I am interested in the nature of the autonomous, decorative object and the perception of finely crafted skill used to exhibit a persistent commitment to an idea or exploration. Contextually speaking, my work tends to be derivative of specific aesthetic qualities that I associate with my personal autobiography. Growing up in the rural mountains of North Carolina, I had little exposure to art. Always a visual thinker, I found myself cataloging the visual descriptors of my place within this culture.

I generally assess a particular hierarchy of materials that I associate with this aesthetic and often apply skilled processes to either contradict or reinforce my understanding of them. Important to me is the idea of “double coding,” both honoring and critiquing my common inspirations as well as the more artistic elite. On some level, my work is generally designed to be both beautiful and disturbing.

In regards to my use of animal specimens, while often more of a formal decision, I feel that absolutely all people, in one way or another, act to both honor and consume animals. My own direct use forces me to more readily acknowledge my own conflicted consumptive role. To some extent, I am interested in the ego attached to this process and sometimes attempt to almost “justify” the death of the animals by including them in a ridiculous setting that makes them seem more like humorous participants rather than victims.

In regards to the potential empathic response of the viewer, I find that people are apt to draw their own defining ethical lines in regards to their connection with animals, often influenced by their own distinct upbringings. I make no attempt to be a moral compass on this subject. My work is simply a personal study of my own hypocrisy as a participant in the notion of both honor and consumption.

John Byrd an Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida. He received his BFA in Ceramics from Louisiana State University and his MFA in Ceramics from the University of Washington in 2000. His work has been shown in galleries and museums throughout the United States and abroad.

Education:

Master of Fine Arts University of Washington, 2000
Bachelor of Fine Arts Louisiana State University, 1997

Selected Exhibitions:

Confrontational Ceramics/ group show Arts Exchange
White Planes, NY, October 2008

Full & Spare / Clay in the 21st Century, FSU Museum of Fine Artsgroup show Tallahassee, FL, February 2008

Everyday Atrocities, group show USF Contemporary Arts Museum Tampa, FL, January 2008

A Human Impulse: Figuration from the ASU Art Museum, Nelson Fine Arts Ctr.

Diane and Sandy Besser Collection, group Tempe, AZ, January 2008

Material Transcendence: UA Fine Arts Center Gallery

Clay as Commentary, group show Fayetteville, AR, January 2008

SOFA Chicago, group show Festival Hall, Navy Pier
Chicago, Il, November 2007

Point of Departure, group show Dean Project
Long Island City, NY, September 2007

Man and Beast, group show Garth Clark Gallery, LIC
New York, NY, May 2007

4th World Ceramic Biennale Icheon World Ceramic Center
Icheon, Korea, May-June 2007

John Byrd & Adelaide Paul, Garth Clark Gallery
two person show New York, NY, February 2007

One Part Clay, group show Dean Projects andGarth Clark Gallery, LIC New York, NY, September 2006

Feral Nature, group show Univ. of Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX, August 2006

One Part Clay, group show Dean Projects SOFA New York
New York, NY, April 2006

Sensibility, group show Ash Street Projects
Portland, OR, March 2006

Thresholds: Innovative Clay, group show Ogle Gallery
Portland, OR, March 2006

UnNatural History, group show Kittredge Gallery: University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA, September 2005

Arcimboldo, group show PNW Gallery
Seattle, WA, August 2005

Animal Instinct, group show Baltimore Clayworks Gallery
Baltimore, MD, January 2005

Man’s Best Friend, group show Santa Fe Clay Gallery,
Santa Fe, NM, January 2005

New Works, group show Oculus Gallery,
Baton Rouge, LA, December 2004

From the Neck Up, group show Garth Clark Gallery,
New York, NY, August 2003

(Im)mortal Clay, group show Garth Clark Gallery: LIC
New York, July 2003

Tastefully Tawdry, group show Wexler Gallery
Philadelphia, October 2002

Groundswell; group show Garth Clark Gallery: LIC
New York, September 2002

Blue & White; group show Garth Clark Gallery,
New York, NY, July 2002

New Work, solo show Garth Clark Gallery,
New York, NY, May 2002

Myhre Fellow Exhibition, solo show Warehouse Gallery, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Montana June 2001

Menagerie, group show Kirkland Art Center
Kirkland, Washington, March 2000

Summer Works, dual show Sperry Gallery, UW
Seattle, Washington, September 1999

Honors and Awards:

