About
Brian Harper is an artist, professor, and Founder and Executive Director of Artaxis.org, a 501(c)(3) non-profit art organization that engages the ceramics community through promotional, educational, and networking programs while celebrating diverse artistic practices and being a resource of aesthetic values. He is an Associate Professor of Fine Art and Ceramics Area Head at Indiana University Southeast.
Executive Director, Artaxis Organization, Inc, 2005 – present
- Management of all Artaxis programming, outreach, fellowships, exhibitions, and other activities in support of the mission of Artaxis (https://artaxis.org/)
- Management of federal nonprofit status for 501(c)3 designation and state nonprofit status in Indiana and Minnesota
- All aspects of website management for nearly 1,000 members in over 50 countries and all 50 States
- Directing and managing all fundraising initiatives
- Developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with non-profits and art centers
Associate Professor of Fine Art, Indiana University Southeast, 2008-present
- Ceramics Area Head: Management of full featured ceramics studio used by over 50 students each semester, working with administration to ensure safe studio practices
- Management of budget responsibilities for Ceramics Area
- Teaching all levels of ceramics and curriculum management
- Managing and mentoring Resident Artist faculty
- Managing and mentoring Post Baccalaureate students
- Serving on program, school, and campus committees
Education
Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management (expected 2024), O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Bloomington
M.F.A. University of Iowa, Iowa City, May 2004 – July 2005 (Ceramics Emphasis, Sculpture Minor)
M.A. University of Iowa, Iowa City, August 2002 – May 2004 (Ceramics Emphasis, Sculpture Minor)
Apprentice to Don Reitz, Ceramic Artist, Clarkdale, Arizona, December 2001 – August 2002
B.F.A. Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, August 1997 – December 2001 (Ceramics Emphasis)
The Art Institute of Boston, Boston, MA, August 1994 – May 1996 (Photography Emphasis)
Exhibitions
(*solo shows marked by asterisk)
2023
Coalescence, Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, Sedalia, Missouri. Curated by Garry Holstein.
All Today’s Parties, Wheelhouse Arts, Louisville, Kentucky. Curated by Daniel Pfalzgraf.
Pyro Invitational 2023, Pyro Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky.
2022
Southern Miss Ceramics National, 2022, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Juried by George Rodriguez
Relief to the People: Benefiting Ukraine, Shapin Nicolas Art Project (SNAP), Jeffersontown Kentucky. Curated by Rebecca Norton, Lindsey Cummins, and Amy King
Artaxis Invitational, Longwell Museum, Crowder College, Neosho, Missouri. Curated by Josh Novak.
2022 IU Southeast Faculty Exhibition, Ronald L. Barr Gallery, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana.
Contemporary Wonderland Way, Harrison County Arts, Corydon, Indiana.
Valdosta National 2022, Valdosta State University, Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery, Valdosta, Georgia. Juried by Samuel Dunson.
2021
The Memory MiKiHASi. Silver Award. Juried by MiKiHASi collective. San Francisco, California.
Distant Ceramics, 3rd Edition, Online exhibition at https://www.distantceramics.com/. Juried by Rachel Eng
Small Wonders 2021, Circle Gallery, Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, Maryland. Juror’s Choice Award. Juried by Amanda Burnham.
