Artist: Tim Kowalczyk
Tim Kowalczyk, ILLINOIS
View Artist's Products
Pathetic, absurd, antiquated, banal or even garbage are words that best describe the objects I am drawn to. These types of objects hold my attention because of the stories they can tell and what they can mean. Many times I find objects at thrift stores, yard sales or the side of the road. I am collector, picker and poet that sculpts, forms, designs and constructs sculptures with sense of purpose, priority, and preciousness. I want people to see the beauty and narrative that are held within simple overlooked objects.
Since graduating with his MFA from Illinois State University in 2011, Tim has maintained an active studio practice from his home in Minonk, Illinois. For the past 7 years Tim has participated in a steady stream of juried, group, invitational, and solo exhibitions. He has received several awards including the Presidential Scholarship at Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Merwin Medal: McLean County 82nd Annual Amateur Show, and Best of Show: Water Street Studios Anniversary Show. Tim’s work can be seen in private collections, University collections, and in a recent American Craft Magazine article. Tim is the adjunct instructor Ceramics at Illinois Central College in East Peoria, IL.
Tim’s work has been featured on Colossal by Kate Sierzputowski, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, TwistedSifter, BoredPanda, HOMECRUX by Monica Thakur, DeMilked, FactRiver by Tiffany, Nifymag.com, Whizual by Igor Stankovic, Laughing Squid by Lori Dorn, Cultura Inquieta, and Inceredibilia by Graziella Guglielmino.
EDUCATION
2008-2011 MFA Illinois State University Normal, IL Ceramics
2002-2008 BFA Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL Bachelor of Fine Arts Double Major: Ceramics & Art Education Minor: Art history
1997-2001 AAS Joliet Junior College Joliet, IL Studio Arts
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
2012- Present Adjunct Instructor Illinois Community College
Art Appreciation, Ceramics I, Ceramics II, and Practicum
2012 Long-Term Substitute
Normal Community High School/Towanda Elementary K-5
Ceramics/Sculpture II (2 Sections), Ceramic/Sculpture I, & Painting/Drawing II
2008-2011 Graduate Assistant
Illinois State University, Normal, IL
Ceramics I Fall 2008, Spring 2009, & Spring 2010, 3-D Fundamentals Fall 2009,
Clay Mixing, Glaze Lab, 3D Lab, and Studio Maintenance
2007 Student Teaching K-8 Unity Point School Carbondale, IL
2003-2004 Young Artist Program
Elementary & Secondary Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
DEMONSTRATIONS
2013-2016 Illinois Central College (Rakú & Horsehair Firing Demonstration)
2012 Illinois Central College (Demonstration)
2011 Iowa Southeastern Community College (Artist Talk and Demonstrations)
2011 Fieldcrest High School (Artist Talk and Demonstrations)
2008 Morris Community High School: SPC Workshop (Mold Making)
2007 Lawrenceville Community High School (Mold Making)
2006 Marion High School (Mold Making)
2006 Marion High School (Rakú Firing and Mold Making Demonstration)
AWARDS
2012 Honorable Mention: Water Street Studios 3rd annual Exhibition
2012 Presidential Scholarship at Anderson Ranch Arts Center
2011 Honorable Mention: Water Street Studios 2nd Anniversary Exhibition
2011 Exceptional Merit of Fine Arts: Illinois State University
2011 Ceramic Area Award: University Galleries 2011 Student Annual
2011 Honorable Mention: Water Street Studios Winter Exhibition
2010 Best of Show: Water Street Studios Anniversary Show
2009 Best in Ceramics: Student Annual
2009 Merwin Medal: McLean County 82nd Annual Amateur Show
2000 Purchase Award: Joliet Junior College
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
Joliet Junior College Joliet, IL
Southeastern Community College Burlington, IA
Illinois State University Normal, IL
Barry Blinderman Bloomington, IL
Bill Conger East Peoria, IL
