My work combines, parts, pieces and fragments into sculptural accumulations. The over-all forms I create exist as abstractions of the evidence of progressing society. This is an expression of a shared human experience, relevant to the present and bound by history. Inventory of an ever developing psychological and physical landscape. I therefore, focus on a mix of architectural ornament, exposed layers of earth, engineered forms, discarded byproduct and fragmented industrial parts. I am fascinated by the simultaneous accumulation of both new and old which overlaps itself as decades pass.
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. As a companion to society, it owns a historicity like almost non-other. Mixing media with store bought, found, and re-purposed materials creates a context of the present. Some physical connections among the parts are meant to seem temporary.
Further, these accumulations of visual information undermine a linear sense of recognition. By attempting to create an appearance of constant dismantling and reorganizing, structure and improvisation, the familiar elements and shape relationships are continually overshadowed by uncertainty and ambiguity. I’m inviting my viewer to build, re-examine, deconstruct, then rebuild their own conclusions.
Education
University of Minnesota Department of Art Minneapolis, Minnesota
Master of Fine Arts, Ceramics Minor, Art History
Northern Michigan University Department of Art and Design Marquette, Michigan Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ceramics
Teaching Experience
2012-Present Gustavus Adolphus College, Saint Peter, Minnesota
Visiting Assistant Professor Department of Art and Art History
- Beginning Ceramics-Handbuilding, Wheel Throwing
- Advanced Ceramics-Handbuilding, Wheel Throwing
- 2D/3D Studio Foundations
- Lab Coordinator, Manage Schaefer Art Gallery, safety and effectiveness of studio classrooms, work study students
2013- 2016 University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Lecturer – Department of Art
- Beginning Ceramics-Handbuilding, Wheel Throwing
- Intermediate Handbuilding
2010 Minnesota State University, Moorhead, Minnesota
Sabbatical Replacement
- Beginning Ceramics
- Intermediate Technical Ceramics-Materials analysis, Mold making/Slip casting, and Kiln Firing Techniques
2008-2009 Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts Helena, Montana
Community Class Instructor, Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced classes
2006 Graduate Ceramics Instructor University of Minnesota Department of Art Minneapolis, Minnesota
2005 Graduate Drawing Instructor University of Minnesota Department of Art Minneapolis, Minnesota
Professional Experience, Grants, Workshops
2019 Following the Evidence, Artist Talk/Panel Discussion in conjunction exhibition Signals and Echoes, Nicolas Darcourt, Visiting Assistant Professor in Art Gustavus Adolphus College, Lois Peterson, Professor Emerita in Art Gustavus Adolphus College, Thomas Lafaro, Professor of Mathematics Gustavus Adolphus College, Scot Bur Professor of Chemistry Gustavus Adolphus College, Topic – The intersection of Art and Science regarding process, creativity, and intuition
Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant
To create a body of ceramic sculptural work which expresses the accumulation of cultural iconography; using new plaster molds. This work will be exhibited at the Carnegie Art Center in Mankato in Fall 2019.
2017 Demonstration Workshop as part of McKnight Artist Fellowship Grant Northern Clay Center Minneapolis, Minnesota
Looking and Learning, panel discussion with Kosmas Ballis, McKnight Artist in Residence based on ceramic objects from participant’s personal collection, Northern Clay Center Minneapolis, MN
2016 McKnight Artist Fellowship re-granted by the Northern Clay Center Artist Fellowship Program
2013 Guest Juror, Facilitator Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards, College of Visual Arts St. Paul, Minnesota
2011 – 2018 Minnesota Clay Plymouth, Minnesota
Part Time-Product and Materials Technician
2009,2008 Artist in Residence
The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts Helena, Montana
2009 Richard Notkin Ceramic Studio Artist, Helena, Montana
Studio Assistant
Myrna Loy Center for the Performing and Media Arts, Helena, Montana
Awarded “Artist Spotlight Grant”
Ceramic Demonstration Workshop Montana State University Bozeman, Montana
2008 Studio and Facilities Technician
The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts Helena, Montana
Workshop Assistant to Donovan Palmquist Kiln Building Workshop Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts Helena, Montana
Ceramic Demonstration Workshop Trackside Studio Spokane, Washington
2006 International Snow Carving Symposium in conjunction with the Festival de Voyageur Winnipeg, Manitoba
Solo and Two Person Exhibitions
2019 Signals and Echoes, Two Person exhibition Nicoals Darcourt, Lois Peterson Carnegie Art Center, Mankato, Minnesota
Form Surface Pattern Repeat, Two-Person exhibition with Nicolas Darcourt, Joe Christensen, Concurrent Exhibition with NCECA Claytopia, Joe Christensen Studios Hopkins, Minnesota
2018 Progress and Lamentations Solo Exhibition, Phipps Center for the Arts
Hudson, Wisconsin
2017 McKnight Fellowship Exhibition Two Person Exhibition Nicolas Darcourt, Sheryl McRoberts Northern Clay Center Minneapolis, Minnesota
2015 Nicolas Darcourt, New Work Solo Exhibition, Waseca Art Center, Gallery L Waseca, Minnesota
Filtered Two Person Exhibition with 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
2019 Form and Abstraction, Organized by Nicolas Darcourt, Work by five ceramic artists from the Upper Midwest Region who use Abstraction as a means to express content, Concurrent Exhibition with NCECA Claytopia, Schmidt Artist Lofts St. Paul, Minnesota
Object Lessons, invitational, University of Minnesota Department of Art Ceramics Lecturers Group Exhibition, Concurrent Exhibition with NCECA Claytopia, Regis Center for Art (West Gallery) Minneapolis, Minnesota
2018 Visions in Clay Juried by Beth Ann Gerstein LH Horton Jr. Gallery Stockton, California “Shape Derivative Study III” Stoneware, Underglaze, Glaze, Twine, Repurposed Crate Wood
2017 Open Door12 Juried by Andra Carlson, Rosalux Gallery Minneapolis, Minnesota
“Artifact/Artifice I” stoneware, nylon twine, brazilian crate wood, “Artifact/Artifice II” stoneware, nylon rope, brazilian crate wood, “Artifact/Artifice III” stoneware, nylon twine, brazilian crate wood
Beauty in Chaos Juried, Squirrel House Arts Minneapolis, Minnesota
“Due Papi” stoneware, underglaze, glaze
2016 Clay? VI Juried by University of Washington Ceramic Faculty, Kirkland Arts Center Kirkland, Washington “Artifact/Artifice I” stoneware, nylon twine, brazilian crate wood, “Artifact/Artifice II” stoneware, nylon rope, brazilian crate wood, “Artifact/Artifice III” stoneware, nylon twine, brazilian crate wood
Juried Ceramics Exhibition Juried by Robert Harrison, Regional Exhibition in conjunction 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 “Sarcasm 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
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
2017 Ceramics Monthly November Issue “Clay Culture, Minneapolis-St. Paul City Guide” article compiling venues and resources of ceramics and the arts by Nicolas Darcourt
2015 Sun Sailor “Abstraction in Action at Minnetonka Center for the Arts” Photo and Caption of Ceramic Sculpture by Nicolas Darcourt as part of exhibition, April 27
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
Nicolas Darcourt 