About Jennifer McCurdy

Artist Statement

       Andre Gide says, "Pay attention only to the form; emotion will come spontaneously to inhabit it. A perfect dwelling always finds an inhabitant."
        Emotion fills me when I see perfect forms in nature, from the cracked conch shell on the beach revealing its perfect spiral, to the milkweed pod burst in the field, its brilliant airborne seeds streaming into the sunlight. The ordered symmetry and asymmetry of nature's forms reveal the growth of life, the movement of life.
        Living on Martha's Vineyard, island time, especially in the winter, seems to conform to nature's cycles. As a potter, I strive to make my work reflect the balance of life around me. It is important that the patterns I see around me are integrated into my forms.
       I use a translucent porcelain body because it has a beautiful surface, and it conveys the qualities of light and shadow that I wish to express. After throwing my vessel on the potter's wheel, I alter the form to set up a movement of soft shadow. When the porcelain is leather hard, I carve patterns to add energy and counterpoint. I fire my work to cone 10, where the porcelain becomes non-porous and translucent.
        Some of the finished pieces hold elusive glimpses of the balance between the convex and the concave, and light absorbed and reflected. In further exploration, I marry the fine porcelain with the ancient art of gilding. The 23 carat gold leaf illumines the interior of the vessel, to reveal new curves and patterns.

Artist Statement

Education

1978, B.F.A. with honors, Michigan State University,
studied under Louis Raynor
1980, Graduate study, Florida Atlantic University,
studied under John McCoy

Museum Permanent Collections

The Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery, Washington DC
The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY
The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
Museum of Art & Archeology, Columbia, MO
Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, MN
Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI
Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL
Lowe Art Museum, Coral Gables, FL
Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC
The Knoxville Museum of Art, Knoxville, TN
Minneapolis Museum of Art, Minneapolis, MN
Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson, MS
Weisman Museum of Art, Minneapolis, MN
Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, MI
Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR
Newark Museum of Art, Newark, NJ
Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD
Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA
Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA

Select Galleries

ABRA Gallery, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA
The Clay Lady, Nashville, TN
Corazon Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
Duncan McClellan Gallery, St. Petersburg, FL
Ethel A. Furman & Associates, Alexandria, VA
The Future Perfect, San Francisco, CA
Gallery One, Naples, FL
Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, WI
LaFontsee Gallery, Grand Rapids, MI
Louisa Gould Gallery, Vineyard Haven, MA
Michele Beiny, Inc., New York, NY
Phillips Collection Museum Shop, Washington, DC
Plinth Gallery, Denver, CO
Steidel Fine Art, Palm Beach, FL
The Umstead Hotel & Spa, Cary, NC

 

 

Publications

“Vessels: A Conversation in Porcelain and Poetry”, book by Jennifer McCurdy & Wendy Mulhern, published by Schiffer LTD, 2017
Cape Cod Home, US, Winter 2017, “Throwing Curves, Martha’s Vineyard Ceramicist Creates Porcelain Perfection”
De Kleine K, Netherlands, Sept 2016, “Jennifer McCurdy, Laat zien hoe zij een werk maakt en omgekeerd stookt”
Ceramics Monthly, US, May 2016, “Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future”
“Craftspeople in Their Own Words” book available on Amazon, May, 2016
Mao da Massa Artes do Fogo, Brazil, Fall 2015, “Art & Artists: Jennifer McCurdy: A Most Talented & Technical Artist”
Martha’s Vineyard Magazine, US, Fall 2014, “Porcelain in Motion”
Vineyard Style, US, Spring 2011, “Jennifer McCurdy-The Porcelain Sorceress”
Sunshine Artist, US, January 2011, “Spirals & Spheres”
Clay Times, US, July/August 2008, “Defying Gravity: Jennifer McCurdy’s Carved & Pierced Porcelain”
Ceramic Review, UK, Sept/Oct 2010, “An Island Aesthetic”
El Beit, Egypt, Summer 2010, “Jennifer Fe Daerat Elfan”
China Ceramics Illustrated, China, July 2010, “Jennifer McCurdy: The Cutting Edge of Porcelain”
“500 Vases”, Lark Books, 2011
“Ceramics Today” book published by Schiffer LTD, 2010
“The Best of 500 Ceramics”, Lark Books, 2012

 

