Artist: Megan Thomas
Megan Thomas, MONTANA
View artist's currently available work here
ARTIST STATEMENT:
As an artist, I seek to tell stories about how people and animals respond to biological and emotional scarcity. The vessels I make are inspired by anthropomorphic pottery that appears in the early ceramics records of many cultures. While very old pottery may not divulge all secrets to modern viewers, many of these pots seem to be prayers for bounty or attempts at understanding. I believe that an individual's personal experiences may find metaphor in the experiences of collapsed societies or in the experiences of nonhuman residents of the environments we share. I am interested in how environmental and personal collapse might mirror each other. As cycles of ecological boom and bust manifest themselves in the archaeological records of past cultures, so might the cycles of emotional dearth and plenty manifest themselves in the archaeological record of one human’s soul.
BIO:
Megan Thomas grew up in Hamilton, Ohio. She studied ceramic sculpture and painting at Bowling Green State University as an undergraduate student and graduated with an MFA in ceramics from Utah State University in 2020. She is currently a long-term resident at the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Montana. She birdwatches and trail runs for fun.
CV:
Education
MFA (ceramics), Utah State University, Logan UT 2020
Post-baccalaureate (ceramics), Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge LA 2009
BFA (ceramics), Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green OH 2006
Group Exhibitions / Invitational Sales
Ohio Designer Craftsmen Functional Ceramics Exhibition, Wayne Center, Wooster OH 2024
A Field Guide to the Birds of Cary Street, Northbank Partners, Richmond VA 2024
Fellowship Artist Exhibition, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena MT 2024
CRAFTED for the Holidays, Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh PA 2023
Creatures of Clay, Signature Gallery, Atlanta GA 2023
Archie Bray Residents Show, Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, Spokane WA 2023
Resident Artists’ Exhibition, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena MT 2023
Birds, Birds, Birds, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville FL 2023
I Contain Multitudes, Weston Gallery (NCECA annual), Cincinnati OH 2023
Archie Bray Resident Artists, Queen City Clay (NCECA concurrent), Cincinnati OH 2023
Raakh, Queen City Clay (NCECA concurrent), Cincinnati OH 2023
Kindled Spirits II, Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham WA 2022
Archie Bray Residents Show, Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, Spokane WA 2022
Playing it Cool, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge MT 2022
Workhouse Clay International, Workhouse Art Center, Lorton VA 2022
Animalia, Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham WA 2022
Reflections in Clay, Silver City Clay Festival, Silver City NM 2022
Last Call, Companion Gallery, Humboldt TN 2022
Artlink Cup Exhibition & Sale Invitational, Fort Wayne IN 2021
Michiana Pottery Tour, Goshen IN 2021
Last Call, Companion Gallery, Humboldt TN 2021
Kindled Spirits, Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham WA 2020
A Commentary on the Human Condition, Purdue University, Fort Wayne IN 2020
28th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National (online exhibition) 2020
NCECA Juried Student Exhibition, artspace, Richmond VA 2020
Paper + Clay, Utah State University, Logan UT 2020
All Talk, Utah State University, Logan UT 2019
Paper + Clay, Utah State University, Logan UT 2019
Tangential Yields, Utah State University, Logan UT 2018
Gladly, Utah State University, Logan UT 2018
Emerging Artists Show, Free Ceramics, Helena MT 2018
Paper + Clay, Utah State University, Logan UT 2017
Graduate Student Exhibition, Utah State University, Logan UT 2017
Prototype, Utah State University, Logan UT 2016
Salad Days Pottery Sale, Watershed, Newcastle ME 2015
Conversance, Frontier Space, Missoula MT 2013
Solo Projects
Maladaptive, Utah State University, Logan UT 2020
Prickly Thoughts, Utah State University, Logan UT 2019
Awards and Grants
Rudy Audio Endowed Fund for Creative Initiatives Grant 2023
Thrown and Altered Award, 28th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National 2020
George School Purchase Award, 28th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National 2020
Caine College of the Arts Graduate Student Teacher of the Year, Utah State University2020
Studio Potter Merit Award, NCECA Juried Student Exhibition, artspace, Richmond VA 2020
Cup of Merit, NCECA Cup Exchange and Sale, Minneapolis MN 2019
NCECA Graduate Student Fellowship 2019
Art/STEM Fellowship, Utah State University, Logan UT 2016-20
Honorable mention, Paper + Clay, Utah State University, Logan UT 2016
Teaching Experience
Instructor of Record, Drawing, Carroll College, Helena MT 2022-present
Instructor of Record, Watercolor, Carroll College, Helena MT 2023-present
Instructor of Record, Bookmaking, Carroll College, Helena MT 2023
Instructor of Record, Clay as Intermediary, Carroll College, Helena MT 2022
Instructor of Record, Beginning Ceramics, Miami University, Oxford OH 2022
Instructor of Record, Summer Ceramics (intro and advanced sections), PFW 2021
Instructor of Record, Ceramics for Nonmajors, Purdue University, Fort Wayne IN 2021
Instructor of Record, Intro to 3D Design, Purdue University, Fort Wayne IN 2020-21
Instructor of Record, 3D Design, Utah State University, Logan UT 2018-19
Instructor, Lifespan Ceramics, Utah State University, Logan UT 2018-19
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Ceramics, Utah State University, Logan UT 2018
Graduate Teaching Assistant, 3D Design, Utah State University, Logan UT 2017
Instructor, Beginning Ceramics, Wassenberg Art Center, Van Wert OH 2016
Instructor, Mudmobile, Watershed, Newcastle ME 2015
Residencies
Long-term Resident Artist, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena MT Sept. 2022-
Materials-Based Resident Artist, STARworks Clay, Star NC July-Aug. 2021
Publications
Patient Observation: Birdwatching at the Cleveland Museum of Art, Studio Potter June 2021
Lectures and Workshops
Artist Amplified lecture, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena MT March 2024
Artist demonstration, University of Alaska, Fairbanks AK Nov.2023
Artist demonstration, Montana State University, Bozeman MT Feb.2023
Artist demonstration, Gonzaga University, Spokane WA Oct. 2022
Lecture: Birdwatching at the CMA, Indiana Clay Conference, Indianapolis IN Oct. 2021
Relevant Work Experience
Ceramics Studio Tech, Purdue University, Fort Wayne 2020-21
Woodshop Monitor, Utah State University, Logan UT 2019-20
Project Assembler (3D topographic displays), Creotre, Logan UT 2016-17
Event and Programming Coordinator, Wassenberg Art Center, Van Wert OH 2015-16
Office Assistant, Watershed, Newcastle ME 2015
Library Tech (coordinated teen programming), EBRPL, Baton Rouge LA 2013-14
Office Manager, Southern Pottery Equipment & Supplies, Baton Rouge LA 2008-13
Skill Sets
- Hand-building techniques for large and small ceramic vessels: coil building, slab building, press molding
- Modeling: animal forms, organic textures
- Mold making and slip casting
- Basic wheel-throwing
- Clay and glaze testing
- Firing gas, wood, soda, and salt kilns
- Electric kiln maintenance
- Safe operation of woodworking equipment
- Leading workshops for children and adults
- Organizing events and fundraisers
- Grant writing