José C. Sierra
Artist Statement:
My past and present surroundings influence my work. The images and memories of coffee mills, intensely colored mountains, dramatic landscapes, pre-Colombian art and architecture of the Andean region of Venezuela all form an important part of my visual inspirations. These elements combine with the distinct physical geography of the U.S. Southwest to influence and inspire my work. The range of textures and colors found in these environments also inform my palette of glazes and engobes, which are achieved through high-firing in oxidation and reduction. By altering wheel-thrown porcelain and stoneware, my work fuses organic and geometric forms, in which I express both the fluidity and abruptness of the shapes and lines in the landscapes and architecture that surrounds me. My goal is not mimesis but to capture the energy of these spaces and how they are part of my lived experience. In the dialogue between the object and me, that energy somehow always comes to the fore, creating hybrid forms between life in the deserts and memories of mountain forests that become more like dreams.
Artist Bio:
José Sierra was born in Mérida, Venezuela in 1975. While José is a self-taught artist, he was introduced to ceramics at the University of the Andes in Mérida, Venezuela from 1993-1996, where he learned the basic skills of mixing clay, glazes, as well as wheel throwing. In 1996, José began working professionally as an artist in Mérida, Venezuela, doing sculpture. In 2000, José moved to the United States, where he dedicated himself to both sculpture and pottery. José currently resides in New Mexico where he is a studio ceramicist.
Resume
Recent Exhibits and Biennials
2024 Art Market San Francisco—Duane Reed Gallery. San Francisco, CA.
“Fuego, forma y cultura” Group Exhibition. Lawrence Arts Center Gallery. Lawrence, KS.
2023 Solo Show “Cholla galáctica”. Gerald Peters Contemporary. Santa Fe, NM.
Design Miami—Mindy Solomon Gallery. Miami, FL.
“Obrigada á Terra”. Palacio Duques de Cadaval. Galerie du Passage & Lefebvre et Fils. Evora, PT.
Solo Show. Duane Reed Gallery. St. Louis, MO.
2022 Paris Internationale - Lefebvre et Fils. Paris, FR.
Solo Show “Entre sueños y memorias”. Sherry Leedy Contemporary. Kansas City, MO.
Solo Show “Tierra adentro”. Mindy Soloman Gallery. Miami, FL.
Salon Art and Design. Mindy Soloman Gallery. New York, NY.
Group show “Radical Pots”. Duane Reed Gallery. St. Louis, MO.
2021 Solo Show – Galerie du Passage & Lefebvre et Fils. Paris, FR.
Les Flammes: L’Age de Céramique. Museum of Modern Art. Paris. FR
Contemporary Clay. Western Carolina University Museum of Fine Art. Cullowhee, NC
Solo Show- Eutectic Gallery. Portland, OR.
Group Show- Odem Atelier Art Gallery. Stockholm, SE.
2020 NADA Miami – Lefebvre et Fils Gallery. Online.
Solo Show - Eutectic Gallery. Portland, OR.
Sofa “Intersect” Chicago – Mindy Solomon Gallery. Online.
Solo Show – Culture Object. New York, NY.
Pop-up Show – Eutectic Gallery. Portland, OR.
Old Church Pottery Show. Demarest, NJ.
2019 Solo Show- Lefebvre et Fils Gallery. Paris, FR
The Residency Program - Lefebvre et Fils Studios. Versailles, FR.
Solo Show - Plinth Gallery. Denver, CO.
Solo Show - Eutectic Gallery. Portland, OR.
NADA Miami with Lefebvre et Fils. Miami, FL.
NCECA. Eutectic Gallery Exhibit. Minneapolis, MN.
Hudgens Cups Invitational. Duluth, GA.
Group Show - Gerald Peters Contemporary Gallery. Santa Fe, NM.
2018 Group Show - Patricia Sweetow Gallery. San Francisco, CA.
NCECA. Eutectic Gallery Exhibit. Pittsburg, PA.
Solo Show - Eutectic Gallery. Portland, OR.
Solo Show - Abel Contemporary. Paoli, WI.
