Below please find collections of Contemporary Artists I recommend:
1. Contemporary Ceramic Artists and Sculptors
In this collection that I have curated on the social media website, Scoop-It, I have gathered a
group of Ceramic artists working today. I feel these artists would be of interest to my high
school pottery class, since they are assigned to do both realistic and abstract sculptures. This
grouping has a large variety of both types of sculpture. I also wanted to include a good cross
section of both male and female artists, not only to be more equitable, but also because boys in a
high school class do not want to be forced to make work that does not feel “masculine” to them. I
found several contemporary male artists that I feel would really appeal to them, one is Richard
Notkin, that does these cool, edgy work with skulls and other references reminiscent of tattoo
work. Another male artist, Steve Wang, does work on monsters, aliens, and other creatures.
I also found a clay artist who creates sculptures of women’s dresses he designs. This could be a
crossover to my Fashion Design class as well.
I found several artists that deal with the interaction of Humans and Nature or the environment,
which is a topic I deal with extensively in all my classes. Two artists, Coe and Waito, create
exquisite jelly fish and spruce cones made of porcelain. There are several animal sculptors as
well. Another artist, Amanda Small, based her biomorphic abstract sculptures on nature and
science. I included a few artists who are inspired by their culture (local or ethnic), such as Nancy
Adams, who is inspired by Native American culture around where she lives, and she creates
Totem boxes. Since my class makes personal boxes as one assignment, this would be a new
interesting twist to add to it that would make it even more special. There is also Pueblo artists,
such as Cochiti, who are known for their Storyteller sculptures. I have had my eighth grade
create these in the past and now I can show them this artist’s work for additional resources. Another
example of an artist influenced by their culture is contemporary Japanese artist, Hayashi Shigeki, who
creates futuristic looking child-like sculptures that are based on Japanese cultural icons like manga.
An example of creating art with deeper meaning, and art that is a therapeutic release for the artist, would
be Susan Wortman. After surviving breast cancer herself, she began creating the female sculptures with
wings that represent that trans formative life event. This illustrates something I am always trying to instill in my
students.
Finally, I also have searched for and found several examples of abstract or non-representational sculptures. I
have my students make one of each, and I would like to have them do a clay head this year, so in addition to the
artists I have included a couple of tutorials in the folder that were pertinent. One sculptor makes smooth shapes
and forms, while another makes wavy organic undulating forms. Another artist makes fanciful, complicated abstract
forms and another has a funky, outrageous and frightening sculptures that look like a nightmare. The fascinating
array and variety of contemporary artists I discovered will be a great resource for me to use in future classes.
Contemporary Ceramic Artists Resources :
1. Adams, N. (2011). Nancy Y Adams · Clay Artist. Retrieved August 31, 2012 from www.nancyadams.net.
2. Canyon Art. (2008). Dorothy Torivio under Acoma Pueblo pottery, Southwest Indian pottery, Native American Pottery Retrieved August 31, 2012 from www.canyonart.com.
3. Canyon Country Originals. (2008). Southwest Indian Art- Cochito Pueblo. Retrieved August 31, 2012 from www.canyonart.com.
4. Ceramic and Pottery Arts Resources. (2012). Ceramic Décor Designs. Retrieved August 31, 2012 from www.veniceclayartists.com.
5. Chiru, M. (n.d.). Amazing Ceramic Art Combines Human and Nature Retrieved August 31, 2012 from www.frendz4m.com.
6. Fisher, D. (2008). Hayashi Shigeki Ceramic Art. Retrieved August 31, 2012 from www.highsnobiety.com.
7. Go Carving. (n.d.). Famous Clay Sculptor Steve Wang. Art gallery. Retrieved August 31, 2012 from gocarving.com.
8. Hidden Ridge Gallery. (2012). Mitchell Grafton - Octopus Jug. Retrieved September 2, 2012 from www.hiddenridgegallery.com.
9. Hulala. (2008). Richard Notkin Ceramic Art . Retrieved August 31, 2012 from hulala-hulala.blogspot.fr.
10. Learn Sculpture with Professional Sculptor, Charles Oldham. (2012). Sculpture Examples. Retrieved August 31, 2012 from www.learnsculpture.org.
