Artist: Bruce Gholson

Bruce Gholson, NORTH CAROLINA
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I create functional and decorative ceramics throwing with a variety of clays and developing unique glaze formulas. I find changing between porcelain, stoneware, and red clays, stimulates ideas and possibilities for continued exploration in my work. 

As a child my formative years were in Stillwater, Oklahoma.  My fondest memories are of fishing with my dad and flipping stones over by the ponds to see the creatures that lived underneath.... usually beetles, centipedes, scorpions, lizards and snakes.

I started making pots in 1973 after my first exposure to clay in my hometown’s college ceramics facility at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK. I moved to Athens, Georgia and received my B.F.A. in ceramics from the University of Georgia in 1978.  I then worked at Berea College’s Clay program in Berea, Kentucky for three years as the graduate apprentice, making pots, managing the materials inventory, firing schedules, and studio maintenance. I lived in Floyd, Virginia where I worked as a professional studio potter for 14 years.  Going back to school I received my M.F.A. in ceramics from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 1997

Bruce Gholson is a full time studio potter maintaining an open pottery shop, amidst a community of over 60 potteries in central North Carolina near the small town of Seagrove. Bruce and his wife Samantha Henneke operate Bulldog Pottery, making a diverse range of functional and decorative ceramics working with a variety of clays and glazes. Bruce received his M.F.A. in ceramics from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 1997, and his BFA in ceramics from the University of Georgia at Athens in 1978. Bruce also worked at Berea College’s Clay program in Berea, Kentucky for three years as the graduate apprentice, making pots, managing the materials inventory, firing schedules, and studio maintenance. Originally from Stillwater, Oklahoma, Bruce started making pots in 1973 after his first exposure to clay in his hometown’s college ceramics facility at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK. Bruce has work in many private and museum collections including AMOCA, Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramics Art, Mobile Museum of Fine Art, Arizona S.U. Art Museum, Gregg Museum, and Mint Museum.

EDUCATION:
2014 Two week Summer School Class with John Gill, Alfred
University, Alfred, New York.
1995-97 MFA in ceramics at New York State College of Ceramics, in Alfred, NY.
1978-80 BFA in ceramics at University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
1974-76 Houston Fine Arts Museum School of Art, Houston, TX.
1971-73 Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
2012-2018 Co-Chair for North Carolina Potters Conference, Randolph Arts
Guild, Asheboro, North Carolina.
2000-Present Studio Potter and partner, Bulldog Pottery, Seagrove, NC.
1997-99 Studio Potter, and technical advisor and potter at Dover Pottery
Seagrove, NC.
1994 New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred NY. Visiting
Professor of Ceramic Art, Spring Semester.
1984-94 Studio Potter, Floyd, VA.
1980-83 Graduate Apprentice, Berea College, Berea, KY.
Workshops and Presentations:
2017 One-Day Workshop at University of Mary Washington,
Fredericksburg, Virginia.
2017 Presentation at Liberty Town Arts, November, Fredericksburg, Virginia.
2015 Presentation for North Carolina Pottery Collectors, December,
Raleigh, NC.
2015 One-Day Workshop and Presentation at Pembroke University,
North Carolina, March.
2014 Two-Day Workshop and Presentation at Eastern Carolina
University, Greenville, North Carolina, October.
2012 University of Georgia, April, Visiting Artist
1993 ACC Conference “As a Professional in Crafts.”
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN.
1992 North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
1991 Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC.
1991 University of Georgia, Atlanta, GA.
1990 NCECA Conference: Emerging Talent Presentation
Cincinnati, OH.
1990 University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN.
1986 Penland School of Crafts, Penland. NC.
1984 Virginia Polytechnical Institute, Blacksburg, VA.