Above the Surface - Lillstreet Gallery Invitational. Chicago, IL.
2017 La Mesa. Santa Fe Clay NCECA Exhibit. Portland, OR.
Solo show - Eutectic Gallery. Portland, OR.
Two-person show: José Sierra and John Gill. Santa Fe Clay. Santa Fe, NM.
2016 Red Star Studios Belger Crane Yard Holiday Show. Red Star Belger Crane Yard, Kansas City, MO.
37th Annual Contemporary Crafts. Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum. Mesa, AZ. (Juror’s Award)
Beyond the Brick Yard. Archie Bray Foundation. Helena, MT.
C-File Pop-up Show. C-File online.
Southern Mississippi Ceramics National. University of Southern Mississippi. Hattiesburg, MS.
La Mesa. Santa Fe Clay NCECA Exhibit. Kansas City, KS.
International Cup Show. Clay Studio of Missoula. Missoula, MT.
Hundreds of Cups! Santa Fe, Clay. Santa Fe, NM.
2015: Wrappable. Lux Center for the Arts. Lincoln, NE.
12th Annual Ceramics Invitational. Artisan Gallery. Paoli, WI.
La Mesa. Santa Fe Clay NCECA Exhibit. Providence, RI.
Teacup show. Artisan Gallery. Paoli, WI.
2014: Wrappable. Lux Center for the Arts. Lincoln, NE.
David Crane and José Sierra. Gallery show. Santa Fe Clay. Santa Fe, NM.
Drink! Silpe Gallery National Juried Ceramic Cup Show. University of Hartford Art School. West Hartford, CT.
Big Fish Small Pot. 6th International Small Teapot Competition. American Museum of Ceramics Art Pomona, CA.
Texas National. Stephen F. Austin State University Art Galleries. Nacogdoches, TX.
La Mesa. Santa Fe Clay NCECA Exhibit. Milwaukee, WI.
Natural Influences Group Show. Obsidian Gallery. Tucson, AZ.
20th San Angelo National Ceramic Competition. San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts. San Angelo, TX.
Hot Tea: 13th Biennial Teapot Exhibition. Craft Alliance. St. Louis, MO.
Ink and Clay 39. California State Polytechnic University. Pomona, CA.
2013: One and Only. Kohler Arts Center. Kohler, WI.
Solo Show: From the Earth to the Fire. Artisan Gallery. Belleville, WI.
100 Teapots VI. Baltimore Clayworks. Baltimore, MD.
From the Ground Up XXVI. Las Cruces Museum of Art. Las Cruces, NM.
Wichita National All Media Craft Exhibition. Wichita Center for the
Arts. Wichita, KS.
64 Arts. Buchanan Center for the Arts. Monmouth, IL.
Red Lodge Juried National 2. Red Lodge Clay Center. Red Lodge, MT.
Beyond the Brickyard. Archie Bray Foundation. Helena, MT.
34th Annual Contemporary Craft. Mesa Contemporary Art Museum. Mesa, AZ.
2012: The Teapot Redefined. Mobilia Gallery. Cambridge, MA.
5th Annual Cup Show: Form and Function. Amelia Gallery. Panama City, FL.
American Craft Today. Bascom Art Center. Highlands, NC.
Clemson Ceramics National. Lee Gallery. Clemson University. Clemson, SC.
2nd Annual Workhouse Clay National Ceramics Exhibition. Lorton Arts Foundation. Lorton, VA.
Crafts National. Mulvane Art Museum Washburn University. Topeka, KS.
Clay EVV: National Juried Small Scale Ceramic Sculpture Exhibition. Adams Street Gallery. Evansville, IN.
Tea Ceramics Exhibit. The Art league Gallery. Alexandria, VA.
19th San Angelo National Ceramics Competition. San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts. San Angelo, TX.
Big Fish Small Pot. Fifth International Small Teapot Competition. American Museum of Ceramics Art Pomona, CA.
MUG Shots National Juried Cup Exhibition. Lux Center for the Arts. Lincoln, NE.
