Artist: Renee Lopresti

Renee LoPresti, TEXAS
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Ceramics have always provided me with continual exploration of imagery, composition and form in a way that can be painterly, sculptural, and intimate all at once. Through the use of personable and playful imagery, these functional pots are intended to become integrated within the user’s daily life and hopefully provide deeper connections that are unique to each individual.

My wheel-thrown vessels are a simple forms designed for comfort and function. A series of colorful rectilinear blocks and patterns are layered on the surface to create composition. This series of translucent layers creates a visual depth, but also refers to how the human mind can abstractly store memories. Some details fade while others are more prevalent all whilst existing in the same physical space.

Graphic images of everyday objects such as paper airplanes, houses, and chairs are used to remind us of the temporal nature of human existence. Referencing memory and time through layers, I further explore the human condition through the lens of common objects and their relations to one another within the composition.

It is my intention for these pots to encourage personal narratives to emerge that can continue into the conversations of the viewer's everyday life. Through the use of images that are connected to what the viewer already knows; their experiences and my experiences can come together and the images serve as the trigger.

Education
2009
Bachelor of Fine Arts & Art History Minor. The New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred
University. Alfred, NY.

Solo & Two Person Exhibitions
2019
‘Self-Titled Exhibition’ : Companion Gallery. Humbodlt, TN.
2018
‘Decorative Narratives’. River Oaks Square Art Center. Alexandria, LA.
‘Self-Titled Exhibition’ : Companion Gallery. Humbodlt, TN.
2017
‘Self-Titled Exhibition’ : Companion Gallery. Humbodlt, TN.
2016
‘Who, What, Ware’ Exhibition with Robert Sheldon. Dog’s Eye Gallery. San Marcos, TX.