PUBLICATIONS and Awards:
2018 Amazing Glaze:Techniques, Recipes, Finishing, and Firing,
Gabriel Kline, Voyageur Press.
2016 Mastering the Potter’s Wheel: Techniques, Tips, and Tricks for
Potters, Ben Carter, Voyageur Press.
2016 Ceramics Monthly, Studio Visit article, June/July/August
2015 Regional Artist Project Grant Recipient
2013 5oo Teapots – Volume II, juried Jim Lawton, Lark Books, Sterling
Publ., Co. New York.
2008 Surface Design for Ceramics, by Maureen Mills, Lark Books,
Sterling Publ. Co., New York, pg. 135.
2008 500 Platters and Chargers, juried by Linda Arbuckle, Lark Books,
Sterling Publ. Co., New York.
2007 The Essential Guide to Mold Making and Slip Casting, by Andy
Martin, Lark Book, Sterling Publ. Co., New York, pg. 18 & 55.
2006 500 Animals, Contemporary Expressions of the Animal Form, juried by Joe Bova, Lark Books, Sterling Publ. Co., New York.
2006 Brown, Charlotte Vestal, The Remarkable Potters of Seagrove –
The Folk Pottery of a Legendary North Carolina Community, Lark
Books, Sterling Pub. Co., New York.
2006 500 Pitchers-Contemporary Expressions of a Classic Form, juried
by Terry Gess, Lark Books, Sterling Pub. Co., New York.
2006 “Feats of Clay” Our State Down Home in North Carolina,
magazine article by Eden Foster, July, 2006, 100-108.
2004 Upfront, Ceramics Monthly, May, page 16.
2001 Richter, Lester. American Shino. Babcock Galleries, New York,
2001.
1990 NCECA Journal, emerging artist profile.
1988 Southern Accents
1986 Studio Potter

COLLECTIONS:
2014 National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum, Leadville, Colorado
2009 Scott Cornelius Design Studio Ltd. Bulldog table lamps in the
permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution: Presently in
the First Family’s, Private Quarters of the White House.
2008 Asheville Art Museum, James Goode ceramic pitcher collection,
Asheville, NC.
2007 Mint Museum of Art Randolph, Charlotte, NC.
2006 Gregg Museum of Art and Design, NC State University, Raleigh.
2005 Mint Museum of Art Randolph, Charlotte, NC.
2005 Rocky Mount Arts Center, Rocky Mount, NC.
1997 Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art, Alfred, NY.
1997 The Robert Pfannebecker Collection, Lancaster, PA.
1994 Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art, Alfred, NY.
1993 Ceramics Monthly Purchase
1991 University Art Museum, Nelson Fine Arts, Tempe, AZ.


SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
2019 H20, NCECA Minneapolis 2019, Group Exhibition, at the
Waterbar and Public Studio. 2018 Beauty and the Beast, May 4- July 15, GreenHill Art Center, Greensboro, NC
2017 Functional Ceramics 2017, March 22- April 22, Wayne Art Center,
Hosted by Ohio Designer Craftsman, Wooster, Ohio
2017 American Pottery Festival, September 8-10, sponsored by
Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN.
2016 Invited to The American Pottery Festival,” September 9-11,
sponsored by Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN.
2016 Invited to “Potter’s Market Invitational,” September, sponsored by
the Delhom Service League, Mint Museum Randolph, Charlotte,
North Carolina.
2016 Invited to solo exhibition, Bruce Gholson and Samantha Henneke,”
FRANK Art Gallery, August, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2016 Invited to solo exhibition, “Bruce Gholson and Samantha
Henneke,” Troika Contemporary Crafts, July 1- August 2, Floyd, VA
2016 “Cake,” an Invitational, The Dinnerware Museum, April 9-
September 4, Ann Arbor, Michigan, collaboration with Joe Grant
director of the STARworks Glass, Star, NC.
2015 “Potter’s Market Invitational,” September, sponsored by the
Delhom Service League, Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte, North
Carolina.
2015 “Distilled Essence III,” Charlie Cummings Gallery, March 7 - 27, Gainesville, Florida.
2015 “Potters Four,” Ackland Museum Store, June 12 - August 20,
Chapel Hill, NC.
2014 “Potter’s Market Invitational,” September, sponsored by the
Delhom Service League, Mint Museum Randolph, Charlotte,
North Carolina.
2014 June 1 – September 14, Maria V. Howard Arts Center, “Bulldog
Pottery – From Our Collection,” Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
2014 AKAR, Featured Artist Exhibition, Sept 26 – Oct. 27, Iowa City, Iowa
2014 AKAR Yunomi Invitational, April 25 - May 16, Iowa City, Iowa.
2013 “Potter’s Market Invitational,” September, sponsored by the
Delhom Service League, Mint Museum Randolph, Charlotte, North Carolina.
2013 Animalia, April 25 - August 2, The Schein-Joseph International
Museum of Ceramics Art, Alfred, New York.
2013 “Unforgettable Dinnerware,” April 27 - May 17, The Dinnerware
Museum, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
2013 AKAR Yunomi Invitational, April 19 - August 19, Iowa City, Iowa
2013 “Endless Variations II: A Shino Extravaganza,” curated by
Malcolm David, Lone Star College, NCECA , February 26 –
March 26, Houston, Texas.
2013 “Tea Time: Series II Functional and Conceptual,” North Carolina
Pottery Center, February 2 - April 27, Seagrove, NC.
2012 “Potter’s Market Invitational,” September, sponsored by the
Delhom Service League, Mint Museum Randolph, Charlotte,
North Carolina.
2012 “Pots at Rest,” The Clay Studio, August 17 - September 30,
Philadelphia, PA.
2012 “Bulldog Pottery - New Works, ” PAF Gallery, March 16 - April 13, Siler City, NC.
2012 AKAR Yunomi Invitational, March 2012, Iowa City, Iowa.
2011 “Bulldog Pottery: New Works,” North Carolina Museum of
Natural Sciences, Nature Art Gallery, 60 pieces, October 7-
October 30, Raleigh, NC.
2011 “Potter’s Market Invitational,” September, sponsored by the
Delhom Service League, Mint Museum Randolph, Charlotte,
North Carolina.
2011 National Teapot Show VIII, Cedar Creek Gallery, May 21-
August 21 Creedmoor, N.C.
2011 AKAR Yunomi Invitational, March 26 - April 16, Iowa City, Iowa.
2011 "Frozen in Fire - Crystalline Waves,” Dunedin Fine Arts Center,
show during NCECA, March 20 - May 1, Tampa, Florida
2010 “Potter’s Market Invitational,” September, sponsored by the
Delhom Service League, Mint Museum Randolph, Charlotte,
North Carolina.
2010 AKAR Yunomi Invitational, April 2010, Iowa City, Iowa.
2010 “Let’s Table This: A Survey of Table Top Vessels from
AMOCA’s Permanent Collection,” Jan. 23 - Apr. 24, Ponoma, CA
2009 “The Art of Tea,” October 25, VisARTS Center, Rockville, MD
2009 “Ceramics : Southeast,” October 12 - November 19, University of
South Carolina in McMaster Gallery, Columbia, SC.
2009 “Potter’s Market Invitational,” September, sponsored by the
Delhom Service League, Mint Museum Randolph, Charlotte,
North Carolina.
2009 “Drawn to Clay:Vessels Emblazoned,” Claymakers, August 21-
October 10, Durham, NC.
2009 “Drawn and Decal,” Mudfire Gallery, July 11 - August 1, Decatur,
GA.
2009 “Art of the State - NC Treasures,” Cedar Creek Gallery, June 12-
September 6, Creedmoor, NC.
2009 AKAR Yunomi Invitational, March 27-July, Iowa City, Iowa
2008 “Bulldog Pottery: New Works,” North Carolina Museum of
Natural Sciences, Nature Art Gallery, 60 pieces, October 3- November 2, Raleigh.
2008 “Potter’s Market Invitational,” September, sponsored by the
Delhom Service League, Mint Museum Randolph, Charlotte,
North Carolina.
2008 Featured Artist along with Samantha Henneke at AKAR Design
Gallery, September 29 - October 19, Iowa City.
2008 National Teapot Show VII, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, N.C.
