FILLEY, SUSAN
NORTH CAROLINA
NORTH CAROLINA
I work with porcelain, a wonderfully rich clay with beautiful surface qualities. It is defined by its extreme durability and distinctive smooth white color. I have been making pots for more than 30 years and I now work with both functional pots and other more sculptural forms. In all my work, I use glazes which exemplify the stunning depth and brilliance that is unique to high temperature porcelain. I integrate a calligraphic sense of line in the details of the surface, form and edges. Combining all these with my affinity toward form and detail, I am working to create a blend of sophistication, beauty and intimacy in my work.
I like a pot that tells its own story, I want to make pots that speak, meaning they have a strong visual and sensual impact, telling you what they are. It is that sometimes subtle way they suggest how to be used, the simple nuance of their form, the 'fit' of a beautiful cup in your hand. Or it can be a gestural attitude of form that brings the pot to life. I believe in the passion and love of making pots, I am always striving to make that ever elusive perfect >pot in the sky= that hits all the right chords in the right way. This doesn’t describe the pots that I make but is about the way that I work - the continuum of always making more pots and embracing new ideas. I strive to make pots that are beautiful and a pleasure to use, forms that are bold and well balanced, and always a body of work that brings grace and elegance into our lives.
CURRENT POSITION
1985-present Studio Potter, Louisiana, Virginia, Nevada, South Carolina, North Carolina
EDUCATION
1985 MFA Louisiana State Univ. Baton Rouge, LA - MFA,
1982 BA Virginia Polytech.& State Univ., Blacksburg, VA - BA,
Earlham College, Richmond, IN
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2009 Founding Board of Arts Advocates, Chair, Chapel Hill Arts Economic Development project
2009 Advisor, Planning Committee for the National Council on Education of the Ceramic Arts
2009 Curator “Simply Formal” exhibition at the ASU Anthropology Museum, Flagstaff, AZ
2002-2008 President and Presidential term for the National Council on Education of the Ceramic Arts
1999-2005 Owner and founder of ClayWorks Studio and Gallery, Charleston, SC
2005 Art in Public Spaces Project, Tile installation for Charleston Professional Baseball Park
Yingge Ceramics Museum, Invited Presenter, Taipei, Taiwan
Curator, “A Touch of Elegance”, Annapolis, MD
2004 Jingdezhen 1000 Years Porcelain Celebration, Presentation Speech, Jingdezhen, China
2003 Oslo International Ceramic Symposium, Invited Guest, Oslo, Norway
2002 Foshan International Ceramic Symposium, Invited Artist, Workshop/Conference, Foshan, China
Curator, Designer, Administrator of exhibition - “Porcelain: Another Touch”, Kansas City, MO
2000-2002 NCECA - Administrative Assistant
1998-2000 Director at Large, National Council on Education of the Ceramic Arts
PUBLICATIONS
“Simply Formal” upfront portfolio, Ceramic Monthly, June 09
“Susan Filley” by KT Anders, ClayTimes, Issue 4 2008
‘On mothering and claywork’ ClayTimes, July 2006
“Susan Filley, an artist not of her time” Ceramics Art and Perception, issue 62, 2005
‘NCECA Benefit Auction’, author, Clay Times, March, 05
‘Annapolis Exhibition’ Ceramics Monthly, March 05
“Art of the Pot” Ceramics Monthly, portfolio, April 05
500 Cups, 2004, Lark Publications, Asheville, NC
The Complete Guide to High Fire Glazes, Lark Publications, Asheville, NC
