Artist: Maxwell Henderson
Maxwell Henderson, MONTANA
Artist Bio:
Maxwell Henderson (he/him) is a nationally recognized ceramics artist, who received his MFA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2023. He was born in Arizona in 1996 and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Arizona State University, Summa Cum Laude. Maxwell also studied as a Special Student at Penn State and has participated in several artist residencies, including the La Serra Collective in Denver, Colorado, where he was a summer resident in 2022.
Since 2018, Maxwell’s work has been included in national exhibitions, showcasing his unique approach to ceramics that challenges material hierarchies in Western art. In addition to his previous residencies, Maxwell will continue to expand his artistic endeavors as he prepares to become a long- term resident at Red Lodge Clay Center in September 2023, following his time at the Bray.
Maxwell is currently a Summer Resident at the Archie Bray Foundation, and he will begin his long-term residency at Red Lodge Clay Center this Fall.
Artist Statement:
My work is an exploration of “qualia” – the personal, deeply subjective experiences, emotions, and perceptions that shape our conscious lives. My artistic journey, born from a childhood in Arizona poverty and my biracial identity, has ignited a passion for inclusivity and diversity in art and society, guiding me to challenge traditional material hierarchies and conventional artistic norms.
My art interweaves the vivid aesthetics of Japanese Kutani porcelain and the natural, raw beauty of Icelandic landscapes with the fluidity and balance found in ceramic vessels. Through this fusion, I strive to redefine the role of color in artistic expression and to push the boundaries of creative output.
My work stands as a unique artistic practice that breathes new life into Kutani aesthetics. I employ commercial porcelain tiles as my canvas, glazing them in a way that challenges Western material hierarchies and invites viewers into a dynamic dance of chaos and calm, tranquility and turbulence. This process, born from meticulous experimentation and contemporary materials, narrates the story of my transformative journey.
Informed by organic scribbles in a sketchbook, my method of creating ceramic vessels gives rise to forms that balance asymmetry and capture the rich nuances of the human experience. These vessels, defiant in their non-utility, symbolize a transcendence of convention, opening a dialogue about the intrinsic value of ceramics beyond functionality.
My ceramics serve as a medium to express complex narratives, challenging conventional perspectives on art, materiality, and the human experience. This alchemy of diverse cultural inspirations and personal narrative invites viewers to delve into their subconscious perspectives, engage with the complexities of the human condition, and perceive ceramics as an impactful and significant art form.
Ultimately, my work is a testament to my journey of self-discovery and underscores the importance of embracing diversity and challenging hierarchies in art and life. In my artistic exploration, I seek to advocate for a richer understanding of our shared and diverse human experiences, using the transformative power of ceramics as the vehicle for this conversation.
Artist Residencies
2023 Red Lodge Clay Center – Long-term Resident Artist, Red Lodge, MT
2023 Archie Bray Foundation – Summer Resident, Helena, MT
2022 La Serra Collective — Resident Artist, Denver, CO
2018 Red Lodge Clay Center — Advanced Student Project Network Artist in Residence, Red Lodge, MT
Exhibitions
2023 SYNT Art Auction Featured Artist (Invitational)—New York, NY
2023 Joint Effort (Invitational)—LUX Art Center, Lincoln, NE
2023 ClayAKAR Yunomi Invitational--ClayAKAR, Iowa City, IA
2023 Master’s Thesis Exhibition—Eisentrager-Howard Gallery, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
2023 Above Board Tableware Exhibition(Invitational)—Above Board Ceramics, New Haven, CT
2022 LUSH 2 (Juried Exhibition)—Lighthouse Art Center, Tequesta, FL
2022 Off Center International Competition (Juried Exhibition)—Blueline Arts Center, Roseville, CA
2022 Future Tense (Invitational)—Kiechel Fine Art, Lincoln, NE
2022 University of Iowa Ceramics Invitational Exhibition (Invitational)—University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
2022 NCECA National Juried Student Exhibition—Library Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2021 Instructor Exhibition—LUX Art Center, Lincoln, NE
2021 NCECA National Juried Student Exhibition—DAAP Gallery, Cincinnati, OH 2021 Paper & Clay JuriedExhibition—Utah State University, Logan, UT
2020 Making History Exhibition—Eisentraeger-Howard Gallery School of Art, Art History and Design,University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
2020 The Clay Studio National—The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2020 NCECA National Juried Student Exhibition–Artspace, Richmond, VA
2019 BFA Thesis Exhibition–Gallery 100, Tempe, AZ
2018 ASPN Resident Exhibition—Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT
2018 NCECA National Juried Student Exhibition – Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, PA
Grants/Awards
2022 2nd prize, Off Center International Competition— Blueline Arts Center, Roseville, CA
2022 Graduate Scholarly/Creative Activity Grant—University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
2021 Graduate Scholarly/Creative Activity Grant—University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
2019 Work Study—Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
2017 Claudia F Higgins Memorial Scholarship—Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Publications
2022 Ceramics Monthly, March 2022
2021 NCECA Exhibitions 2021
2021 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Newsroom—”Two Nebraska ceramists selected for NCECA juriedstudent exhibit”
2020 Ceramics Monthly, March 2020
2020 2020 NCECA National Juried Student Exhibition catalogue
Teaching Experience
2023 Visiting Artist--Truman State University, Kirksville, MO
2023 Spring Instructor of Record—Beginning Ceramics Hand Building, University of Nebraska-Lincoln,Lincoln, NE
2022 Fall Instructor of Record—Three-Dimensional Design, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
2022 Spring Instructor of Record—Beginning Wheel Throwing, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
2021 Fall Instructor of Record—Three-Dimensional Design, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
2021 Summer Ceramics Instructor—taught ceramics art projects for 6–13-year-old children—Belvoir Terrace, Lenox, MA
2021 Summer Ceramics Instructor— taught ceramics wheel throwing for 6–13-year-old children—LUX Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE
2021 Spring Instructor of Record— Three-Dimensional Design, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
2021 Spring Teaching Assistant for Pete Pinnell—Beginning Wheel Throwing, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
2020 Fall Teaching Assistant for Margaret Bohls—Beginning Ceramics Hand Building, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
2020 Fall Teaching Assistant for Byron Anway—Three-Dimensional Design, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
Related Experience
2019-2020 School of Visual Arts Ceramics Studio Technician – Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA
2019-2020 School of Visual Arts Wood/Metals Shop Assistant – Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA
2015 Glaze formulator - Meridian Tile, Phoenix, AZ
Education
MFA (candidate) in Ceramics — University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE (expected graduation — May 2023)
Post Baccalaureate – Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA
BFA, Summa Cum Laude – Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