The Dictionary of American Studio Ceramics, 1946 Onward
The Dictionary of American Studio Ceramics, 1946 Onward
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Victoria Christen
EDUCATION
1981BS Education, K-12 Certification, Composite Art Major, Valley City State College, Valley City, North Dakota
1985MFA Studio Arts, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
RESIDENCIES
1997Artist in Residence, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Montana
2009Summer Residency, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, Maine
PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE
1987–1995Instructor, Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota
1998—Studio Artist
1999Guest Instructor, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, Oregon
2003—Adjunct Instructor, University of Portland, Portland Oregon
2004Instructor, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon
2005Instructor, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska
2011-2012Visiting Assistant Professor, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon
BIOGRAPHY
Victoria Christen is known for altered wheel-thrown earthenware and porcelain functional pottery forms. Influenced by a family lineage of seamstresses, machinists, and folk artists, after throwing Christen forms are cut, folded and joined into a new final form.
Best known for her work with iron-rich earthenware, Christen uses a variety of surface techniques. Light colored slips or underglazes are applied to pre-fired clay followed with bright colored underglazes. A Sgraffito like technique is used to mark through glaze layers. A black hand-drawn line is used to accentuate color areas.
Public Collections
Basilica of St. Mary’s, Objects of Devotions Collection of Contemporary Religious Art, Minneapolis, Minnesota
First Bank Minneapolis, First Bank Place, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois
Macalester College Permanent Collection, St. Paul, Minnesota
Minnesota Historical Society Permanent Collection, St. Paul, Minnesota
University Art Museum, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Bibliography
Berman, Rick, “Victoria Christen.” Clay Times (November 2000).
Christen, Victoria. “Working Potters: Victoria Christen,” Ceramics Monthly (May 20, 2010).
Hluch, Kevin A. The Art of Contemporary American Pottery. Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2001.
Kantar, John. “Clay in the Inner City High School.” NCECA Journal 16 (1995).
Kantor, John, “Northern Stars; Women Potters from Canada and Minnesota.” Ceramics Monthly (January 1996).
Mansfield, Janet. “Review: NCECA Clay National.” NCECA Journal 16 (1995).
Padgett, Deborah, “Up Front.” Ceramics Monthly (March 1995).
Staley, Chris and Chris Gustin. The Best of Pottery Volume 2. Rockport, MA: Rockport Publishers, 1998.
Tourtillott, Suzanne J.E. 500 Teapots: Contemporary Expression of a Timeless Design. New York, NY: Lark Books, 2002.
CV or Resume: Click Here to Download
Source: Artist
Website(s):
Citation: Kuratnick, Jeffrey. "The Marks Project." Last modified June 22, 2023. http://www.themarksproject.org:443/marks/christen