The Penland Book of Ceramics, photos, Lark Publications, Asheville, NC
The Body in Clay, photo and review, Ceramics Monthly, 2002
“Randy Johnston” author, Clay Times, May 2002
500 Teapots, 2002, Lark Publications, Asheville, NC
The Ceramic Design Book, 1998, Lark Publications, Asheville, NC
The Art of Contemporary American Pottery, Kevin Hluch, 2001, Krause Publications
“Always New Beginnings” author and artist, Ceramics Monthly feature article, Sept. 2001
“A Touch of Porcelain” author, Clay Times, May 2000
GRANTS and AWARDS
2009 Artist Project Grant Award, “Pot on the Spot” Orange County Arts Commission, NC
2004 New Works Retreat, Penland School of Crafts, NC
“Strictly Functional Pottery National”, Award, Market House Craft Center, East Petersburg, PA
1999 South Carolina Artists Project Grant “Susan Filley - Ceramics Center and Studio”
1998 Two Purchase Awards, “ International Orton Cone Box Show,” Baker University, Baldwin City, KS
Merit Award, Jurors Choice Award,Spoleto Craft Fair - Charleston SC
1997 South Carolina Artists Project Grant Support for Invitational Symposium at Watershed
"Ceramics - One of a Kind" NICHE Award Finalist Buyers Market of American Craft, Phil, PA
1996 Purchase Award Orton Cone Box Show - Traveling Exhibition,
"Merit Award" Spoletto Craft Show Charleston, South Carolina Juror: Ken Botnick
"Best of Show" Dock St. Theater Gallery - Charleston, SC Spoleto Exhibition, Juror: Ken Bloom "Best in Show" Azalea Festival Wilmington, NC Juror: Michael Monroe
1995 Nevada Arts Council Educational Program Grant Award Artist in the Schools Project
Niche Awards Winner "Contemporary Pottery" Buyers Market of American Crafts, Phil, PA
1993 1st Place Award - Ceramics Las Vegas Art Museum, LV,NV
1985 "Best of Show" Fall Crafts Festival; Baton Rouge, LA
COLLECTIONS
Jingdezhen Ceramics Museum, Jingdezhen, China
Scott Jones, Private Collection, Founder of SFPN, PA
World Modern Ceramics Museum of Foshan, China
Shiwan Ceramic Museum, Guangdong, China
LaGrange College Art Gallery, LaGrange, GA
Orton Collection, Baker University,
Dan Overly, collector, Jackson Ms
Norton and Mindy Seltzer, Charleston, SC
EXHIBITIONS
2009 “Simply Formal” Invitational, ASU Anthropology Museum, Scottsdale, AZ
Solo Exhibition, Town Hall Exhibition, Chapel Hill, NC
“National Juried Cup Exhibition”, Lux center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE
“Watershed Woodfire” fundraising exhibtion, Gustin Ceramics, South Dartmouth, MA
“Instructors Exhibition” Invitational Hiestand Galleries, Oxford, OH
2008 “National Teapot Show VII” Invitational Creedmore, NC
“Potters of North Carolina” Invitational, Blue Spiral, NC
“The Body in Pots” Invitational Red Star Studios, Kansas City, NC Solo Exhibition and “Flights of Fancy”, Roswell Visual Arts Gallery, Roswell GA
“Biennial Concordia Continental”Juried Exhibition, St Paul, MN
“6x6" Transformations” Invitational, Westchester, NY
“Tableware” Invitational, Westchester, NY
“George Ohr Influences” Pittsburg, PA
Slip, Slurp, Gulp” Invitational Sante Fe, NM
“11th Annual Contemporary Clay Exhibition”, Invitational, CO Center for the arts, Grand Junction,
“La Mesa” Invitational, Pittsburgh, PA
“Instructors Exhibition” Invitational, Arrowmont School of Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
2007 “Red” Sante Fe Clay”, Invitational Sante Fe, NM
“La Mesa” Invitational, Louisville, KY
2005 “Spouting Off Again” Invitational Teapot Exhibition of Glass and Clay, Tucson, AZ
