EMILY POTTS
BIO
Emily Potts (b. Houston TX, USA) is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice gives material form to invisible and chronic conditions. Emily’s research focuses on the relationship between the brain, the mind, and the body in processing and healing from trace memory. Her sculptures give material forms to her childhood memories, and she works in a wide variety of media, from traditional materials like ceramics and wood to unconventional materials like paper pulp and bubble gum. The unique sculptural forms she creates are made by hand to have strange and childlike qualities, so they are familiar but also strange and somewhat unsettling. Her work has been exhibited at notable institutions regionally and nationally such as New York Academy of Art New York, NY, Mid-South Sculpture Alliance’s Confab 2023 at the University of Oklahoma School of the Visual Arts, Norman, OK, the SAA Visual Arts Center, Springfield, IL, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights IL, and LHUCA, in Lubbock, TX. Emily graduated with her MFA in Sculpture in the Spring of 2022 from the University of North Texas in Denton, TX Emily now lives in Allentown, PA, and teaches at Muhlenberg College, she works as the Visiting Assistant Professor in Sculpture. Emily also created and manages a small business Farm Mouse Studio where she sells small jewelry works.
STATEMENT
Through my artmaking process I explore the relationship between the brain, the mind and the body through internal and external systems that regulate and process mental pressure and stress. I work to overcome the assumption that in order to heal something has to be completely resolved within the self. Instead, I offer that healing is an undescribed area, that is unmeasurable, and it is forever evolving and never finished. My overall vision for my work is to simulate the gesture and sensibility of a figure into systems that extend outside of the body but still allude to it. but in an unrealistic, imperfect, and nonfunctional way.
I utilize and experiment with a combination of materials from ceramics, steel, bronze, wood, and fibers to unconventional materials like paper pulp, gloop, and bubble gum. I simulate the gesture and sensibility of a nonfunctional body through a network of pipelines and plumbing fixtures. My piping system utilizes common items like the pressure valves, gaskets, and shutoff valves that respond to and regulate internal pressure. However, the system is disrupted and cannot seem to function properly. Instead the system demonstrates the effects of the stress placed on it through it's physical gesture.
CV
Emily Potts
713-614-3325
Currently lives and works in Allentown, PA
Education
2022 MFA, Studio Art concentration in Sculpture, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
2019 BFA, Studio Art concentration in Sculpture, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Professional Teaching Experience
2023-24 Visiting Assistant Professor (Full-Time), Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
-Sculpture I
-Advanced Sculpture (Sculpture II & III)
-Drawing I
-Advising faculty member CUE, senior capstone
-Independent Study
2022-23 Visiting Artist Lecturer and Gallery Coordinator (Full-Time), Graceland University, Lamoni, IA
-Special Topics, The Body as a Vessel
-Photography
-Sculpture
-Senior Capstone
2022 Remote Adjunct Instructor, Odessa College, Odessa, TX
-Art Appreciation (Remote)
2021-22 Teaching Fellow, University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design, Denton, TX
-Beginning Sculpture Traditional Methods
2021-22 Teaching Assistant, University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design, Denton, TX
- Professional Practice
-Pedagogy Course for Digital Methods Sculpture I
2019-21 Class Lab Instructor, University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design, Denton, TX
-Art 1900 Foundations
-Class Lab Instructor for Design II
-Class Lab Instructor for Drawing II
2017-18 Volunteer Teaching Assistant, The Art School at Laguna Gloria, Austin, TX
-Wood and Steel Fabrication
Selected Solo Exhibitions & Selected 2-3 Person Exhibitions
2024 TBD, Lightwell Gallery at the University of Oklahoma School of Visual Arts Norman, OK (Upcoming)
TBD, 1996, Soft Machine Gallery, Allentown, PA (Upcoming 2 Person Exhibition)
2023 Teardrop, Graceland University, Lamoni, IA
2022 Healing & Reassembling, Cora Stafford Gallery, University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design, Denton, TX
2016 Finger Food, Wake the Dead, San Marcos, TX
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024
Sculpture, Buckham Gallery, Flint, MI (Upcoming)
Living Thing, Arts Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX (Upcoming)
Naked Show, InLiquid Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Center for Visual Research Spring Show, Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA
2023
ArtsQuest Staff & Teaching Artist Exhibition, Banana Factory, Bethlehem, PA
Vox Populi $99 Exhibition: Little Windows, Vox Populi, Philadelphia PA
Clay Cup VI, George Caleb Bingham Gallery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Healing/Nobility/Community, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
Of the Land, Mid-South Sculpture Alliance’s Confab 202, (Honorable Mention Second Place Award) Virtual Exhibition Space & University of Oklahoma School of the Visual Arts, Norman, OK
‘A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose’, Accrete Art Collective, Bloomington, IN
2022
Art of Possibilities Art Show, Courage Art Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute Minneapolis, MN
Innovations, Art Gallery of St. Albert, in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
MAC Juried Student Exhibition, MAC Gallery, Gallery. Dallas, TX
30 Under 30, Greater Denton Art Council, Denton, TX
2021
CHILDREN- 2021 Dual Exhibition and Publication, organized by Galluriem Biafarian,Online Exhibition
First Impressions, Lewisville Grand Theater, Lewisville, TX
REPRESENT Series Intersections, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX
Artovation, Student Show Texas Association of Schools of Art Online Exhibition
500X College Expo, curated by Dr. Valerie Gillespie, 500 X, Dallas, TX
2020
AXA Art Prize, juried by Ian Alteveer, Lauren Haynes, Brett Littman, Eugenie Tsai, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY
Creep Show II, The Clay Center of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
5$ Video, LHUCA, Lubbock, TX
Digital Dream Tour, Risen Shine Gallery, Instagram-exclusive Exhibition
Town and Country: 2020 Texas Painting Symposium Juried Exhibition, LHUCA, Lubbock, TX
Go Figure, SAA Visual Arts Center, Springfield, IL
2019
30 Under 30, Denton Art Council, Denton, TX
Dubois Pop-Up Gallery, Price Center, San Marcos, TX
Precipice, Texas State Gallery, San Marcos, TX
People First, Gallery of Common Experience, San Marcos, TX
2018
FASA Group Exhibition, Dalilah Woods Gallery, San Marcos, TX
Other Professional Experience
2022-23 Gallery Coordinator, Graceland University, Lamoni, IA. I was responsible for interacting with the public, liaising with artists, budgeting, creating workshops, and overseeing exhibition and public programs.
