LAWFER, JAYSON
ILLINOIS
ILLINOIS
It is important for a teabowl, a sake pourer, or a platter to engage with the user a sense of existence and duty. I feel that in the world we live today, where many objects are mass produced and without thought, a handmade ceramic pot reveals something more. It reveals a sense of dedication and determination by the creator to release artistic thought and meet the demands of practical purpose.
The atmosphere of soda and wood firings engulf my senses. I wonder and study about how flashing patterns, wood ash deposits, and glaze colors are formed and challenge myself to find answers. I do so knowing that some of these answers are left unknown within the special life that lives and breathes inside of each kiln.
Passion lives within everybody. Mine is in the momentum of clay.
Jayson Lawfer was most recently living between Italy and the United States while directing The Nevica Project (www.theNEVICAproject.com). The Nevica Project is an online gallery and art consulting business. After graduating from the University of Montana, Jayson completed an artist residency at Guldagergard (2002) in Denmark, The Archie Bray Foundation (2004), A.I.R. Vallauris in Vallauris, France (2006), and Lillstreet Art Center (2007). His work has been featured in prestige American exhibitions at the Lancaster Museum of Art (Pennsylvania), Missoula Art Museum (Montana), Cedar Rapids Museum of Art (Iowa), and New Hampshire Institute of Art. His pottery has been selected for the Totally Teabowl exhibition in England, the Sydney Meyer Fund International Ceramic Award in Australia and The Salzbrand 2006 competition in Germany. The American Society of Ceramics awarded Jayson one of the "2005 Emerging Artists of the Year". From 2002-2006, he was the Executive Director of The Clay Studio of Missoula (USA), Gallery Director of its exhibition space and Resident Director of its artist-in-residence program. He was a Resident Artist and Guest Curator at Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago, Illinois from 2006-2007.
Jayson’s talents of being an artist and holding positions of directorship have granted him the opportunity to present lectures and lead workshops in Mexico, Italy and in the USA.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramic Art, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana
ARTIST EXPERIENCE
EXHIBITIONS
2009
2009 Annual Archie Bray Auction, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT, invitational
2008
Recent Work, Roswell Art Center West Gallery, Roswell, Georgia
Yunomi, Akar Design, Iowa City, IA, invitational
2007
Totally Teabowl, The Oakwood Gallery, Nottinghamshire, England, invitational
2006
Sidney Myer Fund International Ceramics Award, Shepparton Art
Gallery, Shepparton, Australia, juror: Akio Takamori
Salzbrand 2006, Gallery Handwerk Koblenz, Koblenz, Germany, juried
14th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National, Lancaster Museum of Art,
Lancaster, PA, juror: Tom Coleman
30x5, Akar Design, Iowa City, IA, invitational
Overture- Tom Hoffman, Jayson Lawfer, and Karen Swyler, Dubhe Carreno Gallery, Chicago, IL, Invitational
Ceramics Invitational 2006, Atrium Gallery, Corning College, Corning, NY, invitational
Young Fire-2006 International Woodfire Conference, Earthenware Ceramics Gallery, Flagstaff, Az, Invitational
Feats of Clay XIX, Gladding McBean Clay Factory, Lincoln, CA, Juror: Judith Duff,
International Bray Resident Auction, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT, invitational
For the Table, NCECA, Portland, Oregon, Santa Fe Clay Invitational
Recent Work by Jayson Lawfer, Trey Hill and Ryan Mitchell , Whole Foods/NCECA, Portland, Or
2005
2005 Annual Archie Bray Auction, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT, invitational
33rd Annual Benefit Art Auction, Art Museum of Missoula, Missoula, MT, Invitational
Jersey Shore Clay National, Mt. Burton Gallery, Surf City, NJ, juror: Peter Callas
Pots: Objects of Virtue, Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA, juror: Mark Pharis
Small Clay- Jayson Lawfer, Art Museum of Missoula, Missoula, MT, Invitational
5th Annual National Juried Cup Show, Gallery 138, Kent State University School Art, Kent, OH, juror: Renee Fairchild
Cups, Cups, Cups, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM, invitational
Vapourware, Pottery Northwest, Seattle, WA, invitational
Woodfire 2005- Jason Hess, Josh DeWeese, Ryan Mitchell, Jayson Lawfer, Ted
Adler, Eva Kwong, Thomas Rohr, and Al Tennant, The Clay Studio Exhibition Space, Missoula, MT, invitational
2004
2004 12th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National, Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA, juror: Susan Peterson
Ceramics Biennial 2004, New Hampshire Institute of Art, Manchester, NH, juror: Chris Gustin
