Artist: Chris Alveshere
Chris Alveshere, Montana
View Artist's Products
Bio:
Chris Alveshere is an artist, educator, and co-owner of Workroom Montana, a community arts space in Missoula, MT, and Flecks + Specks, a ceramic grog business. He currently teaches adult and youth community education classes in addition to maintaining a full-time studio practice. Originally from North Dakota, Chris received undergraduate degrees in ceramics and art education from Minnesota State University in Moorhead, MN and his MFA in ceramics from Alfred University.
Artist Statement:
My pots are an investigation of items I find curious, feel sentimental towards, or objects I find humor in. This investigation could come from the object’s surface, form, or most often from intriguing proportion or scale. Forms, parts, and clay and glaze colors are curated to be strong and inventive with high contrast. Inflated swells, large knobs, and enamel-like sheens from sanded surfaces and glazes create exaggerated, vibrant pieces.
I visualize pots in everyday objects and places, seeing the potential of form and color in everything from vintage wooden toys, a pile of Skittles, or wandering thrift stores. This inspiration has steered me into making pots other than traditional dinnerware. I am making work for the countertop, and pots that allow for a vast range of functions. Foremost is an intention to make pieces that have a sense of whimsy, humor, and color. Audacious, lively, and cheeky, pieces with attitude and intention.
Education
2020 Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics
New York State College of Ceramics (NYSCC) at Alfred University, Alfred, NY
2015 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education & Bachelor of Arts in Ceramics
Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM), Moorhead, MN
Summa cum laude, Dean’s List 6 semesters
2012 Associate of Arts in Visual Arts
Bismarck State College, Bismarck, ND
Phi Theta Kappa Society 2 years
Teaching Experience
2022-Current Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Foundations of Visual Arts Education, Ceramics
Pottery Instructor, Throw Ceramics, Missoula, MT
Art Instructor, Workroom Montana, Missoula, MT
2021-Current Teaching Artist, Missoula Art Museum, Missoula, MT
2020-Current Instructor, The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT Beginning Pottery, Mold Making, Lidded Vessels, Pouring Vessels, Open Instruction, Private Lessons, Youth and Family Programming
2018-2020 Instructor, Beginning Ceramics
Teaching Assistant, Sophomore Wheel Throwing, John Gill, Instructor
Teaching Assistant, Junior Pottery, Matt Kelleher, Instructor
Teaching Assistant, Kiln Construction and Design, Shawn Murray, Instructor
2019-2020 Summer Camp Ceramics Instructor, Belvoir Terrace, Lenox, MA
2016-2018 Art Teacher, Shanley High School & Sullivan Middle School, Fargo, ND
2015-2016 Long-Term Substitute Art Teacher, Davies High School, Fargo, ND
Teaching Artist, Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND
2014-2018 College for Kids & Teens Ceramics Instructor, MSUM, Moorhead, MN
Professional Experience
2023 Workroom Montana, Co-owner, Community Arts Center, Missoula, MT
Flecks + Specks, Co-owner, ceramic grog company, Missoula, MT
Short-Term Artist in Residence, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Artist Talk, Radius Gallery, Missoula, MT
Artist Amplified Presenter, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
2022 Visiting Artist Workshop, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Visiting Artist Workshop, Tarrant County Community College, Arlington, TX
2022 Workshop Assistant, Rocket Wood Kiln Building with Lisa Orr, Superior, MT
Virtual Studio Visit, The Center for Contemporary Art, Bedminster, NJ
Artist Panel, Co-Panelist with Lauren Mabry and Rebecca Zweibel, The Center for Contemporary Art, Bedminster, NJ
Short-Term Artist in Residence, Alfred University, Alfred, NY
Visiting Artist Workshop, MSUM, Moorhead, MN
2020-2022 Artist in Residence, The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
2014-2015 Student Worker, Ceramics Department, MSUM, Moorhead, MN
