CV
Ray Brown
Website: raybrownceramics.com
Instagram: @rlbrown1995
Education
2019 – 2022 Masters of Fine Arts, Ceramics, West Virginia University (WVU), Morgantown, WV Committee Members Shoji Satake, Robert “Boomer” Moore, Jen Allen, Jeffrey Moser, Kofi Opoku and Shalya Marsh
2014 – 2019 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major In Ceramics, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, Department Head Matt Long, with Honors from Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College
Professional Experience & Leadership
2022-Present Ceramic Instructor and Technician, Art Department, University of Mississippi, maintenance and supervision of all equipment, materials, inventory, and instructing classes
2022 Workshop and Firing Technician, Simon Levin, Virgil Ortiz and Mike Tavares at WVU Ceramics, Finished construction of tube wood kiln, Fabricated insulated stoke doors, extended chimney, prepped glazes, clay, wadding, established semi-private visiting artist space, assisted in loading, firing, and shut down procedures
2020 – 2022 WVU Production Assistant, Produce wares for two annual sales, skills with jigger jolly, ram press, mold making, sale organization, firing
2021 – 2022 President, WVU Clay Club, Reinstated official club status, organized visiting artist opportunities
Summer 2021 Studio Assistant, Julia Galloway, Missoula, MT, juliagalloway.com Throwing forms, kiln repair, glaze research, personal research
Summer Artist in Residence, University of Montana
Summer 2020 Resident Artist, Deer Shed Studio, Shoji Satake and Jen Allen’s Backyard Shed, during initial COVID outbreak, no regular school access
Summer Kiln Assistant, WVU, Hired on to tear down 4 medium to large hardbrick kilns, assisted in the installation of 5 Blaauw Kilns
Fall 2019 International Residency and Exchange Program, WVU Ceramics, Pottery Workshop, JDZ, Program Coordinator Shoji Satake, attended for all fall semester
Summer 2018 Studio Assistant, Chris Gustin & Gustin Ceramics LLC, Dartmouth, MA, gustinceramics.com. Studio renovation, fabrication, construction, tile production, glazing, personal research
Summer 2017 Slip Caster, Christopher Spitzmiller Inc, Manhattan, NY, NY, christopherspitzmiller.com, mold making, sales, production, personal research
Studio Technician, BKLYN Clay Studio, Brooklyn, NY, bklynclay.com
Mixing glazes, loading member work, studio management, personal research
2016 – 2018 Art Department Secretary, Department of Art, University of Mississippi
2015 – 2019 Mud Daubers Ceramic Organization, Ceramics Department, University of Mississippi
Summer 2015 Study Abroad, Florence University of the Arts (FUA), Florence, Italy
Teaching Experience
Fall 2024 - Present Beginning Ceramics 340, Instructor of Record
Fall 2022 - Present Intermediate Ceramics / Handbuilding 341/342 Stacked Class, Instructor of Record
2019 – 2022 Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, Shadowed and Taught Individual sections
Spring 2022 Foundations for Art Majors
Fall 2021 Drawing for Art Majors
Spring 2021 Ceramics Lead Production Assistant
Fall 2020 Intro to Ceramics for Non-Majors
Spring 2020 Intro to Ceramics for Non-Majors
Workshops, Lectures & Events
2024 Presenter, Zoom Artist Talk and Q&A, Westminster College Ceramics Department, coordinator Summer Zickefoose
Participant, Fall Woodfiring, University of Mississippi
2023 Participant, Equitable Hiring Practices Workshop, University of Mississippi
Participant, Fall Woodfiring, University of Mississippi
Participant, Spring Woodfiring, University of Mississippi
Participant, Spring Woodfiring, University of Mississippi
2022 Participant, WVU Inaugural Tube Kiln Firing, Simon Levin and Virgil Ortiz Workshop
Participant, Fall Woodfiring, University of Mississippi