Gems From The Fire, Iowa Hall Gallery, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA, jurors: Chuck Hindes and Gerry Eskin
The Naked Truth: 2004 International Juried Woodfire Exhibition, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA, jurors: Janet Mansfield, Don Reitz, and Ryoji Koie
32nd Annual Benefit Art Auction, Art Museum of Missoula, Missoula, MT, Invitational
4th Annual National Juried Cup Show, Gallery 138, Kent State University School of Art, Kent, OH, juror: Janet Buskirk
Pitcher This, Artworks Gallery, Bozeman, MT, invitational
Woodfire 2004- Josh Deweese, Jason Hess, Sam Taylor, Ben Krupka, and Jayson
Lawfer, The Clay Studio of Missoula Exhibition Space, Missoula, MT
Mugs, Jugs, and Bottles, The Saratoga Clay Company, Wilton, New York juror: Jill
Fishon-Kovachick
Visions In Clay 2004, San Joaquin Potters Guild, Stockton, Ca, juror; Robert Brady
2003
2003 Feats of Clay XVI, Gladding McBean Clay Factory, Lincoln, CA, Juror: Joe Mariscal, Purchase Award
Ceramics 2003 USA, University of North Texas Gallery of Art, Denton, TX, Juror:
Doug Casebeer
Bending Cone 13, The Clay Studio of Missoula Exhibition Space, Missoula, MT
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2006- 2007 Artist in Residence, Lillstreet, Chicago, IL
2006 Artist in Residence, A.I.R Vallauris, Vallauris, France
2004 Artist in Residence, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
2002 Artist in Residence, Guldagergaard, The Museum of International Ceramic Art, Skaelskor, Denmark
CURATED EXHIBITIONS, WORKSHOPS, AND LECTURES
2009 Pushing Clay with Jayson Lawfer, La Jicara Art Center, Mexico City, Mexico
Professional Practices lecture, American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL
2008 THE ARCHIE BRAY FOUNDATION- PRESENT AND PAST RESIDENT ARTISTS, invitational of over 50 artists during SOFA CHICAGO, Chicago, Il
POUR AND CONTAIN, a workshop and curated exhibition at Roswell Clay Collective, Roswell, Ga
Altered Forms by Jayson Lawfer, Roswell Art Center West Gallery, Roswell, Georgia
Pushing Clay with Jayson Lawfer and Jay Strommen, LSPS, Chicago Illinois
2007 AKIO TAKAMORI WORKSHOP, organized a sculpture workshop with international artist at Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago, Il
A WOODFIRED EXPERIENCE, led a 10-day pottery workshop and culture tour of Tuscany, La Meridiana Art Center, Certaldo, Italy
ALTERED FORM, a personal workshop featuring altering techniques when creating pottery forms at Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago, Il
ALTERED FORM, a personal workshop, lecture, and critique featuring altering techniques when creating pottery forms at Kent State University, Kent, Oh
2002-2006 As Gallery Director from these years, I curated numerous national and international exhibitions- over 20 invitational and 7 juried shows. Most of the shows focused on ceramic art ranging from emerging talent to the highly reputable veterans as Notkin, Voulkos, Autio, etc.
2005 Lecture- Contemporary ceramics, Art Museum of Missoula, Missoula, MT
2005 A DAY WITH PAUL SOLDNER, organized a sculpture workshop and lecture with artist at The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
2004 COLLECT, organized a group exhibition with works from Richard Serra, Agnes Martin, Richard Tuttle, Claes Oldenburg and others. Missoula, MT
PRIVATE/PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
2006 Westerwald Ceramics Museum in Höhr-Grenzhausen, Germany
2005 Tara Donovan Private Collection, Brooklyn, NY
2004 The Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Mt
2004 Rudy and Lela Autio Private Collection, Missoula, MT
2002 Gilbert Millikan Private Collection, Missoula, MT
2002 Museum of Arts and Culture Permanent Collection, University of Montana,
Missoula, MT
2002 Museum of International Ceramic Art Permanent Collection, Skaelskor, Denmark
2000 Museum of Arts and Culture Permanent Collection, University of Montana,
Missoula, MT
PUBLICATIONS
2008 The Spirit of Ceramic Design by Robert Piepenburg, Pebble Press Inc
2008 “Upfront”, Ceramics Monthly, November, vol. 56, no. 9
2007 “Overture-Karen Swyler, Jayson Lawfer, Tom Hoffman”, American Craft, Feb/Mar
“Upfront”, Ceramics Monthly, Jan., vol. 55, no.1
2006 500 Pitchers by Lark Books
2005 “2005 Emerging Artist”, Ceramics Monthly, vol. 53, no. 5
500 CUPS by Lark Books
2004 “Upfront”, Ceramics Monthly, Dec., vol. 48, no.10
Clay Times July/August, Potsketch , vol. 10, no. 4
Marking Marks by Robin Hopper, Krause Publications
2003 “The Gallery”, Clay Times, Nov/Dec, vol. 9, no. 6
The atmosphere of soda and wood firings engulf my senses. I wonder and study about how flashing patterns, wood ash deposits, and glaze colors are formed and challenge myself to find answers. I do so knowing that some of these answers are left unknown within the special life that lives and breathes inside of each kiln.
