Artist: Stephanie Wilhelm

Stephanie Wilhelm,
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I find inspiration in the history of decorative ceramics moving beyond conventional function and form, creating union between shape, ornamentation, and story. One particular theme in my work uses narrative of the dog to communicate the internal sense of belonging and comfort
formed through companionship. These large decorative pieces are used not to convey a specific animal, but instead a feeling and our innate desire to belong. Aside from what dogs provide us emotionally in our current lives; within many canonic masterpieces they were essential to the meaning of the piece and depicted to symbolize protection, loyalty, and love.

The work I make requires a great deal of hand painting and I enjoy how ornamentation inspires me to ask questions about the relation between functional and decorative form. My most recent series is an exploration to express ideas of comfort and joy through form, pattern, and surface. I am interested in how the layers of pattern and texture can call attention to the piece, provide visual direction, and emphasize depth within its decorative surface. It is my hope that the work provides joy or a sense of nostalgia and comfort for those that experience it.

EDUCATION
2015-2018 MFA in Ceramic Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

2012 Certificate in Ceramic Arts, Hood College, Frederick, MD

2007 BA Visual Arts, Spanish Minor, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA

2005-2006 Visual Arts Studies, Universidad de Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico


TEACHING & WORKSHOP EXPERIENCE
2019-2020
Red Lodge Clay Center
Adult Ceramics (wheel and hand building)
Private lessons

2018-2019
Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, TN
ArtReach “Clay as Canvas”
Holiday Class “Cake Stands”
Wine Night “Painterly Plates”
Long Term Community Class “Pottery Bootcamp (small to large forms)”
Short Term Community Class “Hand built Teapots”

2018
ETSU, TN
Visiting Artist demonstration for students and community
Artist talk and panel discussion

2015-2018
University of Florida, FL
Instructor of Throwing Skills & Concepts (Spring 2018)
Instructor of Throwing for Non-Majors (Fall 2017)
TA for Advanced Ceramics (Spring 2017)
Instructor of Ceramics for Non-Majors (Fall 2016)
TA for Art Foundations course, teach three days a week, mentor students, maintain organization and discussions during class, grade sketchbooks and research papers
GA assistant studio monitor for Art Foundations course

2016 Summer
Appleton Museum of Art, FL
Summer clay class for ages 13-15
Throwing and hand building

2014-2015
Brockway Center for Arts and Technology, PA
Taught adult courses and mentored youth students in the ceramic arts
Volunteered at local high school teaching alongside art instructor

2011-2014
Frederick Clay Studio, MD
Taught adult and children pottery classes involving hand building and the potter’s wheel up to 4 classes a week

2010
Xepocol, Guatemala
Traveled 2 weeks abroad to a small village in Guatemala assisting in the mission to build a ceramic community
Taught adults and school children pottery techniques; fired a kiln, and created glazes


RESIDENCIES & WORK STUDIES
2019-2020
Red Lodge Clay Center, MT
Long Term Artist in Residence

2018-2019
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, TN
Artist in Residence

2016
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, TN
Summer work study Scholarship

2014-2015
Brockway Center for Arts and Technology, PA
Artist in Residence
Maintained studios, organized and set exhibitions, assisted visiting artists
Taught adult and afterschool ceramics classes
Volunteered assisting high school ceramics teacher

APPRENTICESHIPS/ORGANIZATIONS
2016-2017
UF H.O.T. Clay (Ceramics Student Organization), FL
Executive at Large
Funding requests, Visiting Artists planning, hosting, and funding

2013-2014
Joy Bridy, WV Assisted in firing Bourry Box wood kiln
Cleaned and organized studio, chopped and stacked wood, prepared for firings
Helped in preparation for open studio and sales, gave tours, and sold work
Worked alongside artist to develop my work, studio knowledge, and artistic skills


WORK EXPERIENCE
2019-2020
Red Lodge Clay Center
Gallery (customer service, photography, inventory, shipping)
Studio Maintenance (technician assistant)
Education (adult ceramic classes, private lessons)

2018-2019
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, TN
Gallery (condition reports, installs, shipping)
Studio assistance and inventory
Instructor (community classes, outreach, kids classes)

2011-2014
Frederick Clay Studio, MD
Shop and ceramic studio assistant
Taught adult and children pottery classes involving hand building and the potter’s wheel
Assisted with classes, events, and organization and tasks of the studio


EXHIBITIONS
2020 Rocky Mountain College, MT. Red Lodge Clay Center Artists in Residence.
North Western College, WY. Red Lodge Clay Center.
St. Tammany Art Association, LA. Contemporary Clay: Image and Form. Invitational. Curated by Jeremy Jernegan.

2019 Edwardsville Arts Center, IL. Raise A Toast. Invitational.
Charlie Cummings Gallery, FL. Cup: The Intimate Object XV, Invitational.
Signature Gallery, GA. Stephanie Wilhelm. Solo Exhibition.
Carbondale Clay Center, CO. Clay National XIV Nature Reconsidered: Reimagining the Natural World Through Ceramics, juror Trey Hill.
AMACO, NCECA 2019 MN. AMACO 100 YEARS: Think Outside the Jar, Invitational.
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, TN. Not a Metaphor. 2018-2019 Artists in Residence Exit Show.
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, TN. Sevier County Biennial, juror Sarah Stanley.