Fourteenth Annual Cup Show: Form and Function, Amelia Center Gallery, Gulf Coast State College, Visual and Performing Arts, Panama City, Florida. Juried by Molly Bishop
58th Annual Juried Competition, Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, Louisiana. Juried by Dr. Kelli Morgan
2020
Distant Ceramics: An Online International Ceramics Exhibition, Juried by Shoji Satake. Online exhibition at: https://www.distantceramics.com/
A Ceramics Exhibition, The In Art Gallery. Juried by Matthew McConnell. Online exhibition at: https://theinartgallery.com/
2019
The Great Divide, Morean Center for Clay, St. Petersburg, Florida. Juried by Bruce Dehnert
Small and Smaller, Site: Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York. Juried by Heather Darcy Bhandari
The State of Clay in Indiana, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Juried by Ted Neal
Mid-Atlantic Keramik Exchange, Nordic House (Norræna Húsið), Reykjavik, Iceland. Curated by Alice Walton and Nate Prouty
Past Curfew Pop-up, at the Fair State Brewing Cooperative and in Coordination with the 2019 NCECA conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Curated by Andrew Casto
2018
2018 Southern Miss Ceramics National, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Juror: Anthony Stellaccio
Form. Figure. Structure., ArtSpace Lima, Lima, Ohio. Curated by Luke Sheets
IU Southeast Faculty Exhibition, Ronald L. Barr Gallery, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
US, Clay Art Center, Port Chester, New York
On Structure, Grunwald Gallery, Indiana University Bloomgington, Bloomington, Indiana. Curated by Linda Tien
Cut and Constructed, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, Montana. Curated by Jennifer Cole
Found Again, NCECA Concurrent Exhibition, Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tactic III, Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art, Main Gallery, Augusta, Georgia
2017
Tactic II, Kennedy Museum of Art, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
Zanesville Prize for Contemporary Ceramics, Finalist, Zanesville, Ohio
No Two Alike, Giles Gallery, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky
* Scaffold: Recent Work by Brian Harper, The Commons, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Indiana
Scofflaws, NCECA Concurrent Exhibition, Pacific Northwest College of the Arts, Portland, Oregon
Politics of the Figure: Ideologies of Failure, NCECA Concurrent Exhibition, Portland, Oregon
Major Mud 2017, Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg, Florida
Bread & Roses: Recent Work from IUS Ceramics , Pat Harrison Art Center Gallery, Southern Indiana Arts Council, New Albany, Indiana
2016
ScanCeram Presenters Exhibition, ScanCeram conference, Tolne Pavillian, Tolne, Denmark
Clay? VI, Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, Washington (national juried), Juried by Jamie Walker, Doug Jeck, and Michael Swaine
IU Southeast Fine Art Faculty Exhibition, Barr Gallery, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
Coupled, New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art, Evansville, Indiana. (national invitational)
The Clay Studio National, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, juried by Jennifer Zwilling. (national juried)
CONNECT, Blackburn Gallery, Mary Anderson Art Center, Floyds Knobs, Indiana. Organized by IUS Ceramics.
From There to Here, NCECA Concurrent Exhibition, Marietta Chair Building, Kansas City, Missouri. Curated by Bobby Tso and Josh Van Stippen. (national invitational)
MAN and MADE, NCECA Concurrent Exhibition, UMKC Gallery of Art, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri. Curated by Mallory Wetherell and Matt Ziemke. (national invitational)
Holy Cow Look at the Size of That Thing!, Beverly Arts Center, Chicago, Illinois (regional invitational)
Dirt Poets: Conceptual Clay, curated by Zoé Strecker, Morlan Gallery, Transylvannia University, Lexington, Kentucky (national invitational)
Pixels, Voxels, Lux Center for the Arts, Lincoln, Nebraska. Curated by Bri Murphy. (national invitational)
Virtually Solid, South Gallery, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida (national invitational)
2015
Spectrum Art Fair, site specific architectural projection (collaboration with Tiffany Carbonneau), supported by Spectrum Art Fair, Miami, Florida
Closer, (SCENE) Metrospace, East Lansing, Michigan. Juror: Jae Won Lee (national juried)
Art San Diego, site specific architectural projection (collaboration with Tiffany Carbonneau), supported by San Diego Art Institute and ArtSD, San Diego, California
Rhythm Repetition Ritual, Pottery Northwest, Seattle, Washington (national juried)
