Artist Bio, Resume, and Statement
Artist Statement
I create functional pottery for daily use. I hope that it catches the eye through the use of bright colors, intricate patterns, and satisfies the user through generous forms and tactile surfaces. Spanish/Islamic tiles and pottery have strongly influenced my work since I lived there when I was 16 and this can be seen in the patterns and colors I have chosen to use. For years before that I was a quilter and that has also inform how I divide up the space on each form and lay down pattern as well as color and texture.
Some of my pieces are wheel thrown while others are hand built but all are painted with unique underglaze designs. Most are also stamped with a series of hand-carved stamps that I have created in rubber, clay, and plaster. Others are layered with paper stencils and underglaze pattern. The work is finished in a cone 5 oxidation kiln with a bold palette of glazes that drip and run together. I work in white stoneware, porcelain, and a dark brown stoneware.
My hope is that the final product is one that is visually stimulating, comfortable to use, and embodies a playful personality. I have strived to create work that I enjoy making and that is fun to share with others. This is part of the joy of being a potter.
I create functional pottery for daily use. I hope that it catches the eye through the use of bright colors, intricate patterns, and satisfies the user through generous forms and tactile surfaces. Spanish/Islamic tiles and pottery have strongly influenced my work since I lived there when I was 16 and this can be seen in the patterns and colors I have chosen to use. For years before that I was a quilter and that has also inform how I divide up the space on each form and lay down pattern as well as color and texture.
Some of my pieces are wheel thrown while others are hand built but all are painted with unique underglaze designs. Most are also stamped with a series of hand-carved stamps that I have created in rubber, clay, and plaster. Others are layered with paper stencils and underglaze pattern. The work is finished in a cone 5 oxidation kiln with a bold palette of glazes that drip and run together. I work in white stoneware, porcelain, and a dark brown stoneware.
My hope is that the final product is one that is visually stimulating, comfortable to use, and embodies a playful personality. I have strived to create work that I enjoy making and that is fun to share with others. This is part of the joy of being a potter.
Artist Bio
Skidmore College BS Studio Art 1997
Rochester Institute of Technology, School for American Craft MFA 2004
Kirsten Bassion is the owner and one of the original co-founders of The Clay School which was formerly North Shore Clay Studio started in 2005. In December of 2010 the studio changed names and Kirsten became the sole owner. The Clay School has grown into a vibrant clay center where over 100 students and artists take classes and make work. To this day she uses the studio a her own place to create her work as well as a creative place to teach and inspire others.
There are many things to juggle in Kirsten's life between being an artist entrepreneur to teaching at Harvard University and then there is her other job as the mother of two. Life is never boring and today she is grateful that school is all day. She lives in her hometown, Marblehead, MA with her husband and two girls.
Skidmore College BS Studio Art 1997
Rochester Institute of Technology, School for American Craft MFA 2004
Kirsten Bassion is the owner and one of the original co-founders of The Clay School which was formerly North Shore Clay Studio started in 2005. In December of 2010 the studio changed names and Kirsten became the sole owner. The Clay School has grown into a vibrant clay center where over 100 students and artists take classes and make work. To this day she uses the studio a her own place to create her work as well as a creative place to teach and inspire others.
There are many things to juggle in Kirsten's life between being an artist entrepreneur to teaching at Harvard University and then there is her other job as the mother of two. Life is never boring and today she is grateful that school is all day. She lives in her hometown, Marblehead, MA with her husband and two girls.
