Artist: John Cohorst
John Cohorst,
Artist Statement:
I always get the question, “why astronauts?” – my response is always, “there’s a lot of reasons, but to start, they’re funny…”! I use humor to draw the viewer in, and I find the astronaut image speaks to people on different levels; for some, it’s scientific or about exploration, others see a nerdy outsider or a space cadet. People find aspects of themselves in these quirky illustrations and are surprised when they see themselves reflected in the gold luster face shield! I hope that my Astroware pieces uplift the user, bring a smile to their face, and offer a moment of intimate self-reflection… literally!
Biography:
John Cohorst is a Midwest-based artist, creating both functional and sculptural art objects. He holds a B.F.A. and M.A. with a concentration in functional ceramics from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. Cohorst has held positions as an artist assistant to Jun Kaneko in his Omaha, Nebraska studio, and studied wood-firing techniques with the IWCAT (International Workshop of Ceramic Artists at Tokoname) program in Tokoname, Japan. In 2010, he was selected as an artist-in-residence at the Carbondale Clay Center in Carbondale, Colorado and was part of the studio collective, Studio for Arts + Works (SAW) in Carbondale. He was invited to be a visiting artist at the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana in 2017. As a tour manager of the Artstream Nomadic Gallery, Cohorst has traveled, exhibited, and taught workshops across the United States.
EDUCATION
2005 – 2006 Pittsburg State University, MA Pittsburg, KS
2004 University of Georgia, Study Abroad Cortona, ITALY
1999 – 2005 Pittsburg State University, BFA Pittsburg, KS
WORKSHOPS
2021/22 Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts
2020 University of Montana (virtual workshop)
2019 University of Wisconsin River Falls
2018 Wichita State University
St. Louis Community College
2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
GALLERIES
Landlock Gallery Omaha, NE
Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Artstream Nomadic Gallery Carbondale, CO
Harvey Preston Gallery Aspen, CO
Belger Crane Yard Gallery Kansas City, MO
The Lion's Nest Austin, TX
RESIDENCIES
2017 Artist in Residence, University of Montana
2010 – 2012 Carbondale Clay Center
2010 International Workshop of Ceramic Artists in Tokoname
GRANTS/AWARDS
2019 Public Impact Grant Recipient CAR>Go Amplify Arts
PUBLICATIONS
2022 Exposure Ceramics Monthly Jan 2022
2021 Amplify Arts Podcast The Importance of Collaboration
2018 Talking Clay 13 Clay Flix
STUDIO ASSISTANT
2019 - 2021 Jun Kaneko Studio
2018 – 2019 Therman Statom Studio Manager Omaha, NE
2013 – 2018 Studio for Arts and Works, Studio Manager Carbondale, CO
2015 – 2019 Artstream Nomadic Gallery Tour Manager Aspen, CO
2007 – 2010 Jun Kaneko Studio Assistant Omaha NE
2005 Marjorie Schick Studio Assistant Pittsburg, KS
2004 – 2005 Portico Bowman Studio Assistant Pittsburg, KS
2004 Gina Bobrowski Teachers Assistant Cortona, Italy
TEACHING
Carbondale Clay Center
2016 Surface Design for Ceramics
2012 Basic Throwing and Handbuilding
2010 – 2012 Youth Rehabilitation Center (YRC) Clay Class
2010 Basic Throwing and Handbuilding
Pittsburg State University
2006 Graduate Teaching Assistant (Design World)
2005 – 2006 Graduate Teaching Assistant (Drawing)
WORK EXPERIENCE
2021 - 2022 Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts Residency Technician
2019 - 2020 Jun Kaneko Studio Studio Assistant
2019 Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts Residency Technician
2018 - 2019 Therman Statom Studio Studio Manager
2016 - 2018 Harvey Meadows Gallery Gallerist
2010 - 2019 Aspen Art Museum Preparator
2018 - 2019 Kaneko Museum Preparator
2014 - 2019 Artstream Nomadic Gallery Tour Manager
2007 - 2010 Kaneko Studio Studio Assistant
2022
Virtual Artstream Artstream Nomadic Gallery
Yunomi Invitational Akar Gallery Iowa City, IA
The Makings of CCC Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
2021
NCECA Exhibition Artstream Nomadic Gallery
Omaha North Hills Pottery Tour
Bemis Benefit Bemis Center Omaha, NE
Exhibition & BenefitCity Lights Arts Project Omaha, NE
2020
Enter Dimensional Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Strictly Functional Pottery National East Petersberg, PA
Bemis Benefit Bemis Center Omaha, NE
2019
Roam Artstream Nomadic Gallery
Odyssey Collective Red Brick Gallery Aspen, CO
North Hills Pottery Tour Omaha, NE