Group Exhibitions
Upcoming 2020
‘Our Lives in Clay’. Charlie Cummings Gallery, FL. Invited Artist.
‘100 Women - 100 Years’. The Clay Studio, PA. Invited Artist.
‘Margarita Cup Invitational’. Companion Gallery, TN. Invited by Curator Brett Kern.
‘Collaborative Companions’. Companion Gallery, TN. Invited Artist.
2020
‘Ware, Wear’. Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft, NC. Invited by Juror Mark Arnold.
‘Last Call V’. Companion Gallery, TN. Invited by Juror Naomi Clement.
2019
‘Cup: The Intimate Object XV’. Charlie Cummings Gallery. Gainesville, FL. Invited Artist.
‘Material Mugs: Cobalt’. Companion Gallery. Humbodlt, TN. Invited by Juror Ian Childers.
‘Good Things Come in Small Packages’. Flower City Art Center, NY. (Juror).
‘Companion Gallery: NCECA’. Crowne Plaza Hotel. Minneapolis, MN. Represented Artist.
‘Yunomi Invitational’. Clay AKAR. Iowa City, IA. Invited Artist.
‘Last Call IV’. Companion Gallery. Humbodlt, TN. Invited by Juror Carole Epp.
‘3rd Annual Mug Show’. The Hudgens Center. Duluth, GA. Invited by Juror Roberto Lugo.
‘Friends of the Juror: Dirty South Mug Show’. River Oaks Square, LA. Invited by Juror Doug Peltzman.
2018
‘Collaborative Companions’ NCECA. Union Project, PA. Invited Artist.
‘Americano Invitational’. Clay AKAR, IA. Invited Artist.
‘Cup: The Intimate Object XIV’. Charlie Cummings Gallery, FL. Invited Artist.
‘Companion Gallery: NCECA’. Union Project, PA. Represented Artist.
‘Last Call III’. Companion Gallery, TN. Invited by Juror Brett Kern.
‘2nd Annual Mug Show’. Dog’s Eye Gallery, TX. Juror Kurt Anderson.
‘Material Mugs III: Underglaze’. Companion Gallery, TN. (Juror)
‘Texas Clay Arts Association Six Pack Show’. Coop Gallery, TX. Juror Randy Hall.
‘Yunomi Invitational’. Clay AKAR. Iowa City, IA. Invited Artist.
‘Pop-Shop’. Asher Gallery. The Center for Contemporary Craft. Houston, TX. Invited Artist.
‘The Functional Canvas III’. Charlie Cummings Gallery. Gainesville, FL. Invited Artist.
‘The Image & The Vessel: A Survey of Contemporary Pottery’. Lawrence Arts Center.
Lawrence, KS. Invited Artist.
2017
‘Americano Invitational’. Clay AKAR. Iowa City, IA. Invited Artist.
‘Yunomi Invitational’. Clay AKAR. Iowa City, IA. Invited Artist.
‘Belger Holiday Exhibition/Book’. Belger Crane Yard Studios. Kansas City, MO. Invited Artist.
‘Pour it On!’ National Exhibition. Ceramics Monthly. September Issue. Panel Jury.
‘Cup: The Intimate Object XIII’. Charlie Cummings Gallery. Chapel Hill, NC. Invited Artist.
‘Ornaments in the Studio’. The Clay Studio. Philadelphia, PA. Invited Artist.
‘Almighty Cup Show’. Gandee Gallery. Fabius, NY. Invited Artist.
‘Texas Clay Arts Association Six Pack Show’. Rockport, TX. Juror Luis Katz.
‘NCECA Expo Hall’ Gandee Gallery. Portland, OR. Invited Guest Artist.
‘Tea: The Ritual and the Art’. Plough Gallery. Tifton, GA. Juror Mark Errol.
‘3rd Annual Dirty South Mug Show’. River Oaks Square. Alexandria, LA. Juror Matt Long.
‘Small Favors: Think Inside the Box’. The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA. Panel Jury.
‘Last Call II’. Companion Gallery. Humboldt, TN. Juror Jen Allen.
‘Sip! A Ceramic Cup Show’. Savannah Clay Community. Savannah, GA. Panel Jury.
‘Mornings With…’. Brick Ceramic Studio. Cleveland, OH. Invited Artist.
2016
Cup: The Intimate Object XII. Charlie Cummings Gallery. Chapel Hill, NC. Invited Artist.
Belger Holiday Exhibition/Book. Belger Crane Yard Studios. Kansas City, MO. Invited Artist.
Good Things Come in Small Packages. Flower City. Rochester, NY. Juror Doug Peltzman.
The Cup, The Mug. Main Street Arts Gallery. Clifton Springs, NY. Juror Peter Pincus.
2nd Annual Friends of River Oaks. River Oaks Square. Alexandria, LA. Panel Jury.
The Clay Cup. The George Bingham Gallery. Columbia, MO. Juror Daniel Anderson.
‘Earth, Water, Fire: The Art of the Mug.’ NCECA. Phoenix Gallery. Lawrence, KS.
‘Winterfest’. Baltimore Clayworks. Baltimore, MD. Invitational.
‘Irons in the Fire’. Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN. Juror Justin Rothshank.
‘Roadrunner Cup Show’. Roadrunner Ceramic Supply. San Antonio, TX. Invited Artist.
‘2nd Annual Mug Show’. River Oaks Square. Alexandria, LA. Juror Kristen Kieffer.
‘Drink Me’. Mariani Gallery. Greeley, CO. Juror Sebastian Moh.
Ninth Annual Cup Show: Form & Function. Amelia Center Gallery. Panama City, FL. Juror
Carole Epp.
‘Texas Clay Arts Association Six Pack Show’. Coop Gallery. San Angelo, TX. Juror
Howard Taylor.
‘21 st National Ceramic Competition’. Museum of Fine Arts. San Angelo, TX. Juror Christy
Johnson.

