Artist: William McComb

William McComb, KENTUCKY
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In an era of ever accelerating consumption, when our experiences are growing
more ephemeral, solitary, and disposable I am committed to objects that feel solid in their physicality. As utilitarian objects I hope that they can bring a sense of humanity and expression to user’s daily rhythms. My pots grow from a formal balance of strength and grace, curve and angle,
stasis and movement. Built for daily life, but made to entice the eye and hand, they strive to be both sturdy and visceral. Through gestural mark-making, my works are imbued with an ever-present sense of touch, a trace of the human hand. Possessing a directional energy, gestural marks in the soft clay suggest change, movement, and excitement. These marks offer a reminder that another human has reached out through material to serve, support, and enrich your daily life.
Matte glaze surfaces amplify underlying textures through dynamic strata of color and finish. They reveal rather than obscure. The combined effect of surface and glaze reminds me of the atmospheric colorfields of abstract painting where process and material are revealed through successive and intermingled layers of color and mark. With dynamic surfaces not designed to offer concrete interpretations, my pots are meant to be slowly contemplated and explored, not rapidly consumed. Serving steadfastly, they hope to become lifelong companions.

Education
2020 MFA (candidate) in Ceramics, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
2010 BA in Art Studio, emphasis in Ceramics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

Professional Experience
2017- Present Graduate Assistant (in Ceramics Area), University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
● Make clay and fire work for all beginning students.
● Provide technical and aesthetic guidance to beginner, intermediate, and
advanced undergraduate students
● Assist in building two sprung arch gas kilns
2015 - 2017 Ceramics Resident, Lighthouse ArtCenter, Tequesta, FL
● Load and fire all bisque and glaze kilns
● Mix glazes
● Provide regular maintenance for electric and gas kilns
● Inventory and order materials for studio
● Organize and maintain a clean studio environment
● Build catenary arch gas soda kiln
● Teach classes to all experience levels of adult students
● Plan and teach 10 week summer clay camp for kids aged 6-12

Exhibitions
2020 AKAR Yunomi Invitational 2020, Invited Artist, CLAYAKAR, Iowa City, IA
2020 Contemporary Clay National Biennial 2020, Juried by: Bill Van Gilder (Studio
Potter), Western Colorado Center for the Arts, Grand Junction, CO
2020 7th Central Time Ceramics Juried Exhibition, Juried by: Doug Jeppeson
(Associate Professor of Art/Ceramics at Waubonsee Community College in
Sugar Grove Illinois), Bradley University Galleries, Peoria, IL
2020 International Cup 2020, Juried by Sunshine Cobb (Studio Potter), The Clay
Center of Missoula, Missoula, MT
2019 Raise a Toast, Juried by Mark Arnold (Studio Potter), Edwardsville Art Center,
Edwardsville, Illinois
2019 Material Mugs IV, Juried by Ian Childers (Professor of Ceramics at Mississippi
University for Women in Columbus, MS), Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN
2019 Cup: The Intimate Object XV, Invited Artist, Charlie Cummings Gallery,
Gainesville FL
2019 Strictly Functional Pottery National Show, Juried by Malcolm Mobutu Smith
(Associate Professor of Ceramic Art at Indiana University), Kevin Lehman
Pottery, Lancaster, PA
2019 FunctionFest 2019, Juried by Adam Field (Studio Potter), Clay Center of New
Orleans, New Orleans, LA
2019 Working Pots IV, Juried by Nick DeVries (Studio Potter), James May Gallery,
Algoma, WI
2019 NCECA National Student Juried Exhibition 2019, Juried by Steven Young
Lee (Resident Artist Director of the Archie Bray Foundation) and Linda Lopez
(studio artist), Soo Visual Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN
2019 Last Call IV, Juried by Carol Epp (Studio Potter/Sculptor), Companion Gallery,
Humboldt, TN
2019 Sip: A Ceramic Cup Show, Juried by Liz Zlot Summerfield (Studio Potter),
Whitefield Center, Savannah, GA
2018 Green, Verde, Vert, Juried by Molly Casey (Studio Chief), Core Gallery,Denver, CO
2018 Material Mugs III, Juried by Renee Lopresti (studio potter), Companion Gallery,
Humboldt, TN
2018 Sculpted and Small, Juried by William Depauw (Professor of Practice,
Ceramics, Tulane University) Clay Center of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
2018 Almighty Cup, Juried by DJ Hellerman (Curator, Everson Museum, Syracuse
University), Gandee Gallery, Fabius, NY
2018 The Clay Cup IV: Vessel, Icon, Canvas, Juried by Ayumi Horie (studio potter),
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
2018 Cup: The Intimate Object XII, Juried by Charlie Cummings (studio potter, gallery owner), Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
2018 NCECA National Student Juried Exhibition, Juried by Martina Lantin and
Sam Harvey (studio potter and ceramics sculptor), Pittsburgh Center for the
Arts, Pittsburgh, PA
2018 The Mississippi College Art Competition, Juried By Dan Brawner (Professor
of Art, Watkins College of Art), University of Mississippi Museum, Oxford, MS
2018 Last Call III, Juried by Brett Kern (ceramic studio artist), Companion Gallery,
Humboldt, TN
2018 On the Rocks, Juried by Pete Pinnell (Professor of Art, Ceramics, UNiversity of Nebraska, Lincoln), Pewabic, Detroit, MI
2018 International Cup 2018, Juried by Sue Tirrell (studio potter), The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
2017 Working Pots II, Juried by Birdie Boone (studio potter), James May
Gallery, Algoma, WI
2017 Out of the Ashes, Juried by Matt Schiemann (studio potter), Morean Center for Clay, St Petersburg, FL
2017 Vessels: Interpretations and Iterations, Juried by Bill Wilkey (studio potter),
MANTLE Gallery, Louisville, KY
2016 Irons in the Fire, Juried by Justin Rothshank (studio potter), Companion
Gallery, Humboldt, TN
2016 The Clay Cup: Vessel, Icon, Canvas, Juried by Dan Anderson (studio potter),
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
2016 Coffee and Clay, Juried by Noah Riedel (studio potter), Pottery Northwest,
Seattle, WA
2016 Working Pots I, Juried by Simon Levin (studio potter), James May Gallery,
Algoma, WI
2013 Cambellsville University Anagama Pottery Exhibition, Juried by Davie
Reneau (studio potter), Cambellsville, KY
2010 University of Kentucky Senior B.A. Show, Group Exhibition, Lexington, KY

Awards/Scholarships
2019 Third Place, Raise a Toast, Juried by Mark Arnold, Edwardsville Art Center,
Edwardsville, IL
2019 Purchase Award, purchased by The George School, Strictly Functional Pottery National 27, Lancaster, PA
2019 Sheryl Bulgrin Award, Working Pots IV, Juried by Nick DeVries, James May
Gallery, Algoma, WI
2018 Studio Potter Merit Award, NCECA National Student Juried Exhibition, Pittsburgh, PA
2018 Juror’s Award for Superior Achievement in the Ceramic Arts, The Mississippi
College Art Competition (juried exhibition), Oxford, MS
2010 Higher Education Partners Program Scholar, Penland School of Crafts,
Bakersville, NC, July 2010

Publications
2018 “Reinvention and Uncertainty”, Studio Potter, Summer/Fall 2018, Vol 46 No 2, 51-52
(Part of the Studio Potter Merit Award)