Jenni Brant | LUX Center for the Arts | Art Gallery, Classes, Summer Camps & Outreach
 

Jenni Brant

Jenni Brant

Artist
Profile Location
Dubuque , IA
Biography

Born and raised in southwest Wisconsin on a dairy farm, I developed an appreciation for the simplicity of life and the beauty of natural materials that comes through in her elegant and carefully crafted pottery. I am a maker of functional ceramic objects focusing on serving vessels and dinnerware made for celebratory occasions, often making the most mundane of activities a cause for merriment and remembrance. I received an MFA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in April 2007 and a BFA with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in December 2002.

I teach workshops working with students, young and old, beginners and professionals. I was named an Emerging Artist of 2008 by Ceramics Monthly and in 2009, recognized with a Mayor’s Arts Kimmel Foundation Award. My work has been featured in Ceramics Monthly and 500 Plates & Chargers by Lark Books and is represented at Anderson O'Brien Gallery, Dundee Gallery, Artisan Gallery, Clay Art Center, Lost Coast Culture Machine, Terra Incognito, LUX Center for the Arts and the Sheldon Art Museum Store.

Artist Statement

My understanding of beauty is rooted in my rural mid-western upbringing and my parents’ emphasis on family bonds, respect and hard work. My work affirms life and is a reminder to celebrate the trivial, the tragic and the triumphant.

My pots are intended for gatherings of family and friends. While on display they serve as daily reminders of times spent with loved ones and symbols of times to come. These are functional pots, despite their delicate appearance. Symmetrical forms establish sturdiness and utility, while the fragility of their handles and edges and the precariousness of the feet are reminders to handle the work –and life—with care. Smooth, luscious, and transparent surfaces and lace decorations suggest formal use, though the pots are appropriate for everyday domestic life.

While made by hand, my work emphasizes the beauty of the object over the identity of the maker. In this way, they are inspired by the pottery of ancient Persia and Sung dynasty China, even as they embrace contemporary styles. Colors remind us of flesh and of candy; things that are sweet, good, and that stir desire.

Medium
Ceramics
 
 

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