Participant, Spring Woodfiring, University of Mississippi
Participant, Spring Woodfiring, University of Mississippi
2021 Presenter, WVU China Program, Freshman Elective Class, Professor Alison Helm, WVU Engineering Building, Morgantown, WV
2019 Lecturer, Learning Arts Center “Artist Lecture Series”, WVU China Program, Pottery Workshop, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, PRC
2015-2019 Participant, Woodfiring, University of Mississippi
Awards and Scholarships
2024 Award of Excellence, Cups of Contemplation, University of Southern Mississippi, Juror Tom and Elaine Coleman
Poster for Show, On The Daily Coffee and Tea, Studio & Gallery, Durango, Co, juror Lorna Meaden
Included in Poster, Southern Miss Ceramic National and Cups of Contemplation
Poster for Show, Margarita Invitational, Companion Gallery, Invitational
Promo Poster, Saratoga Clay Fest 2024
Watermark Art Center, Purchase Award, Margaret Harlow Collection, Bemidji State University
Included In Poster, Yellow Springs National, Juror Chris Staley
2019 Studio Potter Award, NCECA National Juried Student Show 2019, Minneapolis, MN
2016 Anderson Ranch Fellowship Scholarship
Provided assistance to attend one workshop at the Ranch
Solo Exhibitions
2025 Companion Gallery, Solo Show, Humboldt, TN, October (Upcoming)
2023 Companion Gallery, Solo Show, Humboldt, TN, October
Invitational and Group Exhibitions
2024 Helene Relief Exhibition, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN
Spring 2024 Exhibition, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN
Workhouse Ceramics BrewWorks Invitational Exhibit, Lorton, Virginia
Good Habit Pottery Co Pop Up, Richmond, VA
Margarita Invitational, Companion Gallery, Juror Brett Kern
Material Mug IX, Companion Gallery
Westminster College Group Show, Amelia Stamps, Sara Anderson and myself, Foster Art Gallery, New Wilmington, PA
Crafted for the Holidays, The Store at Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA
Last Call IX, Companion Gallery, Juror Andrew Clark
Saratoga Clay Fest, Schuylerville, NY
Companion Gallery Holiday Sale, Humboldt, TN
Cedar Creek Gallery 11th Annual CUPful Show, Creedmor, NC (Upcoming)
2023 Material Mug VIII, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN
2022 MFA Thesis Exhibition, West Virginia University
2021 Companion Gallery, Clay Siblings Holiday Benefit Exhibition, Invitational, Humboldt, TN
2019 BFA Thesis Exhibition, University of Mississippi
International Student Group Exhibition, Mufei Gallery, Pottery Workshop, WVU Ceramics Program, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, PRC
Juried Exhibitions
2024 Tea, Artspace, NCECA affiliated exhibition, Richmond, VA, Juror Mitch Iburg
Southern MS Cups of Contemplation, The University of Southern Mississippi Museum of Art, Hattiesburg, MS, Jurors Tom and Elaine Coleman
Southern MS Ceramic National, The University of Southern Mississippi Museum of Art, Hattiesburg, MS, Jurors Tom and Elaine Coleman
Wood, Soda, Salt, Department of Visual Art, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, juror Kait Arndt
On The Daily Coffee and Tea, Studio & Gallery, Durango, Co, juror Lorna Meaden
Functional Fall: Put A Lid On It, Clay Art Center, Port Chester, NY, Jurors Doug Peltzman and Jen Allen
Its Only Clay, Watermark Art Center, Bemidji, MN, juror Mark Lambert
Yellow Springs Ceramics National Exhibition, Chester Springs, PA, Juror Chris Staley
Seventeenth Annual Cup Show: Form and Function, Amelia Center Gallery, Panama City Florida, Juror Martha Grover
Spring Honors Art Showcase, Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, Powerhouse, Oxford, MS, Student and Faculty show, juried by students
Small Matters 2024, National Exhibition, Colorado Mesa University, 437Co Art Gallery, Juror Adam Hawk