Passion lives within everybody. Mine is in the momentum of clay.
Jayson Lawfer was most recently living between Italy and the United States while directing The Nevica Project (www.theNEVICAproject.com). The Nevica Project is an online gallery and art consulting business. After graduating from the University of Montana, Jayson completed an artist residency at Guldagergard (2002) in Denmark, The Archie Bray Foundation (2004), A.I.R. Vallauris in Vallauris, France (2006), and Lillstreet Art Center (2007). His work has been featured in prestige American exhibitions at the Lancaster Museum of Art (Pennsylvania), Missoula Art Museum (Montana), Cedar Rapids Museum of Art (Iowa), and New Hampshire Institute of Art. His pottery has been selected for the Totally Teabowl exhibition in England, the Sydney Meyer Fund International Ceramic Award in Australia and The Salzbrand 2006 competition in Germany. The American Society of Ceramics awarded Jayson one of the "2005 Emerging Artists of the Year". From 2002-2006, he was the Executive Director of The Clay Studio of Missoula (USA), Gallery Director of its exhibition space and Resident Director of its artist-in-residence program. He was a Resident Artist and Guest Curator at Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago, Illinois from 2006-2007.
Jayson’s talents of being an artist and holding positions of directorship have granted him the opportunity to present lectures and lead workshops in Mexico, Italy and in the USA.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramic Art, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana
ARTIST EXPERIENCE
EXHIBITIONS
2009
2009 Annual Archie Bray Auction, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT, invitational
2008
Recent Work, Roswell Art Center West Gallery, Roswell, Georgia
Yunomi, Akar Design, Iowa City, IA, invitational
2007
Totally Teabowl, The Oakwood Gallery, Nottinghamshire, England, invitational
2006
Sidney Myer Fund International Ceramics Award, Shepparton Art
Gallery, Shepparton, Australia, juror: Akio Takamori
Salzbrand 2006, Gallery Handwerk Koblenz, Koblenz, Germany, juried
14th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National, Lancaster Museum of Art,
Lancaster, PA, juror: Tom Coleman
30x5, Akar Design, Iowa City, IA, invitational
Overture- Tom Hoffman, Jayson Lawfer, and Karen Swyler, Dubhe Carreno Gallery, Chicago, IL, Invitational
Ceramics Invitational 2006, Atrium Gallery, Corning College, Corning, NY, invitational
Young Fire-2006 International Woodfire Conference, Earthenware Ceramics Gallery, Flagstaff, Az, Invitational
Feats of Clay XIX, Gladding McBean Clay Factory, Lincoln, CA, Juror: Judith Duff,
International Bray Resident Auction, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT, invitational
For the Table, NCECA, Portland, Oregon, Santa Fe Clay Invitational
Recent Work by Jayson Lawfer, Trey Hill and Ryan Mitchell , Whole Foods/NCECA, Portland, Or
2005
2005 Annual Archie Bray Auction, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT, invitational
33rd Annual Benefit Art Auction, Art Museum of Missoula, Missoula, MT, Invitational
Jersey Shore Clay National, Mt. Burton Gallery, Surf City, NJ, juror: Peter Callas
Pots: Objects of Virtue, Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA, juror: Mark Pharis
Small Clay- Jayson Lawfer, Art Museum of Missoula, Missoula, MT, Invitational
5th Annual National Juried Cup Show, Gallery 138, Kent State University School Art, Kent, OH, juror: Renee Fairchild
Cups, Cups, Cups, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM, invitational
Vapourware, Pottery Northwest, Seattle, WA, invitational
Woodfire 2005- Jason Hess, Josh DeWeese, Ryan Mitchell, Jayson Lawfer, Ted
Adler, Eva Kwong, Thomas Rohr, and Al Tennant, The Clay Studio Exhibition Space, Missoula, MT, invitational
2004
2004 12th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National, Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA, juror: Susan Peterson
Ceramics Biennial 2004, New Hampshire Institute of Art, Manchester, NH, juror: Chris Gustin
Gems From The Fire, Iowa Hall Gallery, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA, jurors: Chuck Hindes and Gerry Eskin
The Naked Truth: 2004 International Juried Woodfire Exhibition, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA, jurors: Janet Mansfield, Don Reitz, and Ryoji Koie