Monumental Ideas/Intimate Scale: A National Juried Exhibition, River Campus Art Gallery, Southeast Missouri State University. Juried by Benjie Heu (national juried)
2014
Souvenirs from the Future: A Survey of Contemporary Ceramics, Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, Kansas. Curated by Ben Ahlvers
Sweet Home …, Zephyr Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky. Curated by Dima Strakovsky
Boehm Gallery Ceramics Biennial – Dark Matter, Palomar Community College, San Marcos, California
Biennial IU Southeast Faculty Exhibition, Barr Gallery, New Albany, Indiana
Regional Impact: Faculty Work from IU Regional Campuses, Indiana University East, Richmond, Indiana
2013
Summer Workshop Faculty Exhibition, Appalachian Center for Craft, Cookeville, Tennessee
EUP Bruce Gallery Ceramic Invitational, Bruce Gallery, Edinboro University, Edinboro, Pennsylvannia
Texans and Exs, in Conjunction with NCECA Conference, Winter Street Studios, Houston, Texas
Complimentary, The Green Building Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky
2012
Beyond the Brickyard, Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, Montana
Reflections: National Ceramics Biennial, Halcyon Gallery, Swope Art Museum, Terre Haute, Indiana
IU Southeast Fine Art Faculty Biennial, Ronald L. Barr Gallery, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
2011
*Brian Harper: Oscillations, LOT Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
Powering Creativity: Air, Fuel, Heat, Carnegie Center for Art and History, New Albany, Indiana. Curator: Karen Gillenwater, Director, Carnegie Center
Visions in Clay 2011, LH Horton Jr. Gallery, Delta Center for the Arts, Stockton, California. Juror: Judith S. Schwartz
2010
Critical Chaos, in conjunction with Critical: Santa Fe Conference, Santa Fe, New Mexico
National Ceramics Invitational, University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Ohio University Ceramic Invitational, Trisolini Gallery, Athens, Ohio
Gulf Coast Connections, Pensacola State College, Pensacola, Florida
Aaron Macy Memorial Exhibition, (traveling) Bowling Green, OH
Artaxis.org: An Independent Evolving Network of Artists, Cheltenham Art Center, Cheltenham, Pennsylvania
Merge 2010, Sandusky Cultural Center, Sandusky, Ohio
2009
Merge, Fawick Gallery, Baldwin Wallace College, Berea, Ohio
Clay3: National Juried Ceramics Exhibition, Clayspace, Warrenville, Illinois
Biennial Juried Ceramics Exhibition, Northern Arizona University Art Museum, Flagstaff, Arizona
*Brian Harper: Strings in the Aether, Ronald L. Barr Gallery, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
2008
30 x 5 – Legacy: Bunny McBride, (Invitational), Akar Gallery, Iowa City, Iowa
Faculty Exhibition, Ronald L. Barr Gallery, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
Feats of Clay 2008, Lincoln Arts and Culture Foundation, Lincoln, California
Dualis (Invitational), Grand Arts Center, Tracy, California
*Brian Harper: Private Archaeology, Tarrant County College, Fort Worth, Texas
The 2008 Teacher – Protégé Exhibition, (with my student – Lauren Rusten), Saulsbury Gallery, Azalee Marshall Cultural Center, Temple, Texas
2007
*Brian Harper: New Work, College of Saint Benedict & Saint Johns University, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Fired Forms: Figures, Objects and Abstracts Clay Invitational, The Arts Gallery, Collin Community College, Plano, TX
Red Heat:Contemporary Work in Clay, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma juror: Judy Onofrio
2007 NCECA Clay National, Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, Louisville, Kentucky jurors: Syd Carpenter, Sylvie Granatelli, Nick Kripal
Blue(Invitational), East Central College Gallery, Union, Missouri
Ink and Clay 33, Kellogg University Art Gallery, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California
2007 Studio Faculty Exhibition, Martin Museum of Art, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
49th Annual Delta Exhibition, Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, Arkansas
2006
*Brian Harper: New Myths, Urban Institute of Contemporary Art, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Young Fire: A Woodfire Invitational, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
Kansas State – Baylor University Faculty Exchange Exhibition, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
Stability in Transition (Invitational at NCECA), Sixth Street Gallery, Vancouver, Washingtion
*Brian Harper: New Work, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Suitcase Boogie Ceramic Invitational (at NCECA), Dreambox, Jupiter Hotel, Portland, Oregon
2005
3rd World Ceramic Biennale 2005 Korea, Icheon World Ceramic Center, Icheon, South Korea
