Artist: Lakyn Bowman
Lakyn Bowman, TENNESSEE
Lakyn Bowman is a full time studio potter living and working in Jackson, TN. Her work emanates the colors and patterns of the 1960’s and 70’s, showing there is still beauty in mundane utility. She received her BFA in ceramics from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2018. Her work is shown in galleries as well as invitational and juried exhibitions throughout the country. Lakyn has taught numerous online workshops throughout the pandemic and has been featured in Ceramics Monthly Magazine. Lakyn was a long term artist in residence and studio manager at Companion Gallery before moving to her own studio, hosting online workshops, and opening a curated second hand store in Jackson, TN.
Artist Statement: "While enamored with thrifting mid-century modern furniture and collectables, my work emanates the colors, patterns, and vibrant expression of the 1960’s and 70’s. I am captivated by finding new life, value, and joy in the monotonous by pairing vintage items with my handmade pottery. Uniting discarded items with the handmade offers the potential to bring them into the spotlight of appreciation. I am enthralled with this era’s home design, outrageous fashion, and exciting color palettes. With vintage items, the original surfaces are worn away by decades of everyday use, habitual routines, and mundane utility while still maintaining their beauty. My ceramic surfaces illustrate this inspiration through a combination of layering vintage botanical designs, colored slip, underglaze, and applied texture. My forms directly reference mid-century kitchenware such as coffee carafes, barware, and canisters.
When I first discovered the word “sonder,” it summarized the encompassing mindset I have towards life and making art and is now prevalent within my conceptual approach. It is the realization that each passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as one’s own, complete with their own ambitions, routines, and density. While the word is about a person’s story, my work is more about the physical object’s existence in that person’s life. I wonder how many conversations a particular chair or a kitchen table has been a part of. Just as I envision the lives of the vintage items, I do the same with the objects I make and the people who will encounter them. I want my work to be someone’s favorite morning coffee cup and be at the center of many conversations. Combining an orphaned metal caddy with handmade ceramic cups gives the discarded object the opportunity to be appreciated in a new life."
EDUCATION
2014: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL
SHOWS
BFA 2018
2022: Chroma curated by Juan Barroso. Saltstone Ceramics. Seattle, WA
2021: Our Lives in Clay Invitational. Charlie Cummings Gallery. Gainesville, FL
Sharkin’ Show curated by Lindsey Langsdale and Tim Kowalczyk. Online
Functional Canvas VI. Charlie Cummings Gallery. Gainesville, FL
Last Call VI. Companion Gallery. Humboldt, TN
When Life Gives You Lemons -Solo Ceramicist. Lark and Key Gallery. Charlotte, NC
Material Mugs VI juried by Michelle Ettrick. Companion Gallery. Humboldt, TN
Clay Siblings Holiday Benefit. Companion Gallery. Humboldt, TN
West TN Artists. Centennial Arts Center. Nashville, TN
2020: Ware/Wear juried by Mark Arnold. Pocosin Arts. Columbia, NC
Mug Madness juried by Chanakarn Semachai & Adrienne Eliades. Saltstone Ceramics. Seattle, WA
Making Life Sweeter Invitational. Rat City Studios. Seattle, WA
Collaborative Companions Invitational. Companion Gallery. Humboldt, TN Last
Call V. Companion Gallery. Humboldt, TN
2018: Annual Student Juried Exhibition. Art and Design West Gallery SIU Edwardsville. Edwardsville, IL
Ware/Wear Juried by Doug Peltzman. Pocosin Arts. Columbia, NC
Last Call III Juried by Brett Kern. Companion Gallery. Humboldt, TN
Twin Cups National Ceramics Exhibition Juried by Mike Stumbras. Missouri Western State University Clay
Guild. St. Joseph, MO
Coffee & Clay Invitational. Pottery Northwest Gallery. Seattle, WA
SIUE Friends of Art Annual Art Auction. SIU Edwardsville. Edwardsville, IL
Second Annual Mug Show. Eye of the Dog Art Center. San Marcos, TX
Cup: The Intimate Object XIV. Charlie Cummings Gallery. Gainesville, FL
Material Mugs III: Underglaze Juried by Renee Lopresti. Companion Gallery. Humboldt, TN
Annual Holiday Show Invitational. SIU Edwardsville. Edwardsville, IL
2017: Last Call II Juried by Jennifer Allen. Companion Gallery. Humboldt, TN
Twin Cups National Ceramics Exhibition Juried by Ted Neal. Missouri Western State University Clay Guild.
St. Joseph, MO
Annual Student Juried Exhibition. Art and Design West Gallery SIU Edwardsville. Edwardsville, IL
SIUE Friends of Art Annual Art Auction Juried by Terry Suhre. SIU Edwardsville. Edwardsville, IL
Functional Relationships Juried by Simon Levin. New Harmony Gallery. New Harmony, IN
Tea Time: An Exploration of Contemporary Teapots Invitational. Edwardsville Art Center. Edwardsville, IL
5th Annual Cup Show. Jansen Art Center. Lynden, WA
Edwardsville Art Fair. Wagner Potters Association. Edwardsville, IL Small
Works Art Show. Wood River Museum. Wood River, IL
2016: Small Works Art Show. Wood River Museum. Wood River, IL
Annual Holiday Show Invitational. Edwardsville Art Center. Edwardsville, IL
Edwardsville Art Fair. Wagner Potters Association. Edwardsville, IL
AWARDS/PUBLICATIONS
2021: Ceramics Monthly. “Exposure” April 2021
2020: Best of Show. Ware/Wear. Columbia, NC
Cash Award. Mug Madness. Seattle, WA
2017: Friends of Art Award. SIU Edwardsville. Edwardsville, IL
People’s Choice – 2nd Place. “5th Annual Cup Show” Jansen Art Center. Lynden, WA
“Last Call II” Catalog of Handmade Ceramics for Storing, Pouring, and Sipping Fine Libations. Companion
Gallery. Humboldt, TN
Merit Award. Edwardsville Art Fair. Edwardsville, IL
Merit/Honorable Mention. Small Works Art Show. Wood River, IL
VISITING ARTIST/WORKSHOPS
2022: Virtual Workshop. Companion Gallery. January
2021: Virtual Workshop. Pocosin Arts. January, February, March, April, June, September
Virtual Workshop. Companion Gallery. March, June
2017: Visiting artist. Mount Vernon Township High School. Mount Vernon, IL
RESIDENCIES
2019-Present Long-Term Artist in Residence. Companion Gallery. Humboldt, TN
SERVICE
2016-2017: Vice President. SIU Edwardsville Wagner Potters Association
REFERENCES
Joe Page, Ceramics Professor, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, (847) 309-9487, [email protected]
Eric Botbyl, Owner, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN. (731) 267-7784, [email protected]
Crystal Nowak, High school ceramics teacher, Mount Vernon Township High School,(618) 352-7378, [email protected]