Visiting Artist Lecture Series Assistant, School of Art, MSUM, Moorhead, MN
Selected Exhibitions
2024 Solo Show, ClayAKAR, Iowa City, IA
Last Call IX, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN
Snack Time, Solo Exhibition, Montana State University Billings, Billings, MT
Cups: Group Show, Lawrence Arts Center, Laurence, KS
Pairings, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
Artist Feature, Signature Contemporary Craft, Atlanta, GA
2023 Teeter Totter, Solo Exhibition, The Mason Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
Exploring The Vessel, Antler Gallery, Portland, OR
Emergence, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Cincinnati, OH
In The Zone, The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
Brimful, Indiana University East, Richmond, IN
Solo Show, In Tandem Gallery, Bakersville, NC
The Wichita National Ceramics Invitational, Reuben Saunders Gallery, Wichita, KS
Pairings, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
Artist Feature, In Tandem Gallery, Bakersville, NC
Thanksgiving Table: The Butter Dish, ClayAKAR, Iowa City, IA
Cup: The Intimate Object XIX, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
Americano Invitational, ClayAKAR, Iowa City, IA
In Living Color, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT
Yunomi Invitational, ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA
How to Grow a Garden City, Radius Gallery, Missoula, MT
2022 Swell, Solo Exhibition, The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
On The Rocks, Wildfire Ceramic Studio, Missoula, MT
Solo Show, ClayAKAR, Iowa City, IA
Thanksgiving Table: The Butter Dish, ClayAKAR, Iowa City, IA
Americano Invitational, ClayAKAR, Iowa City, IA
Holiday Show, Radius Gallery, Missoula, MT
Solo Show, In Tandem Gallery, Bakersville, NC
Pairings, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
Faculty Art Exhibition, Gallery of Visual Arts, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Material Mugs VII, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN
Yunomi Invitational, ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA
Cup: The Intimate Object XVIII, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
Dallas Pottery Invitational, Dallas, TX
2021 Clay Studio of Missoula: Trackside Gallery, Spokane, WA
Form and Function: Gulf Coast State College, Panama City, FL
Hella Cups, Applied Contemporary, Oakland, CA
Artist Feature, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
Artist Feature, ClayAKAR, Iowa City, IA
Playground, Wildfire Ceramic Studio, Missoula, MT
Last Call VI, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN, Juried
Above Board 2021, Online NCECA exhibition, Invitational
2021 High Fired, Wildfire Ceramic Studio, Missoula, MT
Dirty South Mug Competition, River Oaks Square Art Center, Alexandria, LA, Juried
Yunomi Invitational 2020, ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA
2020 Student Juried Exhibition, NCECA Conference, Richmond, VA
Lip Service, Saratoga Clay Arts Center, Schuylerville, NY, Juried
In Through the Out Door, Robert C. Turner Gallery, Alfred University, Alfred, NY
Double Take, Alfred Ceramic Art Museum, Alfred, NY
Grand Valley Exhibition and Forum, Richmond, VA
Small Favors, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, Juried
Last Call V, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN, Juried
Confluence, NYSCC Robert C. Turner Gallery, Alfred, NY
Cup: The Intimate Object XVI, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL, Juried
Yunomi Invitational 2020, ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA
Thanksgiving Table: The Butter Dish, ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA (forthcoming)
Americano Invitational, ClayAkar, Iowa City, IA (forthcoming)
Strictly Functional Pottery National, online, www.strictlyfunctionalpottery.net, Juried
Hold Me, Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin, FL
2019 Inter-Disciplinary, Robert C. Turner Gallery, Alfred University, Alfred, NY
2018 A Place at the Table, Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND
Pop Up Show, NYSCC Paining Studios, Alfred, NY
2017 Soda2, Mantle Gallery, Louisville, KY, Juried