Daily Companions. Baltimore Clayworks. Baltimore, MD.
5th International Texas Teapot Tournament. 18 Hands Gallery. Houston, TX.
8 Fluid Ounces. Glassell Gallery: Louisiana State University School of Art. Baton Rouge, LA.
2011: Craft Forms 2011: 17th Annual International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Craft. Wayne Art Center. Wayne, PA.
Craft USA: Seventh Juried Craft Triennial. Silvermine Arts Center. New Canaan, CT. *Second Place.
Wichita National All Media Craft Exhibition 2011. Wichita Center for the Arts. Wichita, KS. *Second Place and Mary R. Koch Purchase Award.
From the Ground Up XXV. Las Cruces Museum of Art. Las Cruces, NM. *Best in Show.
Visions in Clay. LH Horton Jr. Gallery. San Joaquin Delta College. Stockton, CA.
9th International Ceramics Festival. Mino, Japan.
Thrown Altered: Vessels Out of Round. Robert Wright Gallery, College of Lake County. Grayslake, IL.
Craftsmanship: Innovation- Bi-Annual Juried National. Red Lodge Clay Center. Red Lodge, MT. *Juror’s Choice Award.
Ink and Clay 37 Exhibition. Kellogg University Art Gallery. California State Polytechnic University. Pomona, CA. *James H. Jones Memorial Purchase Prize.
Association of Clay and Glass Artists of California National Juried Exhibition. City of Brea Art Gallery. Brea, CA.
2011 NCECA Biennial. Tampa Museum of Art. *Purchase Award.
32nd Annual Contemporary Crafts. Mesa Arts Center. Mesa, AZ.
100 Teapots V. Baltimore Clayworks. Baltimore, MD.
2010: Un-Wedged: Ceramic Competition and Art Show. Pottery Northwest. Seattle, WA.
64 Arts: National Juried Exhibition. Buchanan Center for the Arts. Monmouth, IL. *Best in Ceramics.
Group Show. Obsidian Gallery. Tucson, AZ. Summer,
18th San Angelo National Ceramic Competition. San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts. San Angelo, TX. *Collector’s Society permanent collection.
10th Annual National Juried Cup Show. Kent State University School of Art. Kent, OH.
National Juried Cup Exhibition. Lux Center for the Arts. Lincoln, NE.
Big Fish, Small Pot. Fourth International Small Teapot Competition. Saddleback College Art Gallery. Mission Viejo, CA. *Honorable Mention.
Beyond the Brickyard. Archie Bray Foundation. Helena, MT.
South x Midwest (José Sierra and John Lujan). Red Star Studios Ceramic Center. Kansas City, MO.
3rd Biennial Concordia Continental Ceramics Competition. Concordia University. Saint Paul, MN.
Pandora’s Box. Target Gallery, Torpedo Factory Art Center. Alexandria, VA. *Best in Show.
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Galleries
Mindy Solomon. Miami, Florida
Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art. Kansas City, MO
Gerald Peters Contemporary Gallery. Santa Fe, NM
Lefebvre & Fils . Paris, FR
Duane Reed Gallery. St Louis, MO
Permanent Collections
Everson Museum of Art. Syracuse, NY.
American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA). Pomona, CA.
Boise Art Museum. Boise, ID.
NCECA Collection.
University of Southern Indiana. Evansville, IN.
Las Cruces Museum of Art. Las Cruces, NM.
Robert Wright Gallery. College of Lake County. Grayslake, IL.
University Art Collection. California State Polytechnic University. Pomona, CA.
Kamm Teapot Foundation. Sparta, NC.
Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art. Overland Park, KS.
San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts. San Angelo, TX.
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Iowa City, IA.
Central College. Pella, IA.
Wichita Center for the Arts. Wichita, KS.
Publications
Lilstreet Gallery. “Meet the Artist” March, 2018.
Ceramics Monthly. “Working Potters” May, 2017.
CFile. Individual Interview. November, 2016.
500 Teapots. Jim Lawton. Lark Books, 2013.