Clay, and the ceramic process, allows me to make a permanent record of what filters into my daily experience. A material which is both intimately connected to our humanity and can be made to take any form. Some of my work I’ve chosen to add surface treatments of glaze and underglaze to activate the surface such as atmosphere, rain, or weathering would. While other pieces I’ve chosen to leave bare fired clay to represent a crisp and maintained object.
As subject matter, I look to the ever developing landscape and phenomenon of progress, a shared human experience, relevant to the present and bound by history. I treat the mix of architectural ornament and engineered forms, exposed layers of earth, machinery, industrial fragments and discarded byproduct equally as iconography of advancing civilization. I am fascinated by the simultaneous accumulation of both new and old which overlaps itself as decades pass.
This visual information manifests itself as sculptural objects made along two veins. One is made from piles and stacks of bits and parts, sometimes layered like detritus, improvised and spontaneous. I prefer to remove what is immediately recognizable and use casually abstracted fragments to give the appearance of dismantled and reorganized.
The second vein includes a more specific reference to the wheel or gear, a ubiquitous symbol of engineering technology. Once built, however, I am presenting them as immobile, re-contextualized as trophies on display. Hard edge construction like steel pipes but translated into terra cotta, giving them a softer and more human identity.
Education
2006 University of Minnesota Department of Art Minneapolis, Minnesota
Master of Fine Arts, Ceramics Minor, Art History
2001 Northern Michigan University Department of Art and Design Marquette, MichiganBachelor of Fine Arts, Ceramics
Teaching Experience
2012-Present Gustavus Adolphus College, Saint Peter, Minnesota
Visiting Assistant Professor
2013,15 University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Adjunct Faculty
2010 Minnesota State University, Moorhead, Minnesota
Sabbatical Replacement
2008-2009 Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts Helena, Montana
Community Class Instructor, Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced classe
Professional Experience and Grants
2016 McKnight Artist Fellowship Grant through the McKnight Foundation and the Northern Clay Center Artist Fellowship Program
2013 Guest Juror, Facilitator Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards, College of Visual Arts St. Paul, Minnesota
2009 The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts Helena, Montana
Artist in Residence, 2 years
The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, Montana
Studio and Facilities Technician-
Richard Notkin Ceramic Studio Artist, Helena, Montana
Studio Assistant
Myrna Loy Center for the Performing and Media Arts, Helena, Montana
Awarded “Artist Spotlight Grant”
2008 Workshop Assistant to Donovan Palmquist Kiln Building Workshop Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts Helena, Montana
2006 International Snow Carving Symposium in conjunction with the Festival de Voyageur Winnipeg, Manitoba
Solo and Two Person Exhibitions
2018 Scheduled Progress and Lamentations Solo Exhibition, Phipps Center for the Arts Hudson, Wisconsin
2015 Nicolas Darcourt, New Work Solo Exhibition, Waseca Art Center, Gallery L Waseca, Minnesota
Filterd Two Person Exhibition, Nicolas Darcourt, Lois Peterson Schaefer Art Gallery, Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter, Minnesota
2009 Harp Overt, Solo Exhibition, Myrna Loy Center for the Performing and Media Arts Helena, Montana
2008 Monument, Balance, Circumstance, Solo Exhibition University Center Gallery, The University of Montana Missoula, Montana
2007 Panoramic Fusion, Two Person Exhibition, work by Jonathan Bridges, Nicolas Darcourt Northern Clay Center Gallery A, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Group Exhibitions
2016 Open Door 12 Juried by Andrea Carlson, Rosalux Gallery Minneapolis, Minnesota “Artifact/Artifice I” stoneware, nylon twine, brazillian crate wood, “Artifact/Artifice II” stoneware, nylon rope, brazillian crate wood, “Artifact/Artifice III” stoneware, nylon twine, brazillian crate wood
Clay? VI Juried by University of Washington Ceramic Faculty, Kirkland Arts Center Kirkland, Washington “Artifact/Artifice I” stoneware, nylon twine, brazillian crate wood, “Artifact/Artifice II” stoneware, nylon rope, brazillian crate wood, “Artifact/Artifice III” stoneware, nylon twine, brazillian crate wood
Ceramics Exhibition Juried by Robert Harrison, Regional Exhibition in conjuction with NCECA 2016, Mulvane Art Museum Topeka, Kansas “New Habits” stoneware, underglaze, glaze
2015 River to River Juried by Bede Clark, Regional Exhibition in conjunction with Ceramic Conference, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa “Anecdote(Antedote)” stoneware, underglaze, glaze, underglaze transfer, “Blue Gentian” stoneware, underglaze, glaze
Visions in Clay Juried by Lisa Reinertson LH Horton Jr. Gallery Stockton, California “Sarsasm etc…” stoneware, glaze, underglaze transfer
Abstraction in Action Juried Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Minnetonka, Minnesota “Anecdote(Antedote)” stoneware, underglaze, glaze, underglaze transfer