32nd Annual Benefit Art Auction, Art Museum of Missoula, Missoula, MT, Invitational
4th Annual National Juried Cup Show, Gallery 138, Kent State University School of Art, Kent, OH, juror: Janet Buskirk
Pitcher This, Artworks Gallery, Bozeman, MT, invitational
Woodfire 2004- Josh Deweese, Jason Hess, Sam Taylor, Ben Krupka, and Jayson
Lawfer, The Clay Studio of Missoula Exhibition Space, Missoula, MT
Mugs, Jugs, and Bottles, The Saratoga Clay Company, Wilton, New York juror: Jill
Fishon-Kovachick
Visions In Clay 2004, San Joaquin Potters Guild, Stockton, Ca, juror; Robert Brady
2003
2003 Feats of Clay XVI, Gladding McBean Clay Factory, Lincoln, CA, Juror: Joe Mariscal, Purchase Award
Ceramics 2003 USA, University of North Texas Gallery of Art, Denton, TX, Juror:
Doug Casebeer
Bending Cone 13, The Clay Studio of Missoula Exhibition Space, Missoula, MT
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2006- 2007 Artist in Residence, Lillstreet, Chicago, IL
2006 Artist in Residence, A.I.R Vallauris, Vallauris, France
2004 Artist in Residence, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
2002 Artist in Residence, Guldagergaard, The Museum of International Ceramic Art, Skaelskor, Denmark
CURATED EXHIBITIONS, WORKSHOPS, AND LECTURES
2009 Pushing Clay with Jayson Lawfer, La Jicara Art Center, Mexico City, Mexico
Professional Practices lecture, American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL
2008 THE ARCHIE BRAY FOUNDATION- PRESENT AND PAST RESIDENT ARTISTS, invitational of over 50 artists during SOFA CHICAGO, Chicago, Il
POUR AND CONTAIN, a workshop and curated exhibition at Roswell Clay Collective, Roswell, Ga
Altered Forms by Jayson Lawfer, Roswell Art Center West Gallery, Roswell, Georgia
Pushing Clay with Jayson Lawfer and Jay Strommen, LSPS, Chicago Illinois
2007 AKIO TAKAMORI WORKSHOP, organized a sculpture workshop with international artist at Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago, Il
A WOODFIRED EXPERIENCE, led a 10-day pottery workshop and culture tour of Tuscany, La Meridiana Art Center, Certaldo, Italy
ALTERED FORM, a personal workshop featuring altering techniques when creating pottery forms at Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago, Il
ALTERED FORM, a personal workshop, lecture, and critique featuring altering techniques when creating pottery forms at Kent State University, Kent, Oh
2002-2006 As Gallery Director from these years, I curated numerous national and international exhibitions- over 20 invitational and 7 juried shows. Most of the shows focused on ceramic art ranging from emerging talent to the highly reputable veterans as Notkin, Voulkos, Autio, etc.
2005 Lecture- Contemporary ceramics, Art Museum of Missoula, Missoula, MT
2005 A DAY WITH PAUL SOLDNER, organized a sculpture workshop and lecture with artist at The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
2004 COLLECT, organized a group exhibition with works from Richard Serra, Agnes Martin, Richard Tuttle, Claes Oldenburg and others. Missoula, MT
PRIVATE/PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
2006 Westerwald Ceramics Museum in Höhr-Grenzhausen, Germany
2005 Tara Donovan Private Collection, Brooklyn, NY
2004 The Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Mt
2004 Rudy and Lela Autio Private Collection, Missoula, MT
2002 Gilbert Millikan Private Collection, Missoula, MT
2002 Museum of Arts and Culture Permanent Collection, University of Montana,
Missoula, MT
2002 Museum of International Ceramic Art Permanent Collection, Skaelskor, Denmark
2000 Museum of Arts and Culture Permanent Collection, University of Montana,
Missoula, MT
PUBLICATIONS
2008 The Spirit of Ceramic Design by Robert Piepenburg, Pebble Press Inc
2008 “Upfront”, Ceramics Monthly, November, vol. 56, no. 9
2007 “Overture-Karen Swyler, Jayson Lawfer, Tom Hoffman”, American Craft, Feb/Mar
“Upfront”, Ceramics Monthly, Jan., vol. 55, no.1
2006 500 Pitchers by Lark Books
2005 “2005 Emerging Artist”, Ceramics Monthly, vol. 53, no. 5
500 CUPS by Lark Books
2004 “Upfront”, Ceramics Monthly, Dec., vol. 48, no.10
Clay Times July/August, Potsketch , vol. 10, no. 4
Marking Marks by Robin Hopper, Krause Publications
2003 “The Gallery”, Clay Times, Nov/Dec, vol. 9, no. 6