Professional and Teaching Experience
Upcoming 2020
Layered Surface: Two-Day Hands-On Workshop. Eye of the Dog Art Center. San Marcos, TX.
The Layered Surface: Five Day Hands-On Workshop. Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft, NC.
The Layered Surface: Two Day Hands-On Workshop. The Clayroom San Francisco, CA.
2019
The Layered Surface: Two-Day Hands-On Workshop. Clay by the Bay. San Francisco, CA.
Workshop Presenter: Two-Day Hands-On. East Mitchell Clay. Humbodlt, TN.
The Multi-Layered Surface for Mid-Range Firing. Six-Day Hands-On Workshop. Sugar Maples
Center for Creative Arts. Maplecrest, NY.
Presenting Artist: NCECA Expo Hall Demonstration. Speedball Art Products, MN.
Demonstrating Artist. Companion Gallery. Crowne Plaza Hotel. Minneapolis, MN.
Layered Surface I: Two-Day Hands-On Workshop. Eye of the Dog Art Center, TX.
Layered Surface II: Two-Day Hands-On Workshop. Eye of the Dog Art Center, TX.
Lecture and Two-Day Hands-On Workshop. Waubonsee Community College. Sugar Grove, IL.
Presenting Artist: Two-Day Demonstration and Lecture. Texas Tech University. Lubbock, TX
Annual Clay Conference: Two-Day Demonstrator. First City Arts Center. Pensacola, FL.
2018
Presenting Artist. Two-Day Demonstrations and Workshop. Oklahoma University, OK.
Layered Surface: Two-Day Hands-On Workshop. The Wedge Ceramics Studio, Reno, NV.
Presenting Artist: NCECA Expo Hall. Speedball Art Products. Pittsburgh, PA.
Demonstrating Artist. Companion Gallery & The Union Project. Pittsburgh, PA.
Layered Surface I: Two-Day Hands-On Workshop. Eye of the Dog Art Center, TX.
Layered Surface II: Two-Day Hands-On Workshop. Eye of the Dog Art Center, TX.
Workshop Presenter: Two-Day Hands-On. East Mitchell Clay, TN.
Layered Surface: Two-Day Hands-On Workshop. River Oaks Art Square Center, LA.
Presenting Artist. Two-Day Demonstration & Lecture. Slippery Rock University, PA.
2017
Presenting Artist. Two-Day Lecture and Demonstration. Collin College. Plano, TX.
Layered Surface I: Two-Day Hands-On Workshop. Eye of the Dog Art Center, TX.
Invited Demonstrator: Surface Techniques. Texas Clay Festival. Gruene, TX.
The Layered Surface : Two-Day Hands-On Workshop. Botbyl Pottery. Humboldt, TN.
The Layered Surface and Beyond: Four-Day Hands-On Workshop. Northmount Pleasant Arts
Center. Calgary, AB.
2016
Lecture and Demonstration. The University of Texas at San Antonio. San Antonio, TX.
Invited Demonstrator: Surface Techniques. Texas Clay Festival. Gruene, TX.
Color and Pattern: Two-Day Hands-On Workshop. Eye of the Dog Art Center. San Marcos, TX.
2016- 2018
Gallery Coordinator. Dog’s Eye Gallery. Eye of the Dog Art Center. San Marcos, TX.
2010-2012
Gallery Assistant. Wimberley Glassworks and Gallery. Wimberley, TX

Juror Experience
2019
‘Good Things Come in Small Packages’. Flower City Arts Center. Rochester, NY.
2018
‘Material Mugs III: Underglaze’. Companion Gallery. Humboldt, TN.
2017
‘First Annual Mug Show’. Dog’s Eye Gallery. Eye of the Dog Art Center.
San Marcos, TX.

Awards
2020
Best Decoration. ‘Last Call V’. Companion Gallery, TN. Juror Naomi Clement.
2019
Best in Show. ‘Material Mugs: Cobalt’. Companion Gallery, TN. Juror Ian Childers.
2017
2017 Emerging Artist. Ceramics Monthly Magazine. Page 40, May Issue. Panel Jury.
Best in Show. ‘Third Annual Dirty South Mug Show. River Oaks Square Arts Center.
Alexandria, LA. Juror Matt Long.
People's Choice Award. ‘Sip! A Ceramic Cup Show’. Savannah Clay Community, GA.
Third Place. Texas Clay Arts Association Six Pack Show. Rockport, TX. Juror Luis Katz.
2016
Best in Show. 2nd Annual Friends of River Oaks Exhibition. River Oaks Square, LA.

Scholarships
2016
Full Scholarship. ‘The Clay Continuum’. Eye of the Dog Art Center. San Marcos, TX.
2005-2009
Deans Scholarship. The New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred University. Alfred, NY.

Residencies
Upcoming 2020
Four-Week Artist in Residence. Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts. Maplecrest, NY.
2016-2019
Three-year Artist in Residence. Eye of the Dog Art Center. San Marcos, TX.

Articles: Online & Print
Upcoming 2020
Article for Studio Potter Journal. June Issue.
2017
Ceramics Monthly Emerging Artist. Ceramics Monthly Magazine. Page 40, May 2017 Issue.
2016
‘Monday Morning Eye Candy’. Musing About Mud Blog by Carole Epp. May 30, 2016
‘Color and Pattern’. Armadillo Clay Newsletter. Melissa Ragland. June 2016.
‘A Show of Artistry’. San Angelo Standard Times. page 8. April 15, 2016.
‘Inside the Artist’s Studio’. Guest Blogger for Main Street Arts Gallery. December 2016.