Aut Kem (pr) Out Come invitational, a collection of contemporary ceramic works created by a network of friends and colleagues in conjunction with NCECA 2015 Cellar Door Projects Providence, Rhode Island “Blue Gentian” stoneware, underglaze, glaze
Graphic Clay Juried, Baltimore Clay Works, Baltimore, Maryland “Color Sample Series, Corinthian” ” stoneware, glaze, underglaze, underglaze transfer 10”hx8”wx4”d
2014 Minnetonka Center for the Arts 2014 Biennial Juried Regional Group Show, Minnetonka, Minnesota “Sarcasm, etc…”, “Capillary Scribble”, “Billboard Veritas”, “Corbelo”, “Soft Footed”, “Lever”, “Canter One”, “Pastoral”
Contemporary Ceramics International Biannual-Clay & Context Juried by Ray Chen, Swope Art Museum-Halcyon Art Gallery Terra Haute, Indiana “Part 26 A” stoneware, glaze, underglaze, underglaze pencil, underglaze transfer paper
2013 Our Earth II, Juried Flow Art Space, St. Paul, Minnesota “Pastoral” stoneware, slip, glaze
Adjunct Faculty Show, Invitational Univerisity of Minnosota, Regis Cener for Art “Billboard Veritas” stoneware, slip, underglaze, glaze
2012 4th Biennial Concordia Continental Ceramics Juried by Sarah Millfelt, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota “Old Gin” stoneware, glaze, slip
Clay EVV Juried by Christyl Boger and Joseph Smith, The Arts Council of SW Indiana Evansville, Indiana “Corbelo” woodfired stoneware, slip, glaze “Soft Footed” woodfired stoneware, slip, ceramic ink stamps
Passages Pathways Portals Juried Flow Art Space, Minneapolis, Minnesota “Throat Clutch” stoneware, slip, glaze
2010 Red Heat: Contemporary Work in Clay, Juried by Adrian Arleo, Alexandre Hogue Gallery, University of Tulsa, Oklahoma “The Wide Open” stoneware, glaze “Ornamento” stoneware, glaze –Awarded Jurors Choice-
Jersey Shore Clay National, Juried by Mark Dean, m.t. burton gallery, Surf City, New Jersey, “Little Circus” wood fired stoneware, glaze
Soda Salt National V, Juried by Julia Galloway, The Clay Studio of Missoula, Montana “Wheel Barrow” salt fired stoneware, glaze, slips
Minnesota State University Moorhead Art Department Faculty Show, Hodo
Lounge Fargo, North Dakota “DeCornate” stoneware, glaze
Foot in the Door, Survey of Minnesota Artists, Minneapolis Institute of the Arts Minneapolis, Minnesota “Hand Study V” white earthenware, stains, glaze
2009 Archie Bray at the Kolva Sullivan Gallery, Kolva Sullivan Gallery “Shifted I”, “Shifted II” Spokane, Washington
2008 Archie Bray Residents Present and Past, Galaxie Gallery, Chicago Illinois “Proclivity Assignment (shifting)” terra cotta, glaze, stains
2007 2007 Jingdezhen International Contemporary Ceramic Exhibition
organized through Pottery Workshop, Jingdezhen, P.R. China “Horse and Rider”, “Horse and Rider II”, “Horse and Rider III” stoneware, glaze
2006 Below the 49th Parallel, Invitational, The Label Gallery Winnipeg, Manitoba “Ever Forward” terra cotta, glaze, concrete
Global Unity, in affiliation with Minneapolis Mosaic, Minneapolis, Minnesota “8 Sided Triumph” terra cotta, glaze, concrete
North American Graduate Art Survey, Nash Gallery, University of Minnesota Minneapolis “Temper Tantrum” terra cotta, concreate, glaze “Vigilant Id” terra cotta, concrete
Clay Bodies by Student Bodies, Hillstrom Museum of Art Saint Peter, Minnesota “Anonymous Gestures” terra cotta, glaze, concrete “Stacked” terra cotta, glaze, concrete
2005 Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Student Exhibition, The Clay Studio Philadelphia, Pennsylvania “Time Series III” stoneware ceramic, “My Drunken Id” terra cotta, glaze
2005 Beyond Borders, Off Beat Gallery Minneapolis, Minnesota “Please Remove your Shoes” unfired terra cotta, mixed media installation
2004 Fresh At Soapbox, No Name Exhibitions Soap Box Factory Minneapolis, Minnesota “Pompous Poodle” stoneware
College Bowl 1, The Northern Clay Center Minneapolis, Minnesota “Point of View” stoneware
2003 It’s Only Clay, Bemidji Community Arts Council Bemidji, Minnesota
“Potpourri Jars-set of three” stoneware
Celebrating the Figure, Lansing Art Gallery Lansing, Michigan “Kara’s Constellation” ceramics
Publications
2015 Sun Sailor April 27 “Abstraction in Action at Minnetonka Center for the Arts” Photo and Caption of Ceramic Sculpture by Nicolas Darcourt as part of exhibition
2009 Ceramics Monthly “Harp Overt” featured in Upfront Exhibitions and Reviews by Nicolas Darcourt volume 9 issue 4 pp. 22
2008 Ceramics Monthly Gallery Guide “Inverted Dandies circa 1908” white earthenware, glaze, stains” volume 56 issue 8 pp.74
2007 2007 China Jingdezhen International Contemporary Ceramic Exhibition “Horse and Rider II” white earthenware, glaze published catalog accompanying exhibition p. 151
2006 Ceramics Monthly “Clay Bodies by Student Bodies” by Donald Myers and Lois Peterson November issue pp. 35-37
Works in Private Collection
Midge and Jerry Golner, Phoenix, Arizona “Reclined Slide II” terra cotta, glaze, stains 15″h 2008
Jon and Paulette Satre, Helena, Montana “Reclined Slide I” terra cotta, glaze, stains 17”h 2008
Richard Bater, Spokane,Washington “Proclivity Assignment” terra cotta, glaze, stains 13”h 2008
Gallery Representation
Cellar Door Projects, Providence, Rhode Island, http://www.cellardoorprojects.com