2005 NCECA Clay National, Center for Visual Art and Culture, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, jurors: Ron Nagle, Andrea Gill, and Linda Arbuckle
Feats of Clay XVIII, Lincoln Arts and Culture Foundation, Lincoln, California
Clay: A Compelling Expression(Invitational), Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana
American Al2o3 Si02 2H2o: Contemporary Sculpture, Area 405, Baltimore, Maryland
2005 International Cone Box Show, NCECA, Baltimore, Maryland
*Brian Harper: A New Myth – The Road, The Bridge Space, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Graduate Clay, Marvin Cone Gallery, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
M.F.A. Exhibition, Museum of Fine Art, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Gallery International Ceramic Competition, Gallery International, Baltimore Maryland
2004
*Brian Harper: New Myth Series, Armature Gallery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
The Next Generation(Invitational), Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Brian Harper: New Works, Udinotti Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
Jersey Shore National, m.t. burton gallery, Surf City, New Jersey
The Young and the Restless: Eight Emerging Wood Fire Artists(Invitational), Phoenix Rising Gallery, Seattle, WA
2004 International Orton Cone Box Show (Traveling), NCECA, Indianapolis, Indiana
2003
*Brian Harper: New Ceramic Works, Kristen Wigley-Fleming Art Gallery, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa
St. Petersburg Clay National 2003, St. Petersburg Clay Company, St. Petersburg, Florida
International Teabowl Invitational, Northern Arizona University Art Museum, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
Ceramics 2003, Guilford Handcraft Center, Guilford, Connecticut, Juror: Susan Peterson
Four Sculptors, Armature Gallery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
27th Annual Rock Island Fine Arts Exhibition, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois
Units, CSPS Gallery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
2002
Bendel with Friends, Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, Kansas City Missouri
2001
Monuments: B.F.A. Exhibition, Beasley Gallery, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
Out of the Fire: Woodfire, Concordia University, Kreft Center Gallery, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Get Your Art On!, Juried Student Exhibition, Beasley Gallery, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
1997 – 2000
NAU Ceramics Exhibition, Babbitt Administrative Building, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
Yuma 21, Yuma Art Symposium, Yuma, Arizona
Group Ceramics Exhibition, Don Bendel Ceramics Gallery, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
10th Annual Juried Exhibition, Altarpiece: An Installation, Photographic Resource Center, Boston, Massachusetts
Teaching Experience
Associate Professor of Fine Art, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana, August 2014 – Present, Director of Ceramics Area, Teaching all levels of ceramics, Full budget responsibilities, Management of ceramics studio
Assistant Professor of Fine Art, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana, August 2008 – 2014, Director of Ceramics Area, Barr Gallery Coordinator, BFA Coordinator, Teaching all levels of ceramics, Full budget responsibilities, Management of ceramics studio
Full Time Lecturer – Ceramics, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, August 2007 – May, 2008 Ceramics IA, IIA, handbuilding, throwing, firing, clay and glaze formulation, budget responsibilities
Part Time Lecturer – Ceramics, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, August 2006 – May 2007 Ceramics IA, IIA, handbuilding, throwing, firing, clay and glaze formulation
Part Time Assistant Professor, Ceramics, Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas 2006 Spring Semester Appointment, Critique Course for Advanced Ceramic Students
Instructor of Record, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, February 2003 – May 2005 Beginning Ceramics, handbuilding, developed syllabi and course content, full grade book responsibility
Workshops
2013 Instructor, Appalachian Center for Craft, Cookeville, Tennessee
2012 Instructor, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvannia
2009 Instructor, Edinboro University, Edinboro, Pennsylvannia
2006 Instructor, Wood Kiln Redesign and Rebuild Workshop, Taos Art Retreat, Taos, New Mexico
2005 Instructor, Anagama Kiln Loading and Firing Workshop, Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society, Navarre, Florida
2004 Instructor, Anagama Kiln Building Workshop, Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society, Navarre, Florida
