Bio
I am a potter and a ceramic artist living and working in Toronto. I immigrated to Canada from my native Czechoslovakia, and took my first weekend course in pottery shortly afterwards. Subsequent employment in a production studio of Rick and Nancy Hilborn as well as working within MIT Art community when living in the USA deepened my infatuation with the material and led to explorations of form in stoneware and Raku.
A new direction of work came as a result of my professional experience as a therapist teaching mindfulness and meditation to clients with chronic pain. My interest in the grounding qualities of clay and its decorative and utilitarian function was replaced by deepening desire to capture states, emotions, moods and perceptions.
My educational background includes University of Massachusetts Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Ceramics, Sheridan College’s Crafts and Design Ceramics program, Art History studies at Harvard Extension School and a B.Sc. in Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto. I also completed one month residency in The International Ceramics Studio in Kecskemet, Hungary in 2016.
My work was exhibited with the, Ontario Craft Council, FUSION, The Carnegie Gallery, The Gardiner Museum and the Art Gallery of Hamilton and Star Store Gallery in New Bedford, USA. I am also a recipient of a 2014 Craft Ontario Award.
CV
Education:
2023 University of Massachusetts, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Ceramics, USA
2014 Sheridan College Craft and Design, Ceramics; Oakville, Ontario
2010 George Brown College, Drawing Certificate; Toronto, Ontario
2000 University of Toronto, Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy, Toronto, Ontario
Solo Exhibitions:
2021 Spring Tapestry, Gardiner Museum Shop Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
2015 No Two Alike, MonTon Window Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
Selected Juried and Invitational Group Exhibitions:
2024 Next, Hamilton Potters Guild Biennial, Carnegie Gallery, Dundas, Ontario
2023 5 Geographies, Star Store Gallery, New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
2022 Confluence, Gardiner Museum Shop Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
2020 Altered Elements, Hamilton Potters Guild Biennial, Carnegie Gallery, Dundas, Ontario
2019 Vessel Elaboration, Co Space Gallery, Craft Ontario, Toronto, Ontario
RetroActive, Carnegie Gallery Retrospective, Dundas, Ontario
Fireworks 2019, Fusion Clay and Glass Association Biennial, two year travelling exhibition, Ontari
2018 Sanguine, Mississauga Potters Biennial, Mississauga Living Arts Centre, Mississauga, Ontario
2017 Celebration, Gardiner Museum Shop Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
Carnegie Craft ‘17, Carnegie Gallery Biennial, Dundas, Ontario
Craft Ontario ’17, Craft Ontario Biennial, Toronto, Ontario
2016 Revitalize, Gardiner Museum Shop Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
2015 The Bowl Show, Gardiner Museum Shop Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
Fireworks 2015, Fusion Clay and Glass Biennial Exhibition, two year travelling exhibition, Ontario
Carnegie Craft ‘15; Carnegie Gallery Biennial Exhibition, Dundas Ontario
2014 Materialize, Craft Ontario, Toronto, Ontario
Awards and Commissions:
2020 Craft Ontario Award, Altered Elements, Hamilton Potters Guild Biennial exhibition
2018 Spectrum Award, Sanguine, Mississauga Potters Guild Biennial Exhibition
2015 Best in Ceramics Award, Carnegie Craft ’15 Carnegie Gallery Biennial Exhibition
2014 Tuckers Pottery Supplies Grant, Craft Ontario Award of Merit
2013 Ceramic Wall Installation (Art Sale); commissioned by Art Gallery of Hamilton, Ontario
Reviews and Articles:
Parkinson, Kamille (2013). “Clay Journeys: Explorations in Clay”. Fusion: Magazine for Clay and Glass; Autumn 2013, volume 37, number 3,6-7.
Read, Heather (2013). “All of These Things are Part of Me: Multicultural Potters in Canadian Landscape”. Fusion: Magazine for Clay and Glass; Autumn 2013, volume 37, number 3,18-20.
Cox, Janet (2012). “Parallel Journeys: Two Mentorships”. Fusion: Magazine for Clay and Glass; Autumn 2012, volume 36, number 3,8-11.
Selected Professional Experience:
2024 Altered Perception, Residency at Watershed Centre for Ceramic Arts, Maine, USA
2023 - present, Ceramic Instructor, Toronto Potters Studio, Toronto, Ontario
2018 - present, Ceramic Instructor, Adult Education, Toronto District School Board, Ontario
2019 Mentorship Program Participant with Susan Low-Beer, Toronto, Ontario
2019 Ceramic Instructor, Spiral Garden Camp, Bloorview Kids Hospital, Toronto Ontario
2014 - 2018 Toronto Potters, Biennial Exhibition Chair, Gardiner Museum Shop Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
2017 Professional Ceramics Workshop with Anton Reijnders, Burlington, Ontario
2016 Residency at The International Ceramics Studio Kecskemet, Kecskemet, Hungary