tony wright
biography

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Artist Statement I am a potter. For the majority of my twenty-year obsession with clay, my work has focused on the use of the potter’s wheel, creating vessels for utilitarian and decorative purposes. Recent investigations however, have drawn me away from the strict symmetry inherent to wheel-thrown vessels and reliance on simple, traditional, high-fired glaze surfaces. My current work now runs the gamut from rather whimsical vessel forms such as teapots, jars and drinking vessels, to large and small-scaled figurative sculptures utilizing a wide range of surface techniques. I attribute this rediscovered joy of experimentation to the fact that I teach in a rather small academic art program. As the sole ceramics professor, I teach all levels of students and try to provide solid instruction in the broad range of materials, processes and contexts that clay affords. As I attempt to address the diverse needs and interests of my students, I find myself asking new and varied questions of my own studio work. Having less of a specific focus to my work can be unsettling as I am not readily certain whether or not an individual piece is resolved. I find it gratifying, however, to be learning as much from my interactions with students as they are hopefully learning from me.			scott bennett fong choo dori decamillis scott meyer tony wright daniel white red dot pots
BORN Joliet , Illinois. 1964 Currently Assistant Professor of Ceramics, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL EDUCATION 1994-97 MFA, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, IL. 1984-90 BFA, Moorhead State University, Moorhead MN. 1982-83 Concordia College, Moorhead MN.
SOLO EXHIBITS 2004 Survey: Clayworks by Tony Wright, Chesser Gallery, Mobile AL 2002 Potter, University of West Florida Art Gallery, Pensacola FL 2000 Introductions, Townhouse Gallery, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 1999 Zephyr Gallery, Louisville, KY. 1998 New Harmony Gallery Of Contemporary Art, New Harmony, IN.
GROUP EXHIBITS 2005 Craft USA ’05 National Craft Triennial, Silvermine Guild Art Center, New Canaan, CT. 2004 George E. Ohr National Arts Challenge, Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, Biloxi, MS The 2004 International Orton Cone Box Show, NCECA Indianapolis, and Baker University, Baldwin, KS Clay! A National Ceramics Invitational Exhibition, Space 301, Mobile, AL 2003 100 Teapots 2, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD Crafts National 37, Zoller Gallery, Penn State University, College Park ,PA Southern Current, Space 301, Mobile, AL Necessary Objects, Functional Pottery Exhibit, The Arts Center, St. Petersburg, FL 2001 Craft Forms 2001, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA. Hand Held Cup, Odyssey Gallery, Asheville, NC. International Invitational Container Show, Running Ridge Gallery, Santa Fe, NM. 1999 Rendezvous 99, invitational exhibit, Museum of Nebraska Art,Kearney, NE.
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, AL Gulf Art Space, Fairhope, AL

tony wright biography

tony wright
biography