2003 Instructor, Anagama Kiln Loading and Firing Workshop, St. Petersburg Clay Company, St. Petersburg, Florida
2002 Instructor, Anagama Kiln Building Workshop, St. Petersburg Clay Company, St. Petersburg, Florida
2001 Teaching Assistant, Summer Wood-fire Workshop, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
Awards / Grants Received
2020 Summer Faculty Fellowship for Teaching (half award), Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
2019 Artist Professional Development Grant, Great Meadows Foundation, Louisville, Kentucky
First Prize, The State of Clay in Indiana, Fort Wayne, Indiana
2017 Short-term Artist in Residence, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, Montana
Summer Faculty Fellowship (half award), Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
Grant-in-Aid for Research, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
2016 Artist Professional Development Grant, Great Meadows Foundation, Louisville, Kentucky
IU Worldwide, Overseas Conference Grant, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
2014 Summer Faculty Fellowship, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
Grant-in-Aid for Research, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
2012 IU Southeast Large Grant Program recipient, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
Indiana Arts Commission, Individual Artist Grant, Indianapolis, Indiana
Summer Faculty Fellowship, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
Grant-in-Aid for Research, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
2011 Indiana University Trustees Teaching Award, New Albany, Indiana
2010 Indiana University Trustees Teaching Award, New Albany, Indiana
2009 Summer Faculty Fellowship, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
2006 Honorable Mention, 49th Annual Exhibition, Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, Arkansas
2005 Purchase Award, Feats of Clay, Lincoln Arts and Culture Foundation, Lincoln, California
Honorable Mention, 3rd World Ceramic Biennale 2005 Korea, Icheon World Ceramic Center, South Korea
Scholarly Presentation Award Grant, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Dewey Stuit Fund Travel Grant, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
2004 Travel Grant, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
2003 Iowa Arts Fellowship, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Travel Grant, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Award of Excellence, St. Petersburg Clay National 2003, St. Petersburg, Florida
2002 Iowa Arts Fellowship, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
2001 Aaron Macy Memorial Scholarship, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
2000 Frederick J. Dockstader Scholarship, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
Visiting Artist Lectures / Conferences
2022
(upcoming) University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, Indiana
Visiting Artist Series, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois
2021
Indiana University, Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana
Indiana University Southbend, Southbend, Indiana. Studio discussion for students.
2019
Myndlistaskólinn í Reykjavík, Reykjavik, Iceland
Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois
2018
Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee
Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas. Studio discussion with “Contemporary Pottery Practices” class.
2017
Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts, Centre College, Danville, Kentucky
Michigan State University, Visiting Artist and Scholar Series, East Lansing, Michigan
2016
University of Southern Mississippi Museum of Art, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
ScanCeram conference, Aalborg, Denmark
2015
Bowling Green State University (Lecture & Panel Discussion), Bowling Green, Ohio
National Council on the Education of Ceramic Art (Panel Discussion), Providence, Rhode Island
Lux Center for the Arts, (gallery talk), Lincoln, Nebraska
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
Doane College, Crete, Nebraska
Arrowmont Pentaculum: Five Media, One Forum (Invited Participant), Gatlinburg, Tennessee
2014
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
State University of New York (SUNY) New Paltz, New Paltz, New York
Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, Oregon
2013
Kendall College of Art and Design, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Appalachian Center for Craft, Cookeville, Tennessee
2012
Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
2010
National Council on the Education of Ceramic Art (as part of Emerging Faculty: New Approaches to Teaching Ceramics Panel), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2009