Artist Resume Abbreviated
EDUCATION
2004 Rochester Institute of Technology, Master of Fine Arts Rochester, NY
1997 Skidmore College, Bachelor of Science: Studio Art Saratoga Spr., NY
INVITATIONAL EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS
2018 Visiting Artist, Clay By The Bay Studio San Francisco, CA
2017 Visiting Artist Workshop, Arlington School Belmont, MA
Hidden Valley Camp, Ceramics Instructor Freedom, ME
2016 Harvard Ceramics Department Show Alston, MA
Functional Ceramics Invitational, Wayne Center for Arts Wooster, OH
The Clay Way, Generational show with Julia Galloway,
The Clay Lady Campus Nashville, TN
Visiting Artist Workshop, Arlington School Belmont, MA
Hidden Valley Camp, Ceramics Instructor Freedom, ME
2015 Visiting Artist Workshop, Arlington School Belmont, MA
Yunomi Invitational, AKAR Iowa City, IA
POW (Pots on Wheels) Truck show NCECA Providence, RI
Demonstrating Artist Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market Boston, MA
Chief Organizer of Lydia Pinkham Open Studios for 10 years Lynn, MA
2014 Invited artist to POW Pots on Wheels, NCECA Providence, RI
NCECA Judge and participant for RIT Alumni Show Milwaukee, MO
SOFA with Katie Gingrass Gallery Chicago, IL
Guest Lecturer Skidmore College Saratoga Spr, NY
Custom Donor wall for Organic Garden Bell School Marblehead, MA
Guest Artist at Arlington School Belmont, MA
Pots on Wheels participating Artist Boston, MA
MudFlat Studio Gala participating Artist Somerville, MA
2013 Duets, Clay Art Center Port Chester, NY
Yunomi Invitational Iowa City, IA
Fine Craft Judge Marblehead Festival of Arts Marblehead, MA
Fine Craft Show Judge Marblehead Arts Assoc. Marblehead, MA
2012 Sources and Influences Invitation from Julia Galloway
Huntington Museum of Art Huntington, WV
de-la-Fluer, Vase and Flower show, MudFire Gallery Decantur, GA
Pottery Invitational (show of the top New England Potters)
Worchester Center for Craft Worchester, MA
NCECA Gallery Show, 18 Hands Gallery Seattle, WA
Yunomi Invitational, AKAR Gallery Iowa City, IA
The Clay School in Session, (Solo show from Kirsten’s studio)
Marblehead Arts Assoc. Marblehead, MA
Annual Cup Invitational, Artisan Gallery Northampton, MA
2011 Yunomi Invitational, AKAR Gallery Iowa City, IA
Bancroft and Friends Marblehead, MA
Bowls, Worcester Center for Craft Worcester, MA
Society of Arts and Crafts Boston, MA
Fuller Craft Museum Brockton, MA
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Clay Art Center Port Chester, NY
2010 Winterfest 2010 Invitational, Baltimore Clayworks Baltimore, MD
Yunomi Invitational, AKAR Gallery Iowa City, IA
CRAFTBOSTON, Seaport World Trade Center Boston, MA
Small Favors V, The Clay Studio Philadelphia, PA
Winterfest Invitational, Baltimore Clayworks Baltimore, MD
Plates and Platters, Gallery Under the Stairs Lynn, MA
The Clay Studio Gallery Philadelphia, PA
Bancroft + Friends Gallery Marblehead, MA
Marblehead Arts Association Gallery Marblehead, MA
2009 CRAFTBOSTON, Seaport World Trade Center Boston, MA
Danforth Museum Shop Framingham, MA
Fuller Craft Museum Shop Brockton, MA
Yunomi Invitational, AKAR Gallery Iowa City, IA
Under Cover Invitational, Clay Art Center Port Chester, NY
Small Bowls: Susan Maasch Fine Art Portland, ME
Watershed Salad Days Pottery Sale Invitational Newcastle, ME
2008 Art in Bloom, Garden Gallery, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, MA
Pottery Invitational for Salad Days at Watershed Newcastle, ME
Gifted 2008, The Clay Studio Philadelphia, PA
South End Holiday Market Boston, MA
Our Cup Runneth Over 2008, Society of Arts and Crafts Boston, MA
One and Only Invitational, Kohler Arts Center Sheboygan, WI
All Fired Up, Artful Table Invitational, Lyndhurst Westchester, NY
Marblehead Arts Festival Marblehead, MA
Yunomi Invitational Show, AKAR Gallery Iowa City, IA
2007 Gifted 2007, The Clay Studio Philadelphia, PA
One and Only, John Michael Kohler Arts Center Sheboygan, WI
5x30, AKAR Gallery Iowa City, IA
MIMI Gallery Ipswich, MA