“The Simple Cup” Invitational, Seward Park Clay Studio, Seattle, WA
“Art of the Pot” Invitational, Austin TX
“Hot Stuff/Clay Tigers” Invitational, Atlanta, GA
”A Touch of Elegance” McBride Gallery, Annapolis, MD
2004 “Strictly Functional Pottery National”, Juried, Market House Craft Center, East Petersburg, PA
‘Odyssey Center Instructors Exhibit’, Invitational, Odyssey Center for Ceramic Art, Asheville, NC
“The Big Show”, Invitational, Four Star Gallery, Indianapolis, IN
“Hundreds of Cups”, Invitational, Sante Fe Clay, Sante Fe, NM
“A Passion for Pottery”, Invitational, Clay and Paper, Dunedin, FL
“Potters of North Carolina” Invitational, Blue Spiral, NC
2003 “1st Century Ceramics in the US and Canada”, Invitational, Columbus, OH
Solo Exhibition - Susan Filley Porcelain, LaGrange College, LaGrange, GA
“Hundreds of Cups”, Invitational, Sante Fe Clay, Sante Fe, NM
“Women in Clay: Pots for Daily Use”, Invitational, Odyssey Gallery, Asheville, NC
“From Inside the Clay Studio”, Lakewood Cultural Center, Lakewood, CO
“Southern Craft”, Invitational, Ogdon Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA
“The Loving Cup”, Invitational, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
2002 “Contemporary Studio Ceramics” Invitational Kemper Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO
“Porcelain: Another Touch” Curator and Artist Kansas City, MO
“Clay Nation” Invitational Exhibition of 4 artists, Wichita, KS
“San Angelo National Ceramic Exhibition” Juried, San Angelo Museum of Fine Art, San Angelo, TX
“The Body in Clay” Invitational, Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO
“Pots Presented” Invitational, Baltimore ClayWorks, MD
2001 “Contemporary Porcelain” Solo Exhibition Nina Liu Gallery Charleston, SC
“6x6 : A Show of Sets” Invitational NCECA Special Exhibition Charlotte, NC
“South Carolina Ceramics” Invitational NCECA Special Exhibition Charlotte, NC
“Bistro” Invitational Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
“Cups, Cupboards and Cabinets” Signature Gallery Atlanta, GA
2000 “Susan Filley and Malcolm Davis” Two Person Exhibit The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
“A Touch of Porcelain” Curator and Artist Denver , CO
“South Carolina Clay” Invitational McMaster Gallery, Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
“First 20 Years: Then and Now” Invitational Baltimore Clayworks Baltimore, MD
Orton Cone Box Show, Traveling Exhibition, Baker Univ, Baldwin City KS Jurors: Harris Deller,
“Dinnerworks” Invitational Sante Fe Clay Sante Fe, NM
1999 “Porcelain Works by Susan Filley” Solo Exhibition, Burrough Chapin Museum, MyrtLe Beach, SC
I like a pot that tells its own story, I want to make pots that speak, meaning they have a strong visual and sensual impact, telling you what they are. It is that sometimes subtle way they suggest how to be used, the simple nuance of their form, the 'fit' of a beautiful cup in your hand. Or it can be a gestural attitude of form that brings the pot to life. I believe in the passion and love of making pots, I am always striving to make that ever elusive perfect >pot in the sky= that hits all the right chords in the right way. This doesn’t describe the pots that I make but is about the way that I work - the continuum of always making more pots and embracing new ideas. I strive to make pots that are beautiful and a pleasure to use, forms that are bold and well balanced, and always a body of work that brings grace and elegance into our lives.