Edinboro University, Edinboro, Pennsylvania
2008
International Ceramics Studio, Kecskemet, Hungary
University of Miami, Miami, Florida
Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
Hartwick College, Oneonta, New York
University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Tarant County College, Fort Worth, Texas
McClennan Community College Visiting Artist Lecture Series, Waco, Texas
Ohio University, Artist Panel: Non-Traditional Approaches to Material, Athens, Ohio
2007 College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Collin County Community College, Plano Texas
2006 Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Taos Art Retreat, Taos, New Mexico
2005 Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society, Navarre, Florida
NCECA Graduate Student Slide Forum, Baltimore, Maryland
Kingsborough Community College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, New York
2004 Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society, Navarre, Florida
NCECA Graduate Student Slide Forum, Indianapolis, Indiana
2003 Luther College Center for the Arts, Decorah, Iowa
St. Petersburg Art Center, St. Petersburg, Florida NCECA
Graduate Student Slide Forum, San Diego, California 2002
Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida (slide lecture and demonstration)
St. Petersburg Clay Company, St. Petersburg, Florida
2001 Mt. Elden Middle School, Flagstaff, Arizona
University of Iowa Summer Woodfire Workshop, Iowa City, Iowa
Curatorial and Jury Experience
2019
Juror: Whitewater Valley Art Competition, Indiana University East, Richmond, Indiana
2016
Juror: The Southern Miss Clay National, University of Southern Mississippi Museum of Art, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Juror / Reviewer: 2017 FATE (Foundations in Art: Theory and Education) Conference, reviewed and scored panel discussion proposals
2015
Curator: Boundless: Lauren Herzak-Bauman & Blake J. Williams, Ronald L. Barr Gallery, IU Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
Juror: Mug Shots, 7th Annual Juried Cup Show, Lux Center for the Arts, Lincoln, Nebraska
2013
Curator: The Ephemeral, The Evolving: Linda Swanson, Courtney Kessel, and Joyce Ogden, Barr Gallery, IU Southeast, November 7th – December 5th, 2013
Curator: Filtered Permeability: Ian F. Thomas and Shreepad Joglekar, Barr Gallery, IU Southeast, August 30th – October 4th, 2013
2012
Curator: Transition Points: Lisa Walcott, Linda Lopez, Terrence Campagna, Mathew McConnell, Barr Gallery, IU Southeast, New Albany, Indiana. August 30th – October 4th, 2012.
2011
Curator: Strange Attractors: Exchanges Between Reason and Potential, Barr Gallery, IU Southeast, New Albany, Indiana. Jan. 20th – Feb. 16th, 2011
Curator: The Air & The Ground: Natalie Tornatore & Ben Stout, Barr Gallery, IU Southeast, New Albany, Indiana. Jan. 20th – Feb. 16th, 2011
2010
Juror: Scholastic Art Awards, Louisville, Kentucky
Curator: NCECA Concurrent Exhibition, Artaxis.org: An Evolving Independent Network of Artists, Cheltenham Art Center, Cheltenham, Pennsylvania
2009
Juror: OH + 5 Biennial Exhibition, Dairy Barn Art Center
Juror: Scholastic Art Awards, Louisville, Kentucky
2005
Arts Coordinator, Project Art, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
National Council on the Education of Ceramic Art (NCECA)
2022 Co-Lecture: Bridging the Gap, the Impact of University Residency Programs. Co-lecture with Steve Hilton. NCECA Sacramento, California. Watch Brian’s part of the lecture HERE.
2021 Presenter: Don Bendel, Past Masters. NCECA Richmond, Virginia. Watch the lecture HERE.
2017 Panelist: Scofflaws: Authority and Rebellion, National Council on the Education of Ceramic Art, Portland, Oregon
Co-Lecture: The Digital Image Dialog with Ted Vogel and Brian Harper, National Council on the Education of Ceramic Art, Portland, Oregon
2015 Panelist: The Social (Media) Experiment, National Council on the Education of Ceramic Art, Providence, Rhode Island (upcoming)
2013 Member, NCECA Voting Task Force
Nominated by NCECA Nominations Committee to run for Communications Director of NCECA
2012 Member, NCECA Audio/Visual Task Force
2010 Panelist: Emerging Faculty: New Approaches to Teaching Ceramics, National Council on the Education of Ceramic Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2003 – Present Annual conference and attendance and NCECA membership
Published Articles
2022 “Bridging the Gap: The Power of University Residency Programs”, NCECA Journal, Co-authored with Steve Hilton, Volume 42, pages 116-119
2017 “The Digital Image Dialog”, NCECA Journal, Co-authored with Ted Vogel.
2016 “Connect and Recall”, Ceramics Monthly, October 2016 issue, Volume 64, Number 8, pages 24-25.
