Kirsten Bassion Ceramics
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Gallery of Work
  • The Clay School
  • Story
    • Contact
TheClaySchool@gmail.com

Artist Bio, Resume, and Statement

Picture
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.  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 patterns are created using paper stencils and a slip trailer. The work is finished in a cone 5 oxidation kiln. I work in white stoneware, porcelain, and a dark brown stoneware.

My hope is that the final product is one that is visually stimulating and comfortable to use.  I strive to create work that I enjoy making and that is fun to use share with others. This is part of the joy of being a potter.



Picture
Artist Bio
 BS Studio Art 1997 - Skidmore College 
MFA Ceramics 2004 - Rochester Institute of Technology (School for American Craft)

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 150 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 The Clay School 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

​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,                                                                                                      
                                       Buckingham, Browne, and Nichols, Upper School                     Cambridge, MA
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

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  
2021          Chief Organizer of Lydia Pinkham Open Studios for 15 years        Lynn, MA

2020           Rosenfield Collection (*Butter Dish)
​                         Visiting Artist Workshop at the New Art Center                     Newton, MA
                        Hidden Valley Camp, Ceramics Pro-staff                                         Freedom, ME  
                        Strictly Functional Pottery National                                                    National Juried Online Show

​2019          AMACO 100 Anniversary Invitational                                                   NCECA, Minneapolis, MN
                         Hidden Valley Camp, Ceramics Pro-staff                                         Freedom, ME  
                        NCECA Exuberant Surfaces Show                                                             Minneapolis, MN
                         Chief Organizer of Lydia Pinkham Open Studios for 14 years        Lynn, MA

​2018               Visiting Artist, Clay By The Bay Studio                                         San Francisco, CA
                            Hidden Valley Camp, Ceramics Pro-staff                                     Freedom, ME  
                             Chief Organizer of Lydia Pinkham Open Studios for 13 years        Lynn, MA

2017               Visiting Artist Workshop, Arlington School                              Belmont, MA
                            Hidden Valley Camp, Ceramics Pro-staff                                      Freedom, ME                       
                             Chief Organizer of Lydia Pinkham Open Studios for 12 years        Lynn, MA
​
2016          Harvard Ceramics Department Show                                                    Alston, MA   
                        Teacher at Harvard Ceramics                                                                        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 pro-staff                                          Freedom, ME
                        Chief Organizer of Lydia Pinkham Open Studios for 11 years        Lynn, MA  

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


PUBLICATIONS
2020                                                 Rosenfield Collection  www.rosenfieldcollection.com
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

Proudly powered by Weebly