2008 AKAR Yunomi Invitational, AKAR Design Gallery, Iowa City,
Iowa.
2007 Ron Meyers invites 10 former students, University of North Texas,
Denton, Texas.
2007 “Potter’s Market Invitational,” September, sponsored by the
Delhom Service League, Mint Museum Randolph, Charlotte,
North Carolina.
2007 Bulldog Pottery Exhibition at the London Square Gallery, May 5 –
July 4, Norfolk, VA.
2007 “The Natural World,” 90 pieces of Bulldog Pottery in group
exhibition, Gregg Museum of Art and Design, January 25 – May
13, NC State University, Raleigh.
2006 “30 x 5: 30 Potters X 5 pots,” AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, Iowa.
2006 “Bulldog Pottery: New Works”, North Carolina Museum of
Natural Sciences, Nature Art Gallery, October 6 – November 26,
Raleigh.
2006 “Potter’s Market Invitational,” September, sponsored by the
Delhom Service League, Mint Museum Randolph, Charlotte,
North Carolina.
2006 “Sid Oakley: Artist, Mentor, Friend,”, Gallery of Art and Design,
NC State University, Aug 24 - Dec 20, Raleigh, NC.
2006 “North Carolina Pottery from the Elizabeth and Leo Kohn
Collection,” Mint Museum of Art, Aug 5 - Nov 5, Charlotte, NC.
2006 “International Cup,” competitive show, sponsored by the Clay
Studio of Missoula, Allegra Print and Imaging, Helena, Montana.
2006 “Color and Memory,” Invitational, The Rye Arts Center, Rye, NY.
2006 Tea Bowl Invitational, Hardeman Gallery, Mercer University,
Macon, Georgia.
2005 “Potter’s Market Invitational,” September, sponsored by the
Delhom Service League, Mint Museum Randolph, Charlotte,
North Carolina.
2005 National Teapot Show VI, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, N.C.
2004 “Southern Mugs,” Southern Pottery Workcenter and Gallery,
Columbia, South Carolina.
2004 “Flora, Fauna, Fossils, Crystals. And Clay,” 117 pieces of Bulldog
Pottery at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Nature
Art Gallery, October 1- November 28.
2004 “A Family Affair,” Pannonia Gallery, Blacksburg, Va.
2004 “Southern Pitchers,” Southern Pottery Workcenter and Gallery,
Columbia, South Carolina.
2004 Seven Studios from Seagrove: Legacy Takes a Detour, Burroughs Chapin Art Museum, Myrtle Beach, SC.
2004 Teapot Show, Hodges Taylor Gallery, Charlotte, NC.
2003 “30x5: 30 Potters X 5 pots,” AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, Iowa.
2003 Four Potteries--a Group Show at Moring Arts Center’s Main
Gallery, Asheboro, N.C.
2002 National Teapot Show V, Cedar Creek Gallery,
Creedmoor, N.C.
2002 The MFA Gloryhole: Selections from the Last Ten Years, Schein -
Joseph International Museum, Alfred, N.Y.
2001 Solo Exhibit, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC.
2001 American Shino, Babcock Galleries, New York, NY.
2001 9th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National,
Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA.
2000 Pitcher Show, North Carolina Pottery Center Exhibit, Seagrove, NC.
1999 “Wood fired...A Living Pottery Tradition,” North Carolina Pottery
Center Exhibit, Seagrove, NC.
1999 Habit to Ritual: Pots for Living 16th Annual Studio Days, Chester
Springs, Penn.
1997 National Teapot Show IV, Cedar Creek Gallery, Award of Excellence.
1997 MFA Graduate Exhibition, Fosdick-Nelson Gallery, Alfred, NY.
1997 Crossing Borders, Castellani Art Museum of Niagara, Niagara, NY.
1995 National Teapot Show III, Cedar Creek Gallery,
Creedmoor, NC., Ceramics Monthly Purchase.
1994 Chelsea Gallery, A.K. Hinds University Center; Western Carolina
University, Cullowhee.
1993 National Teapot Show II, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC.
1993 “On the Surface” Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI.
1993 Upstream from the Mainstream, Radford University, Radford, VA.
1992 “Virginia Clay Artists,” Longwood College, Farmville, VA.
1992 Crafts National Invitational, Edinboro University of
Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA.
1992 OCCC School of Art Invitational, Demarest, NJ.
1991 OCCC School of Art Invitational, Demarest, NJ.
1991 Just Fired: New Ceramic Work, Tempe Art Center, Tempe, AZ.,
museum purchase.
1990 OCCC School of Art Invitational, Demarest, NJ.
1990 Virginia Prizes for the Visual Arts, Peninsula Fine Arts Newport News, VA.
1989 Functional Pottery Show, NCECA Convention, Kansas City
Contemporary Art Center, Kansas City, MO.
1988 Functional Ceramics Show, SECCA, Winston-Salem, NC.
1988 Two Person Show, William and Mary College, Williamsburg, VA.
1987 Alumni Show, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK.
1987 Animal Imagery in Craft, The Theater Art Galleries, High Point, NC.
1987 Virginia Clay Now, Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA
1985 Teapot Invitational, Contemporary Crafts Gallery, Louisville, KY.
1984 Tea Pot Invitational, Contemporary Crafts Gallery, Louisville, KY.
1982 Group Show, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.
1982 Ceramics Southeast, Athens, GA.
1979 Ceramics Southeast, Athens, GA.