Interfusion, Marblehead Arts Assoc. Marblehead, MA
Mastery in Clay 2007, The Clay Studio Philadelphia, PA
Yunomi Invitational Show, AKAR Gallery Iowa City, IA
Susan Maasch Fine Art, Featured Clay Artist Portland, ME
Platter and Plate Invitational, Pewabic Pottery Gallery Detroit, MI
LUX, Lincoln Arts Center Lincoln, NE
2006 New Members Show, Marblehead Arts Assoc. Marblehead, MA
Featured Artist-July, Lincoln Arts Center Lincoln, NE
Society of Arts and Crafts, Retail Gallery, Newbury St. Boston, MA
AKAR Gallery Legacy, Iowa City, IA
Alex Karros, Julia Galloway, and Kirsten Bassion
Mastery in Clay, The Clay Studio Philadelphia, PA
Solo at the Virginia Carten Gallery, Carten Gallery Marblehead, MA
Cup Invitational, Society of Arts and Crafts Boston, MA
PROFESSIONAL CERAMICS EXPERIENCE
2006-present Owner/Teacher, The Clay School Lynn, MA
2016-2017 Teacher Harvard University Ceramics Department Cambridge, MA
2009 Visiting Artist at Shore Country Day Beverly, MA
Salem Public Park Project, Peabody St. Park Salem, MA
2006-2007 Ceramics Teacher, Adult Wheel Class, Creative Arts Reading, MA
2005 Ceramics Teacher, Cambridge, MA
Buckingham, Browne, and Nichols, Upper School
2004-2005 Ceramics Teacher, Redbrick Arts Center Beverly, MA
Ceramics Teacher, Adult Wheel Class, Creative Arts Reading, MA
2003 Artist-in-Residence, Fundacio Josep Llorens Artigas, Barcelona, Spain
Ceramics Teacher, Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY
School for American Crafts
2002 Ceramics Studio Technician Rochester, NY
Rochester Institute of Technology
2001 Ceramics Teacher, Peninsula Fine Arts Center Newport News, VA
PUBLICATIONS
2013 American Pottery iBook, By Kevin Hluch
April/May 2010 North Shore Magazine, The Home Issue, It’s Cake, page 22
December/Holiday 2009 North Shore Magazine, Fabulous Finds, page 94
Fall 2009 Marblehead Home and Style, Art Town, page 14
September 14, 2008 New York Times, Arts and Entertainment, page 10
April 24, 2008 The Marblehead Reporter, Cover Feature in Arts and More, page 1
EDUCATION
2004 Rochester Institute of Technology, Master of Fine Arts Rochester, NY
1997 Skidmore College, Bachelor of Science: Studio Art Saratoga Spr., NY
INVITATIONAL EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS
2018 Visiting Artist, Clay By The Bay Studio San Francisco, CA
2017 Visiting Artist Workshop, Arlington School Belmont, MA
Hidden Valley Camp, Ceramics Instructor Freedom, ME
2016 Harvard Ceramics Department Show Alston, MA
Functional Ceramics Invitational, Wayne Center for Arts Wooster, OH
The Clay Way, Generational show with Julia Galloway,
The Clay Lady Campus Nashville, TN
Visiting Artist Workshop, Arlington School Belmont, MA
Hidden Valley Camp, Ceramics Instructor Freedom, ME
2015 Visiting Artist Workshop, Arlington School Belmont, MA
Yunomi Invitational, AKAR Iowa City, IA
POW (Pots on Wheels) Truck show NCECA Providence, RI
Demonstrating Artist Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market Boston, MA
Chief Organizer of Lydia Pinkham Open Studios for 10 years Lynn, MA
2014 Invited artist to POW Pots on Wheels, NCECA Providence, RI
NCECA Judge and participant for RIT Alumni Show Milwaukee, MO
SOFA with Katie Gingrass Gallery Chicago, IL
Guest Lecturer Skidmore College Saratoga Spr, NY
Custom Donor wall for Organic Garden Bell School Marblehead, MA
Guest Artist at Arlington School Belmont, MA
Pots on Wheels participating Artist Boston, MA
MudFlat Studio Gala participating Artist Somerville, MA
2013 Duets, Clay Art Center Port Chester, NY
Yunomi Invitational Iowa City, IA
Fine Craft Judge Marblehead Festival of Arts Marblehead, MA
Fine Craft Show Judge Marblehead Arts Assoc. Marblehead, MA
2012 Sources and Influences Invitation from Julia Galloway
Huntington Museum of Art Huntington, WV
de-la-Fluer, Vase and Flower show, MudFire Gallery Decantur, GA
Pottery Invitational (show of the top New England Potters)
Worchester Center for Craft Worchester, MA
NCECA Gallery Show, 18 Hands Gallery Seattle, WA