4th World Ceramic Beinnale, Korea Juror’s Award, 2007

Virginia A. Groot Foundation Award Second Place, 2004

Myhre Fellowship Archie Bray Foundation, 2001

Kottler/Noritake Scholarship University of Washington, 1999

Gonzalez Scholarship University of Washington, 1999

Charles Craig Travel Award, Louisiana State University, 1997
In Memory of Joseph Aurbach

Berringer Ceramics Award Louisiana State University, 1996

Artist Lectures, Panels, and Instructed Workshops:

University of Oregon, 2009 Western Carolina University, 2009

Southern Methodist University, 2008 CAA Conference Panel, Dallas, 2008

Santa Fe Clay, 2007

CAA Conference Panel, New York, 2007 University of Louisiana Lafayette, 2007

San Jose State University, 2006 University of Washington, 2005

University of Central Arkansas, 2004 University of Northern Michigan, 2004

University of Colorado, Boulder, 2003 California State at Long Beach, 2002

Penn State University, 2002 Louisiana State University, 2002

Kansas City Art Institute, 2002

Publications:

Archer, Sarah: “Kitchen Table Politics,” American Craft, February/March 2009

Genocchio, Benjamin: “Ideas Abound in Clay: Ceramics That Go Beyond Bowls,” The New York Times, November 28, 2008 (show review).

Schwartz, Judith S.: Confrontational Ceramics, A & C Black Publishers Ltd. 2008, p. 227

Bernstein, Fred A.: “Sacrificing Space for Scenery,” The New York Times, June 1, 2008 (work mention).

Held, Peter, editing; Bonansinga, Kate, essay: The Human Impulse, Figuration From the Diane and Sandy Besser Collection, Perpetua Press, 2008, p. 30-31

Tarkasis, Kostas, Editor: Clay In Art International Yearbook, Stachosi -Athens, Greece. 2006/2007 ISSN: 1790-6458, p. 25

Reichert, Elizabeth; “Encountering Hybridisation, Avant-Garde Ceramics and Mixed Media,” Ceramics Art and Perception, Issue 68, 2007. P. 47-52

Reichert, Elizabeth; “John Byrd, Indeterminate Histories,” Ceramics Art and Perception, Issue 67, 2007. P. 61-64

Perereault, John; “Review: One Part Clay,” American Craft, Mar. 2007. P. 106-107

Reichert, Elizabeth; “Review: One Part Clay,” Ceramics Monthly, Nov. 2006, p.21-22

Tourtillot, Susan, Editor: 500 Animals in Clay, Lark Books 2006, p. 249, 317, 325

Tourtillot, Susan, Editor; The Figure in Clay. Lark Books 2005, p. 105,106

Sculpture; November 2004, p. 3. Groot Award Recognition

Art in America; October 2004, p. 66. Groot Award Recognition

American Craft; October/November 2004, p.15. Groot Award Recognition

Ceramica: Revista Internacional. No. 88 – 2003, p. 75, 78

Morgenthal, Deborah and Tourtillott, Suzanne, Editors; The Penland Book of Ceramics.

Lark Books 2003

Coates, Brenda; Times-News, June 2002

MacLeod, Chris; “Mixed Media,” City Week, May 30, 2002

New York Guide, Art Now, May 2002

Clark, Garth; “Garth Clark, Life and Works,” The Studio Potter, December 2001

Clark, Garth; “Going for the Gold,” Ceramics Monthly, October 2001

Davis, Don; Wheel Thrown Ceramics, Lark Books 1998.

Post-Graduate Teaching Experience:

University of South Florida: 2005 – Current

Currently Assistant Professor in the School of Art. I am the 3-D Area Coordinator within an interdisciplinary visual art school at a Research-One university. My area of instruction has consisted of classes in the 3-D area, both ceramic and sculpture practices.

University of South Florida: Spring Semester, 2004

Sabbatical Replacement: Ceramics & Sculpture Department. I taught two sections of introductory ceramics and one advanced sculpture class dedicated to various methods of mold making and the use of multiples. As well, I coordinated an independent study program for several graduate students.

Louisiana State University: Spring Semester, 2002 and Fall, 2003

I taught one adjunct section of introductory ceramics in each semester.

Kansas City Art Institute: Fall Semester 2002

Sabbatical Replacement: Ceramics Department. I instructed a full schedule of ceramic sculpture classes including six contact hours with the sophomore class and three contact hours with the seniors.