Artist Statement

I create pots with tender craftsmanship in gratitude and celebration of the beauty of connection. Pots offer a connection between maker and beholder and with daily use the pot creates a relationship between the two. Pottery melds the functional and aesthetic aspects of art, compelling one to let it be an active participant in the daily rituals of their life. Direct engagement allows the piece to touch one's hands and lips, developing an intimate connection that is commonly reserved for a lover. A variety of textures and marks inform the hands of how to use and hold a piece, allowing the beholder to understand the process and effort put into making the pot. I lay open the line between my life and my art, expending my energy coaxing out a form on the wheel, altering the shape with hand building techniques, and ornamenting the piece with botanical patterns. Each created work adds to the infinitely expanding universe and continually spins a larger and larger web of connection. Myself and others are not separate, the connection handmade objects celebrate reveals the universal beauty and joy in the midst of everyday life.

Biography

Alex Walter is a potter based out of Northern Colorado creating functional and sculptural work. She attended the University of Northern Colorado and got a BA with emphasis in Studio Ceramic Design and Graphic Design. She has been displayed in the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, the Denver Art Museum, the Saratoga Clay Arts Center’s Schacht Gallery and curated a group show with her as a featured artist in the Mariani Galley at UNCo. Alex completed a summer-long internship at the Clay Center of Northern Colorado and returned for an apprenticeship winter 2019 and continued to be an Artist in Residence till Spring 2022. She is now an Artist in Residence and Teacher at Smokestack Pottery in Fort Collins.

Alex Walter

Education

University of Northern Colorado
BA in Studio Arts with emphasis in Ceramic Design and Graphic Design (Pending)
August 2016 - Expected Graduation May 2020

Roosevelt High School
High School Graduate
August 2012 - May 2016

Internships and Residencies

Smokestack Pottery

Teacher and Resident Artist

Fall 2022-Current

Clay Center of Northern Colorado

Artist in Residence

January 2020-Spring 2022

Clay Center of Northern Colorado
Apprenticeship under Tim Preston and Abby Einer
December 2019 - January 2020

University of Northern Colorado
Internship under Jaqueline Villegas at the Office of Equity and Inclusion
August 2019 - December 2019

Clay Center of Northern Colorado
Internship under Tim Preston and Abby Einer
May 2019 - September 2019

Exhibitions

•Exhibition, Charlie Cummings Gallery, "Exquisite Forms V," (Gainesville, FL, Spring 2023)

•Artisan Market, Smokestack Pottery, "Winter Sale," (Fort Collins, CO, Winter 2022

•Exhibition, Art Gym Denver, "Reduse Your Use," (Denver, CO, Summer 2020)

•Juried Exhibition, Saratoga Clay Arts Center’s Schacht Gallery, “Lip Service,” (Schuylerville, NY, Spring 2020)

•Exhibition Curator and Featured Artist, Mariani Gallery, “Growth & Decay,” (Greeley, CO, Spring 2020)

•Exhibition, Mariani Gallery, “The Working Artist,” (Greeley, CO, Spring 2019)
•Exhibition, Firehouse Art Center, “The Working Artist” (Longmont, CO, Fall 2019)
•Art Performance and Collaboration with Sean Goldman, UNCo Campus Commons, “Why Ducks, Why?,” (Greeley, CO, 2019)
•Exhibition, Campus Commons Gallery, “Annual Student Exhibition” (Greeley, CO, 2019)
•Crafted Instruments used in percussion performance by Luis Pagan, Zoe’s Cafe & Events, “StART Salon” (Greeley, CO, 2019)
•Exhibition, Zoe’s Cafe & Events, “StART Salon” (Greeley, CO, 2019)
•Exhibition, Zoe’s Cafe & Events, “StART Salon” (Greeley, CO, 2018)
•Solo Exhibition, Brix Brewery and Taphouse, “Alex’s Art” (Greeley, CO, 2018)
•Exhibition, Tointon Gallery, “Greeley Art Picnic” (Greeley, CO, 2018)
•Exhibition, Mariani Gallery, “Annual Student Exhibition” (Greeley, CO, 2017)
•Exhibition, “Congressional Art Show” (Castle Rock, CO, 2016)
•Exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Art, “Scholastic Art and Writing” (Denver, CO, 2015)
•Exhibition, Denver Art Museum, “Scholastic Art and Writing” (Denver, CO, 2014)

Awards

•Award, UNCo,“Southard Art and Design Recipient” (Greeley, CO, Spring 2019)
•Award, Greeley Art Picnic at Tointon Gallery “Honorable Mention” (Greeley, CO, 2017)
•Award, Northern Regional Art Show “Gold Award and/or Best of Show” (United States, 2016)
•Award, Scholastic Art and Writing “Gold Key” (United States, 2016)
•Award, Northern Regional Art Show “Gold Award and/or Best of Show” (United States, 2015)
•Award, Scholastic Art and Writing “Gold Key” (United States, 2015)
•Award, Northern Regional Art Show “Gold Award and/or Best of Show” (United States, 2014)
•Award, Scholastic Art and Writing “Gold Key” (United States, 2014)

Professional Activities

• Workshop Attendee Devin McDonald “Surface Decoration” (2023)

•President of the UNCo Clay Club (2018-2020)
•Artist Talk, “Southard Art and Design Semi-Finalist Talk” Univerisity of Northern Colorado (2019)
•Organized UNCo Clay Sale (Fall 2019)
•Organized UNCo Clay Sale (Spring 2019)
•National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts Member and Volunteer (2019)
• Workshop Assistant, Torbjørn Kvasbø, “Demonstrating Artists,” NCECA 2019
• Workshop Attendee Jessica Forrestal “Mural Instillation” (2019)
• Workshop Assistant, Eric Hoefer, “Faceting and Altering,” NCECA 2019
• Workshop Assistant, Bill Wilkey, “Ceramic Workshop,” UNCo (2019)
•Organized UNCo Clay Sale (Fall 2018)
•Organized UNCo Clay Sale (Spring 2018)
•National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts Member and Volunteer (2018)
• Workshop Attendee Elizabeth Alexander “Hand Cut Porcelain” (2018)
• Workshop Attendee AJ Nazzaro, “Digital Illustration” (2018)
•Organized UNCo Clay Sale (Fall 2017)
• Workshop Assistant, Kenyon Hansen, “Ceramic Workshop,” UNCo (2017)
•Selected for Artist Workshop, Rose Simpson, “Resident Artist Workshop” Denver Art Museum (2014)