Kirk Mangus, Kirk S. Mangus

1952Born Sharon, Pennsylvania

2013Died Kent, Ohio

EDUCATION

1970-1973, 1990Summer Workshops, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina

1971-1975BFA Ceramics, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island

1977-1979MFA Ceramics, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

1981, 1982,  1985, 1991,1993Visiting Artist, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

1983Resident Artist, Omaha Brick Works, Omaha, Nebraska

1982-1983 Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, Ohio

1984 Summer Session New York State School of Ceramics, Alfred University, Alfred, New York

1985-2013Professor, Head of Ceramics Department, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio

1993Invited Artist and Lecture, Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Shigaraki, Japan

2003, 2002, 1988Visiting Artist, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Northedgecomb, Maine

2007The Pottery Workshop, Shanghai and Jingdezhen, China

APPRENTICESHIPS AND RESIDENCIES

1970-1973Summer Workshops, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina

1973-1976Earth, Air, Wind and Fire Summer Workshops, Grass Valley, California

1975-1977Resident Artist, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1980Resident Artist, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Montana

1981, 1982, 1991, 1993Visting Artist, Cranbrook Art Academy, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

1989, 1990, 1994Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina

1988, 2002, 2003Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, Maine

1985Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass Village, Colorado

1983Resident Artist, Omaha Brickworks, Omaha, Nebraska

1999 Summer Residency, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island

2003, 2002, 1988Visiting Artist, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Northedgecomb, Maine

 BIOGRAPHY

 Kirk Mangus’ work is characterized by deeply carved high relief surfaces with personal iconic motifs on identifiable classical forms or well-drawn, frequently whimsical, under glaze and/or overglaze designs on smooth glossy surfaces. Mangus referenced early Asian ceramics and classic Greek vase forms. He worked with various clays, selecting the one that would give the surface needed to achieve the desired results. The surfaces can be very smooth and decorated with spontaneous, brightly colored drawing, or be rough and wood-fired or deeply carved. Mangus’ drawings may deal with human relationships, nature scenes or comic situations.