Yunomi Invitational, AKAR Gallery Iowa City, IA
The Clay School in Session, (Solo show from Kirsten’s studio)
Marblehead Arts Assoc. Marblehead, MA
Annual Cup Invitational, Artisan Gallery Northampton, MA
2011 Yunomi Invitational, AKAR Gallery Iowa City, IA
Bancroft and Friends Marblehead, MA
Bowls, Worcester Center for Craft Worcester, MA
Society of Arts and Crafts Boston, MA
Fuller Craft Museum Brockton, MA
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Clay Art Center Port Chester, NY
2010 Winterfest 2010 Invitational, Baltimore Clayworks Baltimore, MD
Yunomi Invitational, AKAR Gallery Iowa City, IA
CRAFTBOSTON, Seaport World Trade Center Boston, MA
Small Favors V, The Clay Studio Philadelphia, PA
Winterfest Invitational, Baltimore Clayworks Baltimore, MD
Plates and Platters, Gallery Under the Stairs Lynn, MA
The Clay Studio Gallery Philadelphia, PA
Bancroft + Friends Gallery Marblehead, MA
Marblehead Arts Association Gallery Marblehead, MA
2009 CRAFTBOSTON, Seaport World Trade Center Boston, MA
Danforth Museum Shop Framingham, MA
Fuller Craft Museum Shop Brockton, MA
Yunomi Invitational, AKAR Gallery Iowa City, IA
Under Cover Invitational, Clay Art Center Port Chester, NY
Small Bowls: Susan Maasch Fine Art Portland, ME
Watershed Salad Days Pottery Sale Invitational Newcastle, ME
2008 Art in Bloom, Garden Gallery, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, MA
Pottery Invitational for Salad Days at Watershed Newcastle, ME
Gifted 2008, The Clay Studio Philadelphia, PA
South End Holiday Market Boston, MA
Our Cup Runneth Over 2008, Society of Arts and Crafts Boston, MA
One and Only Invitational, Kohler Arts Center Sheboygan, WI
All Fired Up, Artful Table Invitational, Lyndhurst Westchester, NY
Marblehead Arts Festival Marblehead, MA
Yunomi Invitational Show, AKAR Gallery Iowa City, IA
2007 Gifted 2007, The Clay Studio Philadelphia, PA
One and Only, John Michael Kohler Arts Center Sheboygan, WI
5x30, AKAR Gallery Iowa City, IA
MIMI Gallery Ipswich, MA
Interfusion, Marblehead Arts Assoc. Marblehead, MA
Mastery in Clay 2007, The Clay Studio Philadelphia, PA
Yunomi Invitational Show, AKAR Gallery Iowa City, IA
Susan Maasch Fine Art, Featured Clay Artist Portland, ME
Platter and Plate Invitational, Pewabic Pottery Gallery Detroit, MI
LUX, Lincoln Arts Center Lincoln, NE
2006 New Members Show, Marblehead Arts Assoc. Marblehead, MA
Featured Artist-July, Lincoln Arts Center Lincoln, NE
Society of Arts and Crafts, Retail Gallery, Newbury St. Boston, MA
AKAR Gallery Legacy, Iowa City, IA
Alex Karros, Julia Galloway, and Kirsten Bassion
Mastery in Clay, The Clay Studio Philadelphia, PA
Solo at the Virginia Carten Gallery, Carten Gallery Marblehead, MA
Cup Invitational, Society of Arts and Crafts Boston, MA
PROFESSIONAL CERAMICS EXPERIENCE
2006-present Owner/Teacher, The Clay School Lynn, MA
2016-2017 Teacher Harvard University Ceramics Department Cambridge, MA
2009 Visiting Artist at Shore Country Day Beverly, MA
Salem Public Park Project, Peabody St. Park Salem, MA
2006-2007 Ceramics Teacher, Adult Wheel Class, Creative Arts Reading, MA
2005 Ceramics Teacher, Cambridge, MA
Buckingham, Browne, and Nichols, Upper School
2004-2005 Ceramics Teacher, Redbrick Arts Center Beverly, MA
Ceramics Teacher, Adult Wheel Class, Creative Arts Reading, MA
2003 Artist-in-Residence, Fundacio Josep Llorens Artigas, Barcelona, Spain
Ceramics Teacher, Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY
School for American Crafts
2002 Ceramics Studio Technician Rochester, NY
Rochester Institute of Technology
2001 Ceramics Teacher, Peninsula Fine Arts Center Newport News, VA
PUBLICATIONS
2013 American Pottery iBook, By Kevin Hluch
April/May 2010 North Shore Magazine, The Home Issue, It’s Cake, page 22
December/Holiday 2009 North Shore Magazine, Fabulous Finds, page 94
Fall 2009 Marblehead Home and Style, Art Town, page 14
September 14, 2008 New York Times, Arts and Entertainment, page 10
April 24, 2008 The Marblehead Reporter, Cover Feature in Arts and More, page 1