2022 Lab Specialist-Art, Digital Art & Design, Architecture (Part-Time), Dallas College Brookhaven Campus Farmers Branch, TX. This was a tech position that aided in running kilns, both electric and gas, as well as helping in creating ceramic shell for bronze casting.
2019-21 Graduate Assistant in Sculpture Department, University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design in Denton, TX. I was directly working under the head technician of the sculpture department, Jeff McClung. Responsibilities included maintaining and organizing shop tools and equipment for the whole sculpture area. This included the woodshop, the metal fabrication, and welding area, the plaster and mold making area, and the CNC router.
2019 Sculptor, Grapevine Fine Art Program and Foundry, Grapevine, TX
2019 Studio Intern, Artpace, responsibilities include studio assistant to visiting artists and maintaining
gallery space, as well as collecting material artist needs for projects in San Antonio, TX.
2019 Studio Assistant, to Gil Bruvel in Wimberly, TX. Duties included shop maintenance, production artist, mediums included wood and mold making.
2018 Studio Assistant, to Colleen McCulla-Thomas in San Marcos, TX. Duties Included preparation for her exhibition utilizing direct plaster, full-scale body molds, woodworking.
Public Arts Commission
2018 Commissioned float for the city of San Marcos, TX. Awarded best float for the annual Mardi Gras Parade in San Marcos. Float illustrated the Greek god of the river Okeanos, constructed out of styrofoam and paper-mache.
Grants, Fellowship, Awards, and Honors
2023 Honorable Mention, Mid-South Sculpture Alliance’s Confab Award
2023 Professional Development Grant, Expenses to Present a Paper or to Be Involved in Leadership at a Professional Meeting, Muhlenberg College Grant
2022 Outstanding Student Award Nomination, ISC
2022 Honorable Mention, 2022 Student Juried Exhibition at the MAC, Dallas, TX
2019-22 Vortman-Ardoin Fellowship, Toulouse Graduate Academic Scholarship University of North Texas, University of North Texas
2019-22 Peggy Laverne Chavalier Graduate Fund, University of North Texas
2018 Outstanding Student Award Nomination, ISC
Artist Talks & Workshops
2024 Artist Talk, Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA (Upcoming)
Sterling Silver Soldering Workshop (Pendant), Banana Factory, Bethlehem, PA (Upcoming)
2023 Artist Talk, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
Participant of conference, International Sculpture Center Conference, International Sculpture Center, Hamilton Township, NJ
Sterling Silver Soldering Workshop, Banana Factory, Bethlehem, PA
Artist Talk, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS
Artist Talk, Graceland University, Lamoni, IA
2022 Ceramics Workshop, Graceland University Library, Lamoni, IA
Professional Development Talk, Cy-Fair Lone Star Community College, Cypress, TX
Biography, Brochure, and Publications
2023 Lamoni Local News Paper, Emily Potts Teardrop
2022 Canvas Rebel Voyage Feature https://canvasrebel.com/meet-emily-potts/
2021 Shoutout DFW Meet Emily Potts, April 2021 https://shoutoutdfw.com/meet-emily-potts-artist-and-teaching-instructor/
The Book of Arts: Children https://issuu.com/biafarinart/docs/children_-_2021_-_online_exhibition_catalogue_-_ex
2020 AXA Art Prize 2020, Exhibition Brochure
https://nyaa.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/AXA-Art-Prize-Square-Brochure-2020-LR.pdf
Voyagedallas.com Meet Emily Potts, February http://voyagedallas.com/interview/meet-emily-potts-emily-potts-art-denton/
2018 Emily Potts Mind and Body, written by Taylor Criswell https://artcriticismtexasstatefall2018.wordpress.com/2018/12/13/emily-potts-mind-and-body/?fbclid=IwAR0PXKoOEmHc__TZoaIkICAavmXd9Omv8BLUZIf9hJivWngCxItISqJZyj0
Service and Community Outreach
2024 Member, CFEVA, Philadelphia, PA
2023 Member, ArtTable, Professional Organization, National
Member, InLiquid, Philadelphia, PA
2019 Artpace San Antonio Studio Intern, Responsibilities include studio assistant to visiting artists and maintaining gallery space, as well as collecting material artist needs for projects in San Antonio, TX.
2018 Volunteer Intern, at Big Medium in Austin, TX
2018 FASA Member, San Marcos, TX
2017 Volunteer Assistant, for Texas Clay Fest, in Greene, TX
Head to my Etsy shop Farm Mouse Studio for a portfolio of silversmithing and jewelry work.