CURRENT POSITION
1985-present Studio Potter, Louisiana, Virginia, Nevada, South Carolina, North Carolina
EDUCATION
1985 MFA Louisiana State Univ. Baton Rouge, LA - MFA,
1982 BA Virginia Polytech.& State Univ., Blacksburg, VA - BA,
Earlham College, Richmond, IN
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2009 Founding Board of Arts Advocates, Chair, Chapel Hill Arts Economic Development project
2009 Advisor, Planning Committee for the National Council on Education of the Ceramic Arts
2009 Curator “Simply Formal” exhibition at the ASU Anthropology Museum, Flagstaff, AZ
2002-2008 President and Presidential term for the National Council on Education of the Ceramic Arts
1999-2005 Owner and founder of ClayWorks Studio and Gallery, Charleston, SC
2005 Art in Public Spaces Project, Tile installation for Charleston Professional Baseball Park
Yingge Ceramics Museum, Invited Presenter, Taipei, Taiwan
Curator, “A Touch of Elegance”, Annapolis, MD
2004 Jingdezhen 1000 Years Porcelain Celebration, Presentation Speech, Jingdezhen, China
2003 Oslo International Ceramic Symposium, Invited Guest, Oslo, Norway
2002 Foshan International Ceramic Symposium, Invited Artist, Workshop/Conference, Foshan, China
Curator, Designer, Administrator of exhibition - “Porcelain: Another Touch”, Kansas City, MO
2000-2002 NCECA - Administrative Assistant
1998-2000 Director at Large, National Council on Education of the Ceramic Arts
PUBLICATIONS
“Simply Formal” upfront portfolio, Ceramic Monthly, June 09
“Susan Filley” by KT Anders, ClayTimes, Issue 4 2008
‘On mothering and claywork’ ClayTimes, July 2006
“Susan Filley, an artist not of her time” Ceramics Art and Perception, issue 62, 2005
‘NCECA Benefit Auction’, author, Clay Times, March, 05
‘Annapolis Exhibition’ Ceramics Monthly, March 05
“Art of the Pot” Ceramics Monthly, portfolio, April 05
500 Cups, 2004, Lark Publications, Asheville, NC
The Complete Guide to High Fire Glazes, Lark Publications, Asheville, NC
The Penland Book of Ceramics, photos, Lark Publications, Asheville, NC
The Body in Clay, photo and review, Ceramics Monthly, 2002
“Randy Johnston” author, Clay Times, May 2002
500 Teapots, 2002, Lark Publications, Asheville, NC
The Ceramic Design Book, 1998, Lark Publications, Asheville, NC
The Art of Contemporary American Pottery, Kevin Hluch, 2001, Krause Publications
“Always New Beginnings” author and artist, Ceramics Monthly feature article, Sept. 2001
“A Touch of Porcelain” author, Clay Times, May 2000
GRANTS and AWARDS
2009 Artist Project Grant Award, “Pot on the Spot” Orange County Arts Commission, NC
2004 New Works Retreat, Penland School of Crafts, NC
“Strictly Functional Pottery National”, Award, Market House Craft Center, East Petersburg, PA
1999 South Carolina Artists Project Grant “Susan Filley - Ceramics Center and Studio”
1998 Two Purchase Awards, “ International Orton Cone Box Show,” Baker University, Baldwin City, KS
Merit Award, Jurors Choice Award,Spoleto Craft Fair - Charleston SC
1997 South Carolina Artists Project Grant Support for Invitational Symposium at Watershed
"Ceramics - One of a Kind" NICHE Award Finalist Buyers Market of American Craft, Phil, PA
1996 Purchase Award Orton Cone Box Show - Traveling Exhibition,
"Merit Award" Spoletto Craft Show Charleston, South Carolina Juror: Ken Botnick
"Best of Show" Dock St. Theater Gallery - Charleston, SC Spoleto Exhibition, Juror: Ken Bloom "Best in Show" Azalea Festival Wilmington, NC Juror: Michael Monroe
1995 Nevada Arts Council Educational Program Grant Award Artist in the Schools Project
Niche Awards Winner "Contemporary Pottery" Buyers Market of American Crafts, Phil, PA
1993 1st Place Award - Ceramics Las Vegas Art Museum, LV,NV
1985 "Best of Show" Fall Crafts Festival; Baton Rouge, LA
COLLECTIONS
Jingdezhen Ceramics Museum, Jingdezhen, China
Scott Jones, Private Collection, Founder of SFPN, PA
World Modern Ceramics Museum of Foshan, China
Shiwan Ceramic Museum, Guangdong, China
LaGrange College Art Gallery, LaGrange, GA
Orton Collection, Baker University,
