Organic elements in nature such as flowers, fruits, seeds, shells, plants and cells inform my work, especially as they arc through stages of life from embryonic to decay and death. I am interested in the play of shadow and light, and the contrast of soft and hard in clay forms. The varied metaphorical nuances in nesting sets, such as family, security, comfort, and aging intrigue me as well. I work in a commercial porcelain clay body, which I fire to 1260 degrees centigrade in an electric kiln. I mix my own glazes, which have micro-crystals that reflect light, like the glow of wet skin.
I favor porcelain because the way it records touch, captures shadow and reveals purity. It has a smooth texture as a result of densely layered particles that are a cousin of glass. Porcelain is an ancient material, originating in Asian ceramics. I marvel at the beauty and constancy of objects from these ancient dynasties. Porcelain is a wonderful material for tableware because it is lovely to hold, and is strong and durable.
I work with this finicky clay body because it holds a duality of being delicate and resilient, making it a perfect material to capture human touch frozen in time. Porcelain resonates with the pressure of a finger, a swipe of a palm, a squeeze of a hand, the pressure of air and heat, and the movement of water.
Learn more about porcelain
See my work in person:
Studio by appointment: 56 Yarmouth Road, Wellesley, Massachusetts
Worcester Center for Craft, 25 Sagamore Road, Worcester, Massachusetts
Curriculum Vitae
Elizabeth Cohen
56 Yarmouth Road
Wellesley, Massachusetts, 02481
617-775-9734
elizabethcohenpottery.com
Elizabeth@elizabethcohenpottery.com
EDUCATION
1990 Simmons College, M.A.T. English
1988 Tufts University, B.A. English
EXHIBITIONS
2019
Craft Boston, Boston, Massachusetts
Worcester Center for Craft “Cup Show” and “Bowl Show”
2018
Craft Boston, Boston Massachusetts
Society for Arts and Crafts, Boston, Massachusetts, “Life Cycle”
Worcester Center for Craft, “Cup Show” and “Bowl Show”
2017
Worcester Center for Craft, Worcester, Massachusetts,“Cup Show” and “Bowl Show”
2016
Dana Hall School, “The Nature of Beauty, the Beauty of Nature”, Wellesley, Massachusetts
River Oaks Arts Center, Alexandria, Louisiana, ”Old Friends, New Work”
Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, Massachusetts, “Pushing Boundaries”
Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters Mikveh and Education Center, Newton, Massachusetts, Vessels: Holiness in Hand
Worcester Center for Craft, “Cup Show” and “Bowl Show”, Worcester, Massachusetts
2014
Lexington Arts and Crafts Society, Lexington, Massachusetts, “The State of Clay”, juror Linda Arbuckle
PS Gallery, Columbia, Missouri, “Late Fall Exhibition”
Mississippi Center for Craft, Ridgeland, Mississippi, “Burns Invitational” 2013
The Beehive, Boston, Massachusetts, “Sharp and Blurry”
Harvard University Arnold Arboretum, Cambridge, Massachusetts, “Artists in the
Arboretum”
Burns Studio, “Burns Invitational”, Natchez, Mississippi
2012
Lexington Arts and Crafts Society, Lexington, Massachusetts, “The State of Clay
2012“, juror Doug Casebeer
2011
Greater Denton Arts Council, Denton, Texas,”Materials Hard and Soft 2011“, juror Tom Lauerman
Bemidji Community Art Center, Bemidji, Minnesota,”Its Only Clay 2011“, juror Simon Levin
2010
Market House Craft Center, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, “Strictly Functional Clay National“, juror Bill van Guilder
St. Petersburg Clay, St. Petersburg, Florida, “Last Call”, jurors Matthew Schiemann and Adam Youngbluth
Lincoln Arts and Culture Foundation, Lincoln, California, “Feats of Clay”, juror Bill van Guilder, Merit Award and Purchase Award
Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota, “3rd Biennial Concordia Continental”, juror Wil Shynkaruk
Terra Incognito Gallery, La Grange, Illinois, “Pour”, juror David Toan
University for Women, Columbus, Mississippi, “Functional Relationships”, jurors Matt Long and Robert Long
COLLECTIONS
Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, Massachusetts
WORKSHOPS
2020
Snow Farm, Williamsburg, Massachusetts, “Throwing with Porcelain”
2016
River Oaks Arts, Alexandria, Louisiana, Throwing with Porcelain”
2013
Wesleyan Potters, Middletown, Connecticut, “Throwing Organic Forms”
Expressions, East Granby, Connecticut, “Throwing Organic Forms”
TEACHING
2020
Creator and Teacher of Virtual Ceramic Classes, grades K-12
2010-Present
Private instruction, children and adults
2019
Presenter, National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, Annual Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, “Teaching Deaf/Blind Students”
2016
Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, Massachusetts, Deafblind educator
2013-15
Wellesley High School, Wellesley, Massachusetts
2012
Ten Acre Day School, Wellesley, Massachusetts,
JUROR
Studio Potter Award, 2013 NCECA Student K-12 Exhibition, Houston, Texas Studio Potter Award, 2013
NCECA Higher Education Student Exhibition, Houston, Texas
PUBLICATIONS
2019
National Council on Education of the Ceramic Arts, Annual Conference Magazine, “Teaching Deaf/Blind Students”
2018
The Studio Potter Journal, “Education” Issue, “Working with Deaf and Blind
Students”
2014
New England Home Magazine, “Surfaces” feature, Nov/Dec 2012 Wellesley-Weston Magazine, Fall
2011
The Studio Potter Journal, “Failure” Issue, “Befriending Failure”
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Studio Potter Journal, 2011-15, Secretary, Vice President, and President