Other Professional Experience
2017 Lecture during the Regional Fine Arts Educators Roundtable at Bellarmine University. Organized by Laura Hartford.
2013 Co-organized Ephemeral Art and Practice 2 day symposium at IUS and Bellarmine
Completed Professional Grant Development Workshop, Bloomington, Indiana
2011 Panelist: Graduate School Seminar, Bellarmine University, Louisville, Kentucky
2008 Founded and now the Faculty Advisor for the Indiana University Southeast Dirt Bags Art Club
2007 Rebuilt floor, arch, and two walls of 40 cu. ft. Bailey car kiln with Rafael Molina and Paul McCoy
2005 Founded Artaxis.org, an independent evolving online network of artists
Arts Coordinator, Project Art, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
2004 Designed and managed construction of 32 foot anagama kiln for the Gulf Coast Kiln Walk, Navarre, Florida
Assisted Don Bendel with creating, firing, and installing 70 foot ceramic mural, Flagstaff, Arizona
2003 Designed and managed construction of 30 foot anagama kiln for the St. Petersburg Clay Company, St. Petersburg, FL
2002 Assisted with construction of 21 foot anagama kiln and shed, Don Reitz Studio, Clarkdale, Arizona
2001 Designed, raised funds, and managed construction of 29 foot anagama kiln and 30’ x 50’ timber frame kiln shed at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
Installed three 36 foot ceramic murals made under the supervision of Don Bendel, Flagstaff, Arizona
Assisted in building 22 foot anagama kiln, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
2000 Designed and built gas fired downdraft soda kiln, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
Assisted in building 18 foot train kiln, Don Reitz Studio, Clarkdale, Arizona 1999
Designed and built gas fired castable downdraft soda kiln, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
Public Collections (select)
Icheon World Ceramic Center, Icheon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Northern Arizona University Museum, Flagstaff, Arizona
St. Petersburg Clay Company, St. Petersburg, Florida
University of Kansas Ceramics Department, Lawrence, Kansas
Private Collections (select)
Sandy Besser, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Anton and Joan Schiffenhaus, Scottsdale, Arizona
Israel Davis, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Don Reitz, Clarkdale, Arizona
Patty and Barry French, California
Larry Manning, Brewton, Alabama
Victor Bassman, St. Louis, Missouri
Steve and Shelley Schmitt, Chicago, Illinois
Katherine Boeckman Howd, St. Petersburg, Florida
Adam Welch, Brooklyn, New York
Technology
Artaxis.org – https://artaxis.org/
The Claybucket – http://claybucket.com/
SpaceLab – https://spacelabproject.com/
The Standardized Test for Congress – http://standardizedtestforcongress.com/
The Open Crowd Project, 2012-2019 – https://www.brianharperstudio.com/artwork/the-open-crowd-project/
Bibliography
Trade Secret. Podcast interview by Trade Secret podcast host, Adam Chau. Nov. 2021. “The Database & The Network with Natalia Arbelaez and Brian Harper”. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-database-the-network-with-natalia/id1581647886?i=1000540413624
CAA Conversations. Podcast interview for the College Art Association (CAA). Nov. 2019. “Brian Harper // Samuel Johnson // Building for the Greater Good: Artaxis Organization”. https://soundcloud.com/user-765977562/brian-harper-samuel-johnson-building-for-the-greater-good-artaxis-organization
Voyage Chicago, online magazine. “Meet Brian Harper”, March 3rd, 2019. http://voyagechicago.com/interview/meet-brian-harper/
Artists Creating, The Literary & Visual Bi-Monthly for Southern Indiana Creatives, Issue 4, February/March 2019. http://www.itsallart.com/ArtistsCreatingFEB.MAR19.pdf
Catalog: Southern Miss Ceramics National, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Podcast interview: Tales of a Red Clay Rambler, Interview by Ben Carter. Episode #192: Brian Harper on Building Sculpture and Community. October 5th, 2017. http://www.talesofaredclayrambler.com/episodes/192-brian-harper-on-building-sculpture-and-community