2018 Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, TN. The Softest Touch.
Knoxville Emporium Center, TN. Private Residence.
Charlie Cummings Gallery, FL. Cup: The Intimate Object XIV, Invitational.
ETSU, TN. Up the Gravel Path, Curated by Lindsay Rogers
Pottery Northwest, WA. UnWedged, juror Julia Galloway
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, TN. 2018-2019 Artists In Residence Exhibition
The Clay Studio, PA. The Clay Studio National Biannual, juror Beth Ann Gerstein
Charlie Cummings Gallery, FL. The Functional Canvas III, Invitational
Western Colorado Center for the Arts, CO. Contemporary Clay 2018, Juror Doug Casebeer
The Clay Studio, PA. Small Favors 2018, Juror Lauren Mabry
NCECA, PA. National Student Juried Exhibition, Jurors Sam Harvey and Martina Lantin
Pocosin Arts, NC. Ware/Wear, Juror Doug Peltzman
University of Florida Grinter Gallery, FL. H.O.T. Elements, Invitational
Rivers Studio & Gallery, WV. The Soul-Full Cup, Invitational
Clay Center of New Orleans, LA. Clay as Canvas, Juror Chandra DeBuse

2017Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts, TX. Clay on the Wall National Juried Exhibition, Juror Glen R. Brown.
Charlie Cummings Gallery, NC. Cup: The Intimate Object XIII, Invitational
4Most Gallery, FL. Graduate Student Invitational, Invitational
University of Florida, FL. FACC Juried Arts Exhibition, Juror Sean J. Donaher, UF Provost’s Purchase Award
Cedar Key Arts Center, FL. Re-Generation. Invitational

2016
University of Florida, FL. Cera-Mix : Ceramics Graduates of UF, Curator and Presenter
College of Fine Arts at Wuhan Textile University, China, Wuhan International Exchange. Invitational
University of Florida, FL. UF Currents: Domestic Design, Juror Heather Mae Erickson
Savannah Clay Community, GA. SIP: A Ceramic Cup Show, Juried

2015
The Academy of Fine Arts, VA. The Battle of the Bowls, Juror Ellen Shankin, Award for best “Surface Decoration”
Baltimore Clayworks, MD. Graphic Clay: A Survey of Illustrated, Printed & Innovative Surfaces, Juror Jason Bige Burnett
MWSU School of Fine Arts, MO. Twin Cups National, Juror Steven Hill
Slippery Rock University, PA. Nu Contemporary, Invitational
The Workhouse International, VA. Drink This! Juror Phil Rogers

2014
Brockway Center for Arts and Technology, PA. Something In Common, Artists in Residence

2012
Cooley Gallery, MD. The Cup Show, Juried
Hood College, MD. Behold, Graduate Show

COLLECTIONS
Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts
Beth Cavener
Aardvark Clay
Brockway Center for Arts & Technology


AWARDS & PUBLICATIONS
2020 Wellness For Makers
Podcast interview “Get The Most Out Of Your Clay with Stephanie Wilhelm”

2019 Ceramics Monthly October Issue Clay Culture: More or Less
Featured artist in article written by Dick Lehman.

2018 NCECA National Student Juried Exhibition
Aardvark Clay Purchase Award
NCECA Journal (Volume39)
NCECA 2018 Fellowship Reports, “Buon Fresco”

2017 NCECA Graduate Student Fellowship
13th Nationally competitive grant. NCECA’s purpose is to promote and improve the ceramic arts through education, research and creative practice. Proposed project for the use of $2,000.00 toward researching the application of fresco to ceramic forms and traveling to the Ortolan Studio of Traditional Fresco Painting in Venice, Italy.

Center for European Studies Graduate Student Travel Grant
The CES grant is a university wide award for travel to Europe in order to pursue research, or to present work at a scholarly conference or workshop. Proposed project for the use of $1750.00 toward funding my extended travel and research throughout Italy in order to further my knowledge of Buon Fresco and the European Arts.

University of Florida Juried Arts Exhibition Provost’s Purchase Award
Coordinated by the University of Florida Fine Arts College Council includes graduate and undergraduate student works selected by juror Sean J. Donaher. The Provost’s Purchase Award was a received $500 for a Buon Fresco piece and will continue to be displayed at the University of Florida.

Jerry Cutler Graduate Student Travel Award
Provides a graduate student funding in support of travel

2016 University of Florida College of the Arts, FL. In the Loop: Ceramics MFA Candidate Awarded Fellowship for Fresco Research
Article and interview on my receival of the NCECA Graduate Student Fellowship towards my travel in Italy for my research on the application of fresco to ceramic forms.

2014 Brockway Courier Express, PA. Sharing Their Skills: Front page review and image of work

2013 Frederick News Post, MD. Open House Showcases work of West Virginia, Frederick Potters: Review and image of work

2012 Frederick News Post, MD. Frederick Artists’ Work Speak to Sense of Touch: Review and image of work

WORKSHOP ASSISTANT
2018 Paul Andrew Wandless, Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts

2017 Sam Harvey, Gainesville, FL

2014 Gerry Dinnen, Brockway, PA
Brian Sommerville, Brockway, PA
Matthew Gaddie Brockway, PA

2013 Kristen Keiffer, Frederick, MD
Dick Lehman, Frederick, MD
Kevin Crowe, Frederick, MD
Jack Troy, Frederick, MD

2012 & 2013 Catherine White, Frederick, MD

2012Linda Arbuckle, Frederick, MD
Ellen Shankin, Frederick, MD


SKILLS
Technical Skills- Wood Firing, Reduction Firing, Oxidation Firing, Buon Fresco Painting
Professional and Educational Skills- Community Outreach, Mentoring of Youth, Event and Exhibition Planning, Higher Education, Gallery experience
Foreign Language- Fluent in Spanish