Kendra Paitz Bloomington, IL
John and Linda Ritter Normal, IL
McFrontalot Brooklyn, NY
(Godfather of Nerdcore Rap)
EXHIBITIONS
2017 Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN, Trompe L’oeil, Three Person Show
2017 Lakeland Community College, Cleveland, OH, Cup Show, Group Show
2017 Backroom, Black Book Gallery, Denver, CO, Hit, Solo Show
2017 Untitled 2.0 Gallery, Grants Pass, OR, Analogue Skies, Solo Show
2017 AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA, Yunomi Invitational, Invitational
2017 Gallery 336A, Illinois Central College, East Peoria, IL, Faculty Show
2017 Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN, Garbage, Solo Show
2017 Lillstreet Gallery, Chicago, IL, #mugshotmonday, Group Show
2017 Untitled 2.0 Gallery, Grants Pass, OR, Strange Bedfellows, Group Show
2016 Backroom, Eutectic Gallery, Portland, OR, Analogue Skies, Solo Show
2016 Charlie Cumming Gallery, Gainsville, FL, Cup: The Intimate Object XII, Group Show
2016 The Merwin and Wakeley Galleries, Wesleyan University, Normal, IL, Functioning, Solo Show
2016 Gallery 336A, Illinois Central College, East Peoria, IL, Faculty Show
2016 Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN, Last Call Juror: Matt Schiemann
2015 University Galleries, Normal, IL, Alumni Spectacular, Alumni Show
2015 Speakeasy Arts Center, Pekin, IL, Conventions, Solo Show
2015 Gallery 336A, Illinois Central College, East Peoria, IL, Faculty Show
2015 Gallery 3R, Contemporary Art Center, Peoria, IL, Response, Solo Show
2015 SCC Gallery, Southeast Community College, Burlington, IA, How Great I Am,
Solo Show
2014 Applebee Gallery, MacMurray College Jacksonville, IL, Set Up, Solo Show
2014 Gallery 336, Illinois Central College, East Peoria, IL Reality, Two Person Show
2014 Applebee Gallery, MacMurray College, Jacksonville, IL, Set Up, Solo Show
2014 Armstrong Gallery, McLean County Art Center, Reality, Bloomington, IL, Two Person show
2014 Springfield Art Association, Trigger, Springfield, IL, Faculty Show
2014 ICC Art Gallery, Faculty Show, East Peoria, IL
2014 Laura A. Sprague Art Gallery, Joliet Junior College, Of Clay, Metal, and Fiber, Joliet, IL, Group Show
2013 Heavy Brow Gallery, Prime, Bloomington, IL, Curator: Trew Schriefer
2013 Clara M. Eagle Gallery, Murray State University, Simulacra, Murray, KY, Solo Show
2013 Armstrong Gallery, McLean County Art Center, Define Drawing,Bloomington, IL, Invitational
2013 Morpho Gallery, Illusions of Reality, Chicago, IL, Group Show Curated By: Steve Lockwood
2013 Batavia Performing Arts Center, Through Smoke, Water, and Clay, Batavia, IL
Curated By: Steve Lockwood
2013 ICC Art Gallery, Faculty Show, East Peoria, IL
2013 Water Street Studios, Carbon, Batavia, IL, Juror: Jess Mott Wickstrom
2013 Bray North Gallery, Archie Bray Foundation’s Beyond the Brickyard, Helena, MT, Juror: Andrea Gill (Catalog)
2012 MAINSITE Contemporary Art Gallery, Norman, OK, Emerging Artists Show
Jurors: Norman Arts Council
2012 Water Street Studios, Batavia, IL, 3rd Anniversary Exhibition, Juror: Sergio Gomez
2012 Jan Brandt Gallery, Bloomington, IL, 3 Shows Under One Roof, Invitational
2012 Gallery 2, Illinois Central College, Peoria, IL, Local Ceramic Artists, Invitational
2012 Laura A. Sprague Art Gallery, Joliet Junior College, Now and Then, Invitational
2012 McLean County Art Center, Bloomington, IL, In Your Neighborhood, Invitational
2012 Swell Gallery, West Dundee, IL, Degrees, 4 Person Show
2012 Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO, Sculptural Ceramics, Invitational: Featured Artist
2012 Heavy Brow Gallery, Bloomington, IL, Solo Show
2012 Peoria Arts Guild, Peoria, IL, Ephemera, Solo Show
2012 Bradley University Peoria, IL, 3rd Biennial Central Time Ceramics, Juror: Delores Fortuna (Catalog)
2012 Illinois State University Normal, IL, Experiment in Collectivity, Invitational