11. Messenger, M. (n.d.) Messenger Ceramics. Retrieved September 2, 3012 from www.messengerceramics.com.
12. Ogihara, M. (n.d.). Mari Ogihara, Odalisque. Retrieved August 31, 2012 from www.mariogihara.com.
13. Red, K. (2007). Ceramic Artists: Alissa Coe and Carly Waito (aka Coe & Waito). Retrieved August 31, 2012 from whipup.net .
14. Small, A. (2011). Amanda Small Ceramic Sculpture Artist under Projects. Retrieved August 31, 2012 from www.amandasmall.com.
15. Wortman, S. (2010). Susan Wortman. In Sculpture. Retrieved August 31, 2012, from www.susanwortman.com
In addition to these contemporary ceramic artists which are also listed on ScoopIt:
http://www.scoop.it/t/contemporary-potters-and-ceramic-artists?page=1
I have also collected a vast amount of additional contemporary artists and clay artists on Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/mrstsphoto/contemporary-ceramic-and-clay-artists/
2. This list below is one I have made for my AP Studio Art students to research:
Good Contemporary Artists to Research
- Alexis Amann - paintings and cut paper installations http://alexisamann.com/home.html
- Amanda Smith- paintings from environmental photography http://amandasmithart.com/home.html
- Andy Vogt-photography using elements of art http://www.andyvogt.com/
- Caitlin Mitchell-Dayton- expressive large scale portrait paintings http://www.mitchell-dayton.com/cait/caitspaintings.html
- Chris Duncan- Oakland based artist Chris Duncan mines questions of optics, geometric abstraction, color theory, and dynamic patterning. Working in painting and collage, Duncan is about seeing, both literally and metaphorically, while questioning the objectivity of the visually tangible. Self reflection and perception are the guiding forces in the artist's current body of installations http://www.eliridgway.com/index.php/duncanworks/duncan-paintings-sculpture#9446-Duncan_japan11 or http://www.baileygallery.com/artists_02.cfm?fid=139
- Dan Tierney- airbrush on cardboard in galleries http://www.stevenwolffinearts.com/dynamic/artist_artwork.asp?ArtistID=239&Page=3
- David Dupuis -funky surreal mixed media collage http://derekeller.com/daviddupuis.html
- Dustin Fosnot- installation artist uses humble everyday material http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Dustin-Fosnot-s-fine-debut-at-Steven-Wolf-3264185.php
- Jared Lindsay Clark- By repurposing common objects, Clark produces sculptures that address contemporary social issues that bring about ideas of renewal and reparation as well as recycling. http://www.virginiamoca.org/jared-lindsay-clark
- Jeff Eisenberg- graphite drawings, paintings, and video http://www.jeffeisenberg.net/
- Jen Stark- sculptures made from paper, wood, and foamcore http://jenstark.com/#6
- John Casey-freaky slightly disturbing drawings, and paintings http://www.bunnywax.com/pencil/index.html
- Josh Keyes surreal, humorous paintings http://www.joshkeyes.net/paintings.htm and awesome peek into the artist’s sketchbook! http://www.joshkeyes.net/sketchbook.htm
- Jovi Schnell- painting, collage cutouts and wall works using bright colors and patterns http://www.jovischnell.com/_new2/gallery1.php
- Kyle Field- pen and ink illustrations and funky little weird objects http://www.kyledraws.com/index3c.html
- Liz Miller- abstract mixed media installations and drawings recontextualize simplified shapes, signs and symbols from disparate historical and contemporary imagery http://www.lizmiller.com/statement/
- Misako Inaoka- mixed media and found object sculptor http://www.misakoinaoka.com/
- Paul Wackers- abstract and surreal acrylic painter http://www.paulwackers.com/
- Ricky Allman- large scale, high impact, futuristic http://www.rickyallman.com/2010b.html
- Ryan Boyle- found objects and 3D sculptor http://www.stevenwolffinearts.com/dynamic/artist_artwork.asp?ArtistID=178&Page=4
- Ryan Browning- abstract artist concentrating on shape, emphasis and color http://www.ryanbrowning.com/recent.html
- Ryan Wallace- installation art, wall art made of Cheez-its http://www.ryanmwallace.com/dude-ranch/
- Todd Chilton- bold geometric color field paintings http://www.toddchilton.com/portfolio/2012sailsandwedges.html
- Will Yackulic- futuristic, sculpture and abstract prints http://www.artslant.com/global/artists/show/8697-will-yackulic