Elizabeth Cohen
Functional and sculptural porcelain
I am an independent studio potter working in porcelain.
I strive to make elegant, minimalist work that enhances daily living. As a self-taught potter, I enjoy problem solving. My passion for ceramics, which began in my childhood, drives my never-ending curiosity to develop new ideas.
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.
See my work in person:
The Society of Arts and Crafts, 100 Pier 4 Boulevard, Boston
Fuller Craft Museum, 455 Oak Street, Brockton
Worcester Center for Craft, 25 Sagamore Road, Worcester
Florijn Home, 90 Central St., Wellesley
deCordova Holiday Marketplace (November 11-December 31 only), deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln
Curriculum Vitae
Education
1990, Simmons College, M.A.T. English
1988, Tufts University, B.A. English
Recent Shows and Awards
2015
Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA, “Pushing Boundaries“
Mayyim Hayyim Gallery, Newton, MA, “Vessels: Holiness in Hand”
PS Gallery, Columbia, Missouri, “Autumn Exhibition”
2014
Lexington Arts and Crafts Society, Lexington, MA, “The State of Clay 2014”, juror Linda Arbuckle
2012
Lexington Arts and Crafts Society, Lexington, MA, “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 Incogito Gallery, La Grange, Illinois, “Pour”, juror David Toan
University for Women, Columbus, Mississippi, “Functional Relationships”, jurors Matt Long and Robert Long
2009
18 Hands Gallery, Houston, Texas, “Dining In II”, juror Betsy Evans
Clay Space, Warrenville, Illinois, “Clay3”, juror Mary Kay Botkins
Market House Craft Center, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, “Strictly Functional Clay National”, juror Pete Pinnel
Oconee Cultural Arts Foundations, Watkinsville, Georgia, “Perspectives International”
m.t.burton gallery, Surf City, New Jersey, “Jersey Shore Clay National 2009”, juror Jeff Guido
Lexington Arts and Crafts Society, Lexington, Massachusetts, “The State of Clay”, juror Jim Lawton
Gallery Up, Rock Hill, South Carolina, “30 Small Works 2009”, juror Sharon Dowell
2008
Silvermine Guild Arts Center, New Canaan, Connecticut, “Craft USA”, juror Gretchen Keyworth
Mindscapes Gala Art Benefit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, jurors Fran Berger, Ruth Ginsberg-Place, Gary Jacobsen MD, Barbara Krakow, Barbara Mathes, Emily Moore, Julie Mussafer, Cheryl Wolf
Gallery Up, Rock Hill, South Carolina, “30 Small Works 2008V, juror Shawn Cassidy
2007
Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, Colorado, “Empty Spaces-Bowls”, juror Peg Malloy
Lexington Arts and Crafts Society, Lexington, MA, “State of Clay”, juror Chris Gustin, Honorable Mention Award and People’s Choice Award
Claymakers, Durham, North Carolina, “Vessels 2007, National Juried Competition and Exhibition”, juror Susan Filley, Third Place Winner
Englewood Arts, Englewood Colorado, “National Juried Show”, jurors Susan Doherty and Lilliane Francuz
Genesee Pottery, Rochester, New York, “History in the Making”, jurors Julia Galloway and Rick Hirsch
Greater Denton Arts Council, Denton, Texas, “Materials Hard and Soft”, juror Gretchen Gough
Bemidji Community Arts Center, Bemidji, Minnesota, “Its Only Clay”, juror Jeff Oestriech
Wichita Center for the Arts, Wichita, Kansas, “Wichita National 2007”, juror Bede Clark
Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, Colorado, “Clay National III”, juror Doug Casebeer
Vessels Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts, “Emerging Artists Show”, jurors Irina Okula and Richard Arneri
2006
ArtSpace, Raleigh, North Carolina, “Fine Contemporary Crafts”, juror Susan Brandeis
Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, “Minor Works by Major Ceramists III:A Mail Art Project”, curator Chris Garcia
New Hampshire Institute of Art, Manchester, New Hampshire, “Ceramics Biennial Exhibition 2006”, juror Mary Barringer
m.t.burton gallery, Surf City, New Jersey, “Jersey Shore Clay National 2006”, juror Doug Casebeer
Francis Marion University, Florence, South Carolina, “Skin Deep:Celebrating the Variety and Beauty of Ceramic Surfaces”, juror Val Cushing
Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, “Craft National”, juror Gretchen Keyworth
Highland Art Gallery, Portland, Maine, “Reflection International 2006”, juror Ray Chen
San Angelo Museum of Fine Art, San Angelo, Texas, “21st Annual San Angelo Ceramics Competition”, juror Ann Lancaster
2005
Guilford Handicraft Center, Guilford, Connecticut, “Ceramics 2005”, juror Chris Gustin
Gallery Representation
Society for Arts and Crafts, Boston Massachusetts, www.societyofcrafts.org
Walsingham Gallery, Newburyport, Massachusetts, www.walsinghamgallery.com
Fuller Craft Museum Store, Brockton, Massachusetts,
Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, Massachusetts
m.t.burton gallery, Surf City, New Jersey
Cecil Byrne Gallery, Charleston, South Carolina
Holiday Marketplace, DeCordova Museum, Lincoln, Massachusetts
ReNew Arts and Industry, Natick, Massachusetts
PS Gallery, Columbia, Missouri
Collections
Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, Massachusetts
Workshops
Wesleyan Potters, Middletown, Connecticut, “Throwing Organic Forms” 2013
Expressions Studio, East Granby, Connecticut, “Throwing Organic Forms” 2013
Visiting Artist and Educator
Wellesley High School, Wellesley, MA 2014-16
TenAcre Day School, Wellesley, Massachusetts, 2012
Juror Experience
Studio Potter Award, 2015 NCECA Higher Education Student Exhibition, Providence, Rhode Island
Studio Potter Award, 2013 NCECA Student K-12 Exhibition, Houston, Texas
Studio Potter Award, 2013 NCECA Higher Education Student Exhibition, Houston, Texas
Publications
Wellesley-Weston Magazine, Fall 2012 http://wellesleywestonmagazine.epubxp.com/i/78488/159 ·
Studio Potter, “Failure” Issue, 2011
Non-Profit Service
Board of Directors Member, Studio Potter Journal, 20011-present
President, Board of Directors, Studio Potter Journal, 2015-16
Why Porcelain?
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.
Teaching
I teach a range of students from pre-school to older adult, blind/deaf students, public high school, beginners, advanced, large group workshops and private lessons.
If you would like to have a private lesson, schedule a workshop or have any other booking questions, please contact me.