Catalog: Zanesville Prize for Contemporary Ceramics, Zanesville, Ohio
CL Tampa Bay, Spring Arts Preview: January, “Major Nud 3”, January 19th, 2017, http://www.cltampa.com/arts-entertainment/article/20849125/spring-arts-preview-january
Sarah McNutt, Ceramics Monthly. December 2015 issue. “Souvenirs from the Future”, https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/ceramics-monthly/ceramic-art-and-artists/ceramic-artists/souvenirs-from-the-future/#
L. Kent Wolgamott, Lincoln Journal Star, “Can Pushing ‘Print’ Make Art: Pixels and Voxels Answers ‘Yes'” http://journalstar.com/entertainment/visual-art/l-kent-wolgamott-can-pushing-print-make-art-pixels-voxels/
Elizabeth Kramer, Courier Journal, Critic’s Pick, “Someplace Like Home”, Sept. 25th, 2014. http://www.courier-journal.com/story/entertainment/arts/visual/2014/09/25/critics-picks-visual-arts/16228991/
Podcast interview: The Jonescast, Interview by Brian R. Jones. Episode #36: Brian Harper, https://mytuner-radio.com/podcasts/the-jonescast-brian-r-jones-445596616
Linda Kopp, editor. “The Best of 500 Ceramics”. Lark Crafts
Artist Feature, Pure I Uncut I Candy, Louisville’s All Inclusive Art Browser, Volume 1, Issue 6, July 2011, page 16
Triplett, Jo Anne, LEO Weekly, “Strange Attractors”, pg. 25, Feb. 2, 2011 issue
Panhandler Magazine, Contemporary Ceramic Artists Issue, Fall, 2010, (4 page spread, 6 images, bio, artist statement, profile image)
Suzanne J.E. Tourtillott, editor. Glen R. Brown, curator. “500 Ceramic Sculptures: Contemporary Practice, Singular Works” Lark Books
Adam Welch, “NCECA Biennial: Reconsidering Exhibition Practice” Ceramics Art and Perception, No. 70 December 2006 – February 2007, 94-101
Catalog: Ink and Clay 33, page 57, online at: http://www.csupomona.edu/~kellogg_gallery/web-content/PDF/IC33_Cat.pdf
Adam Welch, “Minimalism and Ceramics: the Sculptural Perplex of Brian Harper”, Ceramics Art and Perception, No. 63 March – May 2006, 53-57
Joshua Green, “Meditations on the NCECA Clay National Exhibition”, NCECA Journal 2005, Volume XXVI, 30-34
Web Video: Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, www.jonathanferraragallery.com, “Artist Video Interview with Sidonie Villere”
Catalog: 3rd World Ceramic Biennale 2005 Korea (CEBIKO)
Catalog: NCECA Clay National, 2005
Web Video: Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society, www.kilnwalk.org, “Closing the Anagama / Preparing to Fire”, direct link: http://kilnwalk.org/kilnAnagamaVideo.aspx
Web Video: Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society,www.kilnwalk.org, Don Reitz and Brian Harper – Question / Discussion Session Following the Opening / Lighting Ceremony, direct link: http://kilnwalk.org/mediaHarperReitz.aspx
Web Video: Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society,www.kilnwalk.org, Brian Harper – Anagama Build and Use, direct link: http://kilnwalk.org/mediaBHarper001.aspx
Ken Garner, “All Fired Up”, Navarre Press, December 8, 2005
Lisa Newall and Victoria Papajohn, “Kiln Gets Fired Up”,Splash!, December 2005
Amy Adams, “Arts Restorative Power”, Design and Architecture, p. 36-39, Jan/Feb Issue, 2005
Elizabeth P. Crowe, “A Hot Time in Holley”, Navarre Press, August 12, 2004, Navarre, Florida
Christina Drain, “Community Fire”, Pensacola News Journal, August 4, 2004, Pensacola, Florida
David Kamm, “Brian Harper: New Ceramic Work”, October 27, 2003, Luther College Archives, Decorah, Iowa
Lennie Bennett, “Into the Fire”, St. Petersburg Times, June 19, 2003, St. Petersburg, Florida
Becky Pallack, “Rare Kiln Breathes for Annual Lighting”, The Lumberjack Axe, August 22-28, 2001, Flagstaff, AZ
Dean Bonzani, “New Kiln at NAU”, Flagstaff Live!, July 6-12, 2000 Vol. 6, Issue 27
References
(contact information available upon request)
Debra Clem, Professor of Fine Art, School of Arts and Letters, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
Susanna Crum, Assistant Professor of Fine Art, School of Arts and Letters, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana
Emily Sheehan, Assistant Professor of Fine Art, School of Arts and Letters, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana