “Colorful Cups” An 8-week adult intermediate and advanced wheel and surface design class with a focus on different styles of cups. Many surface design techniques were also taught in this course. Taught at Odyssey ClayWorks, Asheville, NC
2023 Winter- “Hand-building The Face and Figure” An 8-week adult class for all levels led by artist Katie Croft. I was the teaching assistant for this class. At Odyssey ClayWorks, Asheville, NC
2022 Winter- “The Enchanting World of Red Clay” A 2-Day hand- building and surface design workshop at Claymore Ceramics in Naples, FL
2022 Winter- “Function and Finesse” An 8-week adult intermediate and advanced wheel class with hand built components to alter wheel thrown forms. Many surface design techniques were also taught in this course. Odyssey ClayWorks, Asheville, NC
2021 Summer- “Colorful Compositions” An 8-week adult intermediate and advanced surface design, hand building and wheel throwing class co-taught with artist, Casey Engel at Odyssey ClayWorks, Asheville, NC
2021 Spring- “Workshop From Home” An interactive, online, all demonstration-workshop and webinar class hosted by Ceramic Arts Network.
2020 Summer- “The Realm of Red Clay” An 8-week adult intermediate and advanced surface design, hand building and wheel throwing class at Odyssey ClayWorks, Asheville, NC
2019 & 2020- Blue West Opportunities Group Home, lead a 4-week clay class focusing on working with adults with developmental intellectual and physical disabilities at Odyssey ClayWorks, Asheville, NC
2019 Fall- “Handmade Home Goods” Adult intermediate to advanced hand-building class. This session focused on larger forms. Odyssey ClayWorks, Asheville, NC
2019 Spring- “Scratching the Surface” Adult surface technique class at Odyssey ClayWorks, Asheville, NC
2019-2024- “Clay with Veterans” A ten week class occurring each spring and fall working with Veterans from the local community. Taught at Odyssey ClayWorks, Asheville, NC
2018 Fall- “Scratching the Surface” Adult surface technique class at Odyssey ClayWorks, Asheville, NC
2018 Spring- "Terra Flora" Adult Planter Design Class at Odyssey ClayWorks, Asheville, NC
2018-2024 Winter- Taught various Kids Winter Sessions at Odyssey ClayWorks, Asheville, NC
2017- Summer Resident Artist at Odyssey ClayWorks, Asheville, NC - Helped coordinate and assist children’s summer camp each week for ten weeks.
Publications & Interviews:
2026- Interviewed on “Between Two Ewers” with host, Mike Griffin.
2025- Featured article: “Community Rising” in The Studio Potter Journal. In this issue, Studio Potter reached out to numerous artists across North Carolina who were impacted by Hurricane Helene. Interviewed by Randi O’Brien.
2024- Featured article: “Meet Sara Ballek” in Canvas Rebel. Canvas Rebel is an online magazine that features stories about artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives.
2023- Featured on The Potters Cast episode #900 “The most listened to episodes of the past 100” with host, Paul Blais.
2022- Interviewed on The Potters Cast with host, Paul Blais.
2021- Featured work in The Beginner’s Guide to Wheel Throwing: A Complete Course for the Potter’s Wheel by Julia Claire Weber. (page 30,62,88,90,111)
2021- Featured work in Amazing Glaze Recipes and Combinations by Gabriel Kline. (page 79, 166, 169)
2020- Featured article: “Pinched and Patterned Tumblers” in Pottery Making Illustrated November/December 2020 issue (page 29-32), Westerville, OH. Written and photographed by: Sara Ballek.
2020- Featured artist in article: “Spotlight: Point of Connection” in an October issue of Ceramics Monthly (page 104), Westerville, OH.
2020- Interviewed on The Potters Cast with host, Paul Blais.
2018- Featured work in Amazing Glaze by Gabriel Kline.