Friends of Make Room Exhibition, Make Room, Fargo, ND, Invitational
Art Educators’ Exhibition, APT- The Arts Partnership, Fargo, ND, Juried
3rd Annual Dirty South Cup Competition, River Oaks Square Art Center,
Alexandria, LA Juried
Pace, Solo Exhibition, Make Room, Fargo, ND
Diptych/Triptych, Bismarck Downtown Artist Coop (BDAC), Bismarck, ND
2016 Art Educators’ Exhibition, Rourke Art Museum, Moorhead, MN, Juried
2015 Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition, Roland Dille Center for the Arts Gallery (RDCA Gallery), MSUM, Moorhead, MN
Dirty South Mug Competition, River Oaks Square Art Center, Alexandria, LA Juried
Art Educators’ Exhibition, Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND
America’s ClayFest III, Art League of Lincoln, Lincoln, CA
Student Juried Show, RDCA Gallery, MSUM, Juried
2014 Student Juried Show, RDCA Gallery, MSUM, Juried
Mini Madness: A Mini Exhibition, RDCA Gallery, MSUM, Moorhead, MN
Banded, Fargo North High School, Fargo, ND
2013 3rd Annual Foot in the Door Show, Bismarck Downtown Artist Co-op (BDAC), Bismarck, ND
Black & White, Fargo North High School, Fargo, ND
2012 2nd Annual Foot in the Door Show, BDAC, Bismarck, ND
Art in Bloom, BDAC, Bismarck, ND
2011 Foot in the Door Show, BDAC, Bismarck, ND
Living Masterpieces, Dakota Stage Ltd., Bismarck, ND
Curator, artist, and presenter of Dogs Playing Poker
Pottery Festivals and Tours
2023 American Pottery Festival, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Flower City Pottery Invitational, Flower City Arts Center, Rochester, NY
Montana Clay Tour, Helena, MT
2022 Dallas Pottery Invitational, Dallas, TX
Grants and Awards
2023 Grant Recipient, Arts Missoula Grants Program
2022 2022 Emerging Artist, Ceramics Monthly
2021 Excellence in Craft Fellowship, Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
Best in Show, Form and Function: Gulf Coast State College, Panama City, FL, Juror: Molly Bishop
Best in Show, 7th Annual Dirty South Cup Call and Competition, River Oaks Square Art Center, Alexandria, LA, Juror: Dan Anderson
Juror, Playground, Juried show, Wildfire Ceramic Studio, Missoula, MT
2017 Juror’s Choice Award, 3rd Annual Dirty South Cup Call and Competition, River Oaks Square Art Center, Alexandria, LA, Juror: Matt Long
2015 Recipient of School of Art Excellence Scholarship, MSUM, Moorhead, MN
2014 Student Award, Student Juried Show, Roland Dille Center for the Arts Gallery, MSUM, Hilary Wilder, Juror
2011 Outstanding Student Award, BSC Bismarck, ND
Visual Arts Foundation Scholarship, BSC, Bismarck, ND
Bismarck State College Foundation Academic Scholarship, Bismarck State College, Bismarck, ND
2010 Bismarck State College Foundation Academic Scholarship, Bismarck State College, Bismarck, ND
Galleries
2023-Current Twisted Vessel Gallery, Pigeon Forge, TN
Reuben Saunders Gallery, Wichita, KS
2022-Current In Tandem Gallery, Bakersville, NC
Radius Gallery, Missoula, MT
2021-Current Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
2020-Current The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
ClayAKAR, Iowa City, IA
L’Atelier, San Diego, CA
2013-Current Bismarck Downtown Artist Co-op, Bismarck, ND
Skills
Kilns: Firing electric, gas, salt, soda, wood, and raku kilns, electric kiln repair, kiln building and maintenance.
Ceramic Materials: Formulating and mixing clay bodies, glazes, slips, and terra sigillatas, material testing and research.
Ceramic Processes: Fusion 360, 3D printing, mold making, plaster lathing.
Gallery: Art handling, installation, lighting, graphic design: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Lightroom
Publications
Ceramics Monthly, May 2022, Contest: 2022 Emerging Artists
Pottery Making Illustrated, Jan/Feb 2022 Issue, pg. 29, Author: Porcelain With A Twist
Ceramics Monthly, October 2021 Issue, pg. 96, Spotlight: Drawn to Ceramics
Ceramics Monthly, November 2021 Issue, pg. 13, exposure
Collections
Alfred Ceramic Art Museum, Alfred University, Alfred, NY
Dan Anderson, Private Collection, Edwardsville, IL
John and Andrea Gill, Private Collection, Alfred, NY
Glenn Phillips, Private Collection, Los Angeles, CA
Louise Rosenfield, Private Collection, Dallas, TX