Select Exhibitions

2024-2017, The Winter Show, New York, NY
2024-2019, Art Palm Beach
2024-2019, The Palm Beach Show
2024, 2019, Art Wynwood, Miami, FL
2024-2021, NCECA Gallery Expo
2024-2017, Tefaf Maastricht, The Netherlands
2024-2020, 2018, 2016-2013, 2008-2007, Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington DC
2024-2023, The Treasure House Fair, London
2023-2015, 2013-2010, 2008-2006, Philadelphia Museum Craft Show, Phila, PA
2022-2016, Masterpiece London
2022-2021, Hamptons Art Market + Design, Bridgehampton, NY
2022-2021, Hamptons Fine Art Fair, Southampton, NY
2021-2019, Naples Art, Antiques & Jewelry Show
2021, Delaware Contemporary “Vessel Invitational” exhibition, Wilmington, DE 2
021, Craft in America “Making Waves” exhibition, Los Angeles, CA
2019-2011, 2007-2006, Cherry Creek Art Festival, Denver CO
2019, 2017-2007, 2005, American Craft Exposition, Evanston, Ill
2017, “Three Masters in Porcelain” exhibition, Sherrie Gallerie, Columbus, OH
2017, “Making Waves” exhibition, Mesa Contemporary Art Museum, AZ
2017, “Making it in Crafts III” exhibition, Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, IN
2017-2004, American Craft Council Show, Baltimore, MD
2017, 2014-2012, American Craft Council Show, San Francisco, CA
2016-2006, Palm Beach Fine Craft Show, West Palm Beach, FL
2016, 2013, 2011-2010, American Craft Council Show, Atlanta, GA
2016, 2013-2011, American Craft Council Show, St. Paul, MN
2016, Charlotte Contemporary, Charlotte, NC
2016-2008, 2001, Craft Forms, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA
2014-2012, Bellevue Arts Museum Arts Fair, Bellevue, WA
2014-2013, American Fine Craft Show, Brooklyn, NY
2013-2006, Washington Craft Show, Washington DC
2012-2011, 2009-2006, Westchester Craft Show, White Plains, NY
2011, Solo Exhibition, Sherrie Gallerie, Columbus, OH
2011, Alchemy: From Dust to Form exhibition, Harn Museum, University of Florida, FL
2011, Not So Still Life exhibition, Racine Art Museum, WI
2011, Santa Fe Clay “Inhabited Porcelain”, Santa Fe, NM
2011-2007, Old Town Art Festival, Chicago, IL
2011, 2007-2006, Lakefront Festival of Arts, Milwaukee, IL
2010-2008, Long’s Park Art Festival, Lancaster, PA
2010-2009, St. Louis Arts Festival, St. Louis, MO
2009, Fragiles: Porcelain, Glass & Ceramics, Kuwait
2008, The Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Rococo: the Continuing Curve, NYC
2008-2007, 2005, Crafts Boston, Boston, MA
2007, Fuller Craft Museum, Member Exhibition, Brockton, MA
2006, Crafts National 2006, Lancaster Museum, Lancaster, PA
2004, Particles & Passion, Art of Clay, Academy Art Museum, Easton, MD
2004-2003, Boca Raton Museum Art Festival, Boca Raton, FL
2004-2001, Winter Park Arts Festival, Winter Park, FL
2004-1993, Coconut Grove Art Festival, Miami, FL
2002-2001, 1995-1990, Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, Tampa, FL
1995-1992, Disney’s Festival of the Masters, Orlando, FL

Teaching Experience

2024-2008, Select Workshops
2015, Contaf, Itipaiva, Brazil
2014, Potober, Perth, Australia
1995-2003, Instructor, Featherstone Meetinghouse, Oak Bluffs, MA
1993-2004, Participating Artist, Coconut Grove Visiting Artists Program, Miami, FL
1998-2002, Artist in Residence, Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School
1995-1999, Instructor, Chilmark Pottery, Chilmark, MA

 

Professional Affiliations

Massachusetts Cultural Council, 2019 Fellow, 2007 Finalist
American Crafts Council
Featherstone Meetinghouse of the Arts
National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts
Massachusetts Cultural Council, 2007 Finalist
Potter's Council
Niche Award Winner, 2012

Artist Resume

^ top