The Marks Project - A Marks Dictionary of American Studio Pottery, 1946 to Present

Sean O'Connell

—Born, Fayetteville, Arkansas

EDUCATION

2001 BFA Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, Missouri

2009 MFA School for American Crafts, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York

APPRENTICESHIPS AND RESIDENCIES

2012 Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, Fall Visiting Artist, Newcastle, Maine

2010 Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, "Salad Day's Artist-in-Residence"

2011-2013 Matsutani and Wingate Fellow, Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, Montana

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

2009—Studio Potter

2014—Instructor, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Sean O’Connell makes a large range of functional wares. The work is wheel-thrown or hand-built using porcelain. The underglaze designs and patterns on the surfaces of the work become vibrant on the white porcelain. The pieces are finished with a clear over glaze.

O'Connell finds inspiration in historic ceramics, patterns, contemporary design and the necessities dictated by utility.

Public Collections

rosenfieldcollection.com

Bibliography

Access Ceramics, http://accessceramics.org/results/artist/377/, 2010.

ArtAxis, http://artaxis.org/ceramics/oconnell_sean/sean_oconnell.html, 2010.

Britt, John. The Complete Guide to Mid-Range Glazes. New York, NY: Lark Ceramics, 2014.

Harrop, Natalie E. 500 Plates and Chargers: Innovative Expressions of Function & Style. Asheville, NC: Lark Books, 2010.

Hluch, Kevin A. The Art of Contemporary American Pottery. Online edition, 2013.

Koplos, Janet. “Anecdote” solo exhibition review. Ceramics Art & Perception 89 (2012).

O’Connell, Sean. “Poetics of Utility.” Ceramics Monthly 59, no. 10 (2012).

Taylor, Brian and Kate Doody. Glaze: The Ultimate Ceramic Artist’s Guide to Glaze and Color. Hauppauge, NY: Barron’s Educational Series, 2014