Currently I am pursuing my Masters in Fine Art at Texas Tech University, with my emphasis in Ceramics and minor in Photography. I am in the start of my second year here at Tech.
Since graduation:
Before starting my graduate degree I had the good fortune to be able to travel, live, and work in Taiwan at the Tainan National University of the Arts as a visiting artist. I began that journey two months after graduating from Missouri State. That whole situation was made possible by the tireless work of my two professors, Kevin Hughes and Keith Ekstam, as well as the folks in the College of Arts and Letters. I received a grant to do research while there through the College of Arts and Letters Asian Research Grants.
After spending five months in Taiwan, traveling around the island, traveling to Japan, exhibiting my work, and meeting several well known ceramic artists, I returned to the U.S. I had been invited to be an assistant at the International Woodfire Symposium in Pittsburgh, PA. At this symposium, artists from several nations were represented. I had the opportunity to make work and fire kilns along side these amazing individuals. From this experience I was offered a Technicians position at Guldagergaard , the International Ceramic Research Center in Skelskor, Denmark. I graciously accepted.
In a few months I found myself in Denmark working as their Technician. My duties included studio maintenance, firing kilns, mixing clay, etc. In exchange for my duties I was given materials, a studio, and an apartment to live in. I made sure to take full advantage of my situation. I made enough work in the two months that I was there to have work in two major exhibitions; one at the research center and another at a gallery in Sweden. I was also fortunate enough to have my work added to the public collection at Guldagergaard and to have a piece purchased by the Cultural Minister of Denmark.
Continuing Education:
After returning to the U.S. from this event, I applied to graduate schools. My several “real world” experiences along with my exhibition record, allowed me to be very competitive with my applications. I was accepted into several programs and ultimately decided that I wanted to study at Texas Tech.
Currently I am working on my latest body of work for my graduate thesis, organizing the Texas Tech Ceramic Woodfire Symposium to be held in February, 2012 and working to organize the next installment of the International Ceramic Woodfire Symposium, which is to be held in Gothenburg, Sweden in July of 2012.
Favorite aspect of the Missouri State fine arts program:
I would have never dreamt of being able to accomplished what I have been able to do without the initial support and innovation from my professors at Missouri State. I feel truly fortunate and honored to have been able to receive my BFA from this program.
Please check my website for photos of my work. I will be happy to provide any more information or photos if needed.
www.zachtateclayworks.com