2011 Armstrong Gallery, McLean County Art Center, Bloomington, IL, TEA, Invitational
2011 Water Street Studios, Batavia, IL, 2nd Anniversary Exhibition, Juror: Corey Postiglione
2011 Emporia Art Council, Emporia, KS, Membership Show, Juror: Elaine O. Henry
2011 The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Student Show, Jurors: Michael Moore, & Jeff Guido
2011 Water Street Studios, Batavia, IL, Summer Exhibition, Juror: Lisa Gloria
2011 Polygon Art Space, Normal, IL, Open Space, Juror: Brad Kalavitinos
2011 SCC Gallery, Burlington, IA, Act 2, Solo Show
2011 Illinois State University Normal, IL, 2011 Student Annual, Juror: Tumelo Mosaka
2011 University Galleries, Illinois State University Normal, IL, Sleight of Hand, Solo Show
2011 University Galleries, Illinois State University Normal, IL, MFA Biennial, Curators: Barry Blinderman, Tony Preston-Schreck and Kendra Paitz
2011 Water Street Studios, Batavia, IL, Built, Solo Show
2011 Bray North Gallery, Archie Bray Foundation’s Beyond the Brickyard Helena, MT, Juror: Paul Mathieu (Catalog)
2010 Water Street Studios, Batavia, IL, Winter Show, Juror: Anke Loh
2010 Chapman Gallery, Fort Hays State University Hays, KS, Members Exhibition, Juror: Hoss Haley
2010 Fort Hays State University Hays, KS, Material Mastery, Jurors: Glen R. Brown and Dylan Beck
2010 Water Street Studios, Batavia, IL, Anniversary Exhibit, Juror: Hennie Reynders
2010 McLean County Art Center, Bloomington, IL, All New and Exciting, Invitational
2010 The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Student Show, Jurors: Michael Moore, & Jeff Guido
2010 Transpace, Normal, IL, The Smart Guy Show, Group Show
2010 Brandt Gallery, MCAC, Bloomington, IL, Emerging Illinois Artists Exhibition
Juror: Laura Fried
2010 Water Street Studios, Batavia, IL, Spring Exhibit
Juror: Lee Sido
2010 Genesee Pottery, Rochester, NY, 2010 College Clay Collective, Juror: Bonnie Seeman
2010 Bradley University Peoria, IL, 2nd Biennial Central Time Ceramics, Juror: Matt Wilt (Catalog)
2010 Parkland Art Gallery, Champaign, IL, State of Art 2010: Biennial Ceramics
Invitational, Curator: Erin Furimsky (Catalog)
2010 Water Street Studios, Batavia, IL, Winter Exhibit, Juror: Steve Sherrell
2009 Fort Hays State University Hays, KS, Material Mastery, Jurors: Glen R. Brown and Linda Ganstrom
2009 University Galleries, Normal, IL, Student Annual Art Show, Juror: Stephanie Brooks
2009 ShiftSpace Art Gallery, Wichita State University Wichita, KS, Blow Up, Juror: Annie Strader
2009 Transpace Art Gallery, Normal, IL, MFA SHOW
2009 Armstrong Gallery, McLean County Art Center, Bloomington, IL, Illinois
Invitational, Curator: Alison Hatcher
2009 Brandt Gallery, MCAC, Bloomington, IL, McLean County 82nd Annual Amateur Show, Juror: Cathie Crawford
2008 University Galleries, Illinois State University Normal, IL, MFA Biennial
Curators: Barry Blinderman, Bill Conger,and Kendra Paitz
2008 Transpace Art Gallery, Normal, IL, MFA SHOW
2007 Glove Factory, SIU Carbondale, IL, Taking Flight
2007 Glove Factory, SIU Carbondale, IL, Rickert-Ziebold Competition, Jurors: SIUC Faculty
2006 Big Muddy Media Center, Carbondale, IL, Storage, Solo Show
2006 Glove Factory, SIU Carbondale, IL, Love at the Glove
2006 Art Alley, SIU Carbondale, IL, The Student Purchase Awards Show, Jurors: SIUC Faculty
2006 Vergette Gallery, SIU Carbondale, IL, Pyroplasticity
2005 Vergette Gallery, SIU Carbondale, IL, From the Ground Up
2004 Interfaith Center, Carbondale, IL, The GO Show
2004 Art Alley, SIU Carbondale, IL, The Last Minute
2003 Vergette Gallery, SIU Carbondale, IL, Art Edifacation
2000 Russell Halliday Gallery, Ina, IL, Rend Lake Community College Show
2000 Laura A. Sprague Gallery, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL, Student Art Show
1999 Russell Halliday Gallery, Ina, IL, Rend Lake Community College Show
1999 Laura A. Sprague Gallery, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL, Student Art Show