A New Century: Ceramics Inspired by the Legacy of Art Deco, Rocky River Public Library and Cowan Pottery Museum, Rocky River, OH, Juror/Curator Greg Hatch
Small Works: An Element of Celebration, Sedona Arts Center
It’s The Little Things, Clay Studio Missoula, Juror Beth Lo
2023 Mississippi Clayworks, Blues in Clay, Juried Show, Tupelo, MS, juror Antoinette Badenhorst and Gail Morton
Wichita Ceramic National, Juried Exhibition, Ruben Saunders Gallery, Wichita, KS, Jurors Chotsani Dean and David Hiltner
Last Call VIII, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN, Juror Chanakarn Semachai
2021 Companion Gallery, Last Call VII, National Juried Exhibition, Humboldt, TN, Juror Tim Kowalczyk
George Caleb Bingham Gallery, The Clay Cup V: Vessel, Icon, Canvas, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, Juror Kevin Snipes
Annual Cup Show, The Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, MA, Juror Kelly Justice
Student Juried Show, WVU, Morgantown, WV
2019 NCECA National Student Juried Exhibition, Soo Visual Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN, Jurors Linda Nguyen Lopez and Steven Young Lee
2018 Strictly Functional Pottery National, Kevin Lehman Pottery, Lancaster, PA, Juror Ben Carter
Companion Gallery, Last Call III, Humboldt, TN, Juror Brett Kern
Student Summer Exhibition, Meek Gallery, Art Department, University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), Oxford, MS, Juror Justin Bowles, Christian Brothers University
2017 Savannah Clay Community, SIP: A Ceramic Cup Show, Savannah, GA, Jurors Anthony Debreceny, Kimberly Riner, and Keith Wallace Smith
Companion Gallery, Last Call II, Humboldt, TN, Juror Jen Allen
Juried Exhibitions - continued
2016 Barksdale Gallery, Water Rights Show, Oxford, MS, Coordinator, Virginia Rougon Chavis
Companion Gallery, Irons in the Fire, Humboldt, TN, Juror Justin Rothshank
2015 Student Summer Exhibition, Meek Gallery, Art Department, University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), Oxford, MS, Juror Michael Williams, Nicholls State University
Workshops / Lectures Attended
2024 John Balistreri, University of Mississippi
NCECA, Richmond, VA
2023 Mississippi Clay Conference, Tupelo, MS
NCECA, Cincinnati, OH
2022 Simon Levin and Virgil Ortiz, Woodfiring Workshop
NCECA, Sacramento, CA
John Balistreri, University of Mississippi
2021 NCECA, Virtual, Assisted WVU Booth
Indiana Clay Conference, Indianapolis Art Center, Indiana
2020 Brad Schweiger, WVU
2019 Resident Artist Lecture Series, Pottery Workshop, JDZ
Brad Schweiger, University of Mississippi
Linda Christianson and Simon Levin, Union University
2018 Matt Schiemann, University of Mississippi
NCECA, Pittsburgh
NCECA Preconference Workshop, Jen Allen, Debra Schwartzcopf and Kurt Anderson, West Virginia University
2017 Chandra DeBuse and Tommy Frank, University of Mississippi
NCECA, Portland
2016 Put A Lid On It, Kent McLaughlin and Suzie Lindsay, Anderson Ranch, attended via Merit Scholarship
Von Venhuizen, University of Mississippi
NCECA, Kansas City
2015 David Hiltner, University of Mississippi
Publications
2024 Ceramics Monthly Emerging Artist
Ceramics Monthly Process Article, Thrown and Altered Basket
Potterscast Interview, It’s a Lab, Paul Blais
The Holcad, The Westminster College Student Newspaper, “College art gallery features ceramic works from 3 artists”, September 30th, 2024
Studio Potter, Swinging Door Conversion, Kiln Archive, Published October 26th, Editor Randi O’Brien
2022 Mechanisms of Nourishment, MFA Thesis, West Virginia University
2019 Studio Potter Magazine, “Defining the Game” September issue, published by Studio Potter
Breath: Capturing Energetic Forms In Pottery, Undergraduate Honors Thesis, University of Mississippi