Bemis Benefit Bemis Center Omaha, NE
Cup Auction Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale,CO
2018
Shapes of Influence Springfield Art Association Springfield, IL
There and Back Again Artstream Nomadic Gallery
Bemis Benefit Bemis Center Omaha, NE
Cup Auction Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Pairings Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Sticks and Stoneware Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
2017
Ideas on the Infinite The Art Base Basalt, CO
Spring Tour Artstream Nomadic Gallery
Bemis Benefit Bemis Center Omaha, NE
Cup Auction Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Pairings Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
SAWlidays SAW Studio Gallery Carbondale, CO
2016
On the Road Again Artstream Nomadic Gallery
Pairings Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Cup Auction Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Cajun Clay Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
2015
Art of the Table Artstream Nomadic Gallery
Pairings Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Cup Auction Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
2014
The Feast Artstream Nomadic Gallery
Playing with Your Expectations The Art Center Grand Junction, CO
Pairings Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Cup Auction Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Collaborations The Launch Pad Carbondale, CO
2013
Pairings Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Cup Auction Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Holiday Invitational Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Valley Visual CCAH Gallery Carbondale, CO
2012
Sculpture Invitational Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Solo Exhibition Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Cajun Clay Night Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Pairings Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Cup Auction Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
2011
Resident Exhibition Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Holiday Invitational Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
America Here and Now Aspen Art Museum Aspen, CO
Cup Auction Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Confluences Aspen Chapel Gallery Aspen, CO
2010
IWCAT Resident Show Tokoname, Japan
Steins Pints & Pitchers Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
Holiday Invitational Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
970.org Aspen Art MuseumAspen, CO
Cup Auction Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO
2009
Bemis Benefit Bemis Center Omaha, NE
Mulvane Merriment Mulvane Art Gallery Topeka, KS
Me Nomad Gallery Omaha, NE
2008
Bemis Benefit Bemis Center Omaha NE
Mulvane Merriment Mulvane Art Gallery Topeka, KS
Mosaic Annual Mosaic Gallery Omaha, NE
2007
Pre-Auction Exhibition Bemis Underground Omaha, NE
Memorial Hall Exhibition Memorial Hall Pittsburg, KS
Mosaic Annual Mosaic Gallery Omaha, NE
Little Balkans Days Fair Pittsburg, KS
2006
Satori- Graduate Exhibition Harry Krug Gallery Pittsburg, KS
The Circle: An International Exhibition KSP Gallery, Kanagawa, Japan
Art Walk Exhibit CDX Gallery Pittsburg KS
Bourbon County Exhibition Scottish Rite Temple Fort Scott, KS
Kansas College Aesthetics The Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery,
Lindsborg, KS
2005
The Circle: An International Exhibition of 10 Artists Kanagawa, JAPAN
Art Walk Exhibit CDX Gallery Pittsburg, KS
Photo Spiva Spiva Center for the Arts Joplin, MO
Solo Exhibition Wishing Tree Gallery Pittsburg KS.
Pitt State Student Exhibition Spiva Center for the Arts Joplin, MO
Form and Function: BFA Exhibit Student Gallery Pittsburg KS
The Circle: An International Exhibition of 20 Artists
66 Modern, Tokyo Kanagawa, JAPAN
Photo Spiva Spiva Center for the Arts Joplin, MO
The Area, Student Juried Exhibition Krug Gallery Pittsburg, KS
HONORS / AWARDS (UNIVERSITY)
2006 Graduate Student Advisory Council, Represented Fine Arts
Department
2005 Dean's Honor Roll
2004 Second Place, “The Area: Student Exhibition,” Harry Krug Gallery,
Pittsburg, KS. Juror: James Brinsfield from, Kansas City Art Institute
Dean's Honor Roll
Stipend Award: University of Georgia, Cortona, ITALY.
$1,000 dollar stipend awarded by the Friends of Cortona
2003 Deans Committee Member, Represented the Fine Arts Department
University Art Association, Vice President
Dean's Honor Roll