Notes from the Artist

In my creative research I have always implemented upcycling of discarded items in an effort to tread lightly on the environment.  While typically the recycled objects are part of my building process, in the Scholar Stone (Suiseki) series I actually implement them as materials in finished pieces.  Most of my chosen material components are things I have found in the studio at the Glassell School of Art or my kiln site.  I collect these individual pieces that might otherwise be waste based on their inherent aesthetic values and then combine disparate parts until I am pleased with the composition.  

While in the traditional art of Suiseki the found objects are not manipulated by the human hand, I choose to glaze mine in an effort to highlight their natural nuances and make them more aesthetically pleasing.

About the Artist

Hailing from Minnesota Jeff received a B.A. from Saint John’s University and a M.F.A. from  Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. He has completed residencies at the Armory Art  Center in West Palm Beach Florida, Lone Star College-North Harris and the Houston Center for  Contemporary Craft where he was awarded the Helen Drutt Studio Fellowship. Most recently, he has completed a residency at Atelierhaus in Hilmsen, Germany. 

Jeff has exhibited nationally as well as internationally and has earned awards in a number of  these shows. Most notable are the Juror’s Choice Award in the “Crafting Content: Ceramic Material Conceptual Object” exhibition and the Luis Jimenez Award for first place in the “Sculpture on Campus Exhibition and Competition” at Southern Illinois University. In addition  to maintaining an active studio practice Jeff is the Department Head of Ceramics at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Glassell School of Art.

https://www.jeffforster.com/