Paul Eshelman

Biography to Display:

EDUCATION

1979 BA Art, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington

1981 MFA Ceramics, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

1982-present Studio Potter

1982-1987 Instructor of Ceramics, North Central College, Naperville, Illinois

1995 Quad City Arts’ Visiting Visual Artist Residency, Rock Island, Illinois

1998 Visiting Artist, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

2006 Amcor PET, Design Consultant, Manchester, MI

2012 Visiting Artist, Alfred University, Alfred, New York

BIOGRAPHY

Paul Eshelman is known for functional slip cast red stoneware forms such as cups, teapots, platters, and bowls. Slip casting became Eshelman’s method of choice for both aesthetic and practical reasons. Signature pieces are glazed with a singular bold color; simplicity is an important principle of design in Eshelman’s work.

After his MFA, Eshelman continued his education at The Ohio State University in an industrial design graduate study program but left to pursue a career as a full-time studio artist. It was [1] the “toughest decision our family made” but also one of the best.

He has stated that his main influences come from “architecture, design, functional objects, and tools.”[2]

[1] Paul Eshelman, “Paul Eshelman,” Ceramics Monthly: Working Potters, special issue, June/July/Aug 2009, Vol. 57, Issue 6, pg. 32-35.

[2] Paul Eshelman, “Paul Eshelman.” Table Space: A Framework for Contemporary Ceramics. Ed. Linda Sikora and Albion Stafford. Catalog Fosdick-Nelson Gallery, Alfred University, Alfred, NY, 2011.

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Public Collections to Display:

Alfred Ceramic Art Museum, Alfred Universoty, Alfred, New York

American Museum of Ceramic Arts, Pomona, California

The Bailey Collection of Contemporary Ceramics, Bailey Pottery Equipment, Kingston, New York

The Goldstein Museum of Design, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota

International Museum of Dinnerware Design, Ann Arbor, Michigan

San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, Permanent Collection, San Angelo, Texas

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bibliography to Display:

American Craft (staff). “Ready to Serve: Paul Eshelman.” American Craft, February/March 2014.

Cleary, Naomi. 100 Artists 1000 Cups. Philadelphia PA: The Clay Studio, 2016.

Eshelman, Paul. “A Cast of Pots”, Ceramics Monthly 40, no. 8 (Oct. 1992).

Hall, Sherman (Ed.). “Work and Play: The Potter's Life: Pauk Eshelman,” Ceramics Monthly 57, no. 6 (June/July/August 2009).

Hluch, Kevin. The Art of Contemporary American Pottery, Iola WI: Krause Publications, 2001.

Hunt, Bill. 21st Century Ceramics in the United States and Canada. United States: American Ceramic Society, 2003.

Lawton, Jim. 500 Teapots, Volume 2. Asheville NC: Lark Crafts, 2013.

Marshall, Hannah. “Paul Eshelman’s Handled Soup Bowl.” Pottery Making Illustrated, March/April 2016.

Marshall, Hannah. “Raised in Clay.” Ceramics Monthly 58, no. 7 (Sept. 2010).

Martin, Andrew. The Essential Guide to Mold Making & Slip Casting. New York NY: Lark Books, 2006.

Peterson, Susan. Contemporary Ceramics. United Kingdom: Watson-Guptill Publications, 2000.

Sikora, Linda and Albio Stafford. Tablespace: A Framework for Contemporary Ceramics. United States: Division of Ceramic Art, School of Art and Design, New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, 2012.

Sykes, Toni (Publisher). Object Lessons: Original Art from GUILD Artists. United Kingdom: GUILD Pub., 2001.

Taylor, Brian J., and Kate Doody. Ceramic Glazes: The Complete Handbook. London: Thames Hudson, 2014.

Williams, Gerry. “Twenty Potters in the Land of Lincoln.” Studio Potter 31, no. 2 (June 2003).

WEBSITE(S):

https://www.eshelmanpottery.com/

Artist's Studio: Eshelman Pottery