Dan Overly, collector, Jackson Ms
Norton and Mindy Seltzer, Charleston, SC
EXHIBITIONS
2009 “Simply Formal” Invitational, ASU Anthropology Museum, Scottsdale, AZ
Solo Exhibition, Town Hall Exhibition, Chapel Hill, NC
“National Juried Cup Exhibition”, Lux center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE
“Watershed Woodfire” fundraising exhibtion, Gustin Ceramics, South Dartmouth, MA
“Instructors Exhibition” Invitational Hiestand Galleries, Oxford, OH
2008 “National Teapot Show VII” Invitational Creedmore, NC
“Potters of North Carolina” Invitational, Blue Spiral, NC
“The Body in Pots” Invitational Red Star Studios, Kansas City, NC Solo Exhibition and “Flights of Fancy”, Roswell Visual Arts Gallery, Roswell GA
“Biennial Concordia Continental”Juried Exhibition, St Paul, MN
“6x6" Transformations” Invitational, Westchester, NY
“Tableware” Invitational, Westchester, NY
“George Ohr Influences” Pittsburg, PA
Slip, Slurp, Gulp” Invitational Sante Fe, NM
“11th Annual Contemporary Clay Exhibition”, Invitational, CO Center for the arts, Grand Junction,
“La Mesa” Invitational, Pittsburgh, PA
“Instructors Exhibition” Invitational, Arrowmont School of Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
2007 “Red” Sante Fe Clay”, Invitational Sante Fe, NM
“La Mesa” Invitational, Louisville, KY
2005 “Spouting Off Again” Invitational Teapot Exhibition of Glass and Clay, Tucson, AZ
“The Simple Cup” Invitational, Seward Park Clay Studio, Seattle, WA
“Art of the Pot” Invitational, Austin TX
“Hot Stuff/Clay Tigers” Invitational, Atlanta, GA
”A Touch of Elegance” McBride Gallery, Annapolis, MD
2004 “Strictly Functional Pottery National”, Juried, Market House Craft Center, East Petersburg, PA
‘Odyssey Center Instructors Exhibit’, Invitational, Odyssey Center for Ceramic Art, Asheville, NC
“The Big Show”, Invitational, Four Star Gallery, Indianapolis, IN
“Hundreds of Cups”, Invitational, Sante Fe Clay, Sante Fe, NM
“A Passion for Pottery”, Invitational, Clay and Paper, Dunedin, FL
“Potters of North Carolina” Invitational, Blue Spiral, NC
2003 “1st Century Ceramics in the US and Canada”, Invitational, Columbus, OH
Solo Exhibition - Susan Filley Porcelain, LaGrange College, LaGrange, GA
“Hundreds of Cups”, Invitational, Sante Fe Clay, Sante Fe, NM
“Women in Clay: Pots for Daily Use”, Invitational, Odyssey Gallery, Asheville, NC
“From Inside the Clay Studio”, Lakewood Cultural Center, Lakewood, CO
“Southern Craft”, Invitational, Ogdon Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA
“The Loving Cup”, Invitational, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
2002 “Contemporary Studio Ceramics” Invitational Kemper Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO
“Porcelain: Another Touch” Curator and Artist Kansas City, MO
“Clay Nation” Invitational Exhibition of 4 artists, Wichita, KS
“San Angelo National Ceramic Exhibition” Juried, San Angelo Museum of Fine Art, San Angelo, TX
“The Body in Clay” Invitational, Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO
“Pots Presented” Invitational, Baltimore ClayWorks, MD
2001 “Contemporary Porcelain” Solo Exhibition Nina Liu Gallery Charleston, SC
“6x6 : A Show of Sets” Invitational NCECA Special Exhibition Charlotte, NC
“South Carolina Ceramics” Invitational NCECA Special Exhibition Charlotte, NC
“Bistro” Invitational Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
“Cups, Cupboards and Cabinets” Signature Gallery Atlanta, GA
2000 “Susan Filley and Malcolm Davis” Two Person Exhibit The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
“A Touch of Porcelain” Curator and Artist Denver , CO
“South Carolina Clay” Invitational McMaster Gallery, Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
“First 20 Years: Then and Now” Invitational Baltimore Clayworks Baltimore, MD
Orton Cone Box Show, Traveling Exhibition, Baker Univ, Baldwin City KS Jurors: Harris Deller,
“Dinnerworks” Invitational Sante Fe Clay Sante Fe, NM
1999 “Porcelain Works by Susan Filley” Solo Exhibition, Burrough Chapin Museum, MyrtLe Beach, SC
