Epperson Gallery of Ceramic Arts is accepting submissions for “Menagerie” a juried National Clay Competition celebrating Animals. Open to Ceramic Artists who create, interpret and explore the wonder of Animals real, surreal or imagined. Open to both functional and sculptural Ceramic Art.
A Juried Exhibit @ Epperson Gallery of Ceramic Arts, open to all artists 18 and over residing in the USA. All submissions must be made of Clay, open to functional and sculptural work.

You are invited to submit up to 3 of your original works, not previously show at Epperson Gallery of Ceramic Arts.

Juror: Ariel Bowman
Artist Statement
I make sculptures of prehistoric animals that represent the wonder to be found in natural history. I am intrigued by animals that evolved with distinct features, such as unfamiliar tusks, strange elongated limbs, and unusual proportions. I use clay to bring these extinct creatures back to life, sculpting folds of flesh and filling their bellies with air.
The picturesque aesthetic of the eighteenth century refers to a time when our relationship to nature was being expanded by scientific discoveries, yet separated by the disappearance of wild places. Each scene that I create is a fantasy inspiring curiosity about the unknown animal, while nourishing the imagination of the viewer with intricate details. Mysterious giants wander through palatial ruins, discovering the overgrown remains of monuments to human greatness. Moss and vines cover the fossils of civilization, and show the effects of time in their decay.
My work uses reflective nostalgia to present these extinct animals in the context of human history. The unexpected combination of such contrasting timelines questions reality, and rekindles a childlike fascination with the animal world.

Biography

Ariel Bowman was raised in Dallas, Texas where her parents are both artists. Growing up, she spent a lot of time outside with animals. The undeveloped woodlands that surrounded her childhood home inspired her to create art that focused on the natural world. As a sculptor, Ariel works in clay using a variety of mixed media techniques.

Clay is the most influential material that Ariel has worked with. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in ceramics from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2011, and an Masters of Fine Arts degree from the Univer- sity of Florida in 2018. She has studied abroad at the International Ceramics Studio in Hungary and was awarded the Regina K. Brown NCECA undergraduate and graduate fellowships. Ariel has been an artist in residence at the Armory Art Center and her work has been collected by the Kamm Teapot Foundation, the Belger Arts Center, and the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts.

AWARDS: First Place: $1,500. Second Place; $1,000. Third Pace: $500.

• Artists may submit up to 3 works for consideration. All artwork must be for sale and available during the time of exhibition.
•The artwork exhibited must be the same piece(s) submitted for consideration.
• Submitted artwork must not exceed 72” in any direction or weigh more than 65 lbs.

Artwork Specifications:

•The artwork entered should be prepared for professional display and not so fragile as to be potentially dangerous to the work or others when shipped/displayed/handled with reasonable care.
•Artists are responsible for cost of shipping selected work(s) to the Epperson Galley of Ceramic Arts. Artists are responsible for their own insurance for shipping to Epperson Gallery of Ceramic Arts.

• For good image quality and a fast upload, your image files should be sized at and no larger than 1800 x 1800 pixels at 72 dpi (approximately 600x 600 at 300 dpi)

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria