Artist: Delores Fortuna
Delores Fortuna, WISCONSIN
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EDUCATION
1970
B.F.A. University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
1972
M.F.A. University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Nationally-known ceramic artist Delores Fortuna has a vibrant history with over 35+ years of experience, including teaching ceramics at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for 16 years. Today, she works from her Northern Wisconsin studio.
Inspired by gesturally thrown forms alive with line and color, Fortuna seeks her own modernist-inspired flair. To her, “forming function is a dance, often a tug-of-war between thought and object-making.” Fortuna describes her process as scientific, observational curiosity.
Childhood:
Grew up on dairy farm in northern Wisconsin. Contacted polio at 14 months, rehab at Sister Kenny Institute and 8 orthopedic operations allowed walking at the age of 16 without leg braces and crutches, return of post-polio syndrome necessitated return to the use of canes for stability.
Education:
High school valedictorian; BFA, MFA (honors) from the University of Chicago, 1972; studying ceramics with Ruth Duckworth
Teaching:
Antioch University, St. Xavier’s University, The School of Art Institute of Chicago (retired 2015); art centers: Lill Street and Hyde Park Art Center. Workshops: Ox-Bow/SAIC, Ozark College of the Arts, Adamah, Fine Line Center for the Arts, Kirkwood College, Blackhawk College, MTC/Madison, Kansas City Arts Center, Parkland College, Bradley University, Iowa Ceramics Center, Watermark Center for the Arts, The Fine Line, and Duluth Art Institute.
Professional Achievements:
International Exhibitions: Japan (Mino), Taiwan (Yeigei), Italy, France, Finland, Mexico, Canada
National Exhibitions:
NCECA Biennial, Awards: (Best of Show): River to River, Central Time Zone, San Angelo, Topeka National, Materials Hard and Soft, It’s Only Clay, Art of Possibilities.
Business Development:
Oak Park Pottery, ArtWorks in Oak Park (now Terra Incognitio) offering classes, working artist’s studios, residencies and gallery.
Studio Tours:
Developed Holiday Lights Tour (Oak Park), Twenty Dirty Hands Pottery Tour (Galena)
Art Fairs:
Best of Show awards (ceramics): St. Louis, Plaza (Kansas City), Uptown (Minneapolis), Art on the Square (Madison), Laumeier, (Kansas City) Brookside (Kansas City), Marion, College Park (Cedar Falls), 57th (Chicago), Lakefront Arts Festival (Milwaukee), Appleton, Cambridge Pottery Festival and Philadelphia Museum Craft show (2020).
Publications:
“500 Teapots,” Lark Books, Ceramics Monthly, Clay Times, Madison Essentials
Collections:
Continental Clay, Minneapolis MN
Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque IA.
Topeka Shawnee County Public Library, Topeka KS
Bemidji Center for the Arts, Bemidji MN
Prudential Insurance, Dubuque IA
Kansas City Ceramics Center, Kansas City KS
Summation:
BFA, MFA, University of Chicago. Retired professor, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Invitee for international ceramic symposiums in Finland, Italy and Taiwan; International ceramic invitationals: Mino/Japan and Yeigei/Taiwan. National invitationals: NCECA Biennial, awards: San Angelo, Wichita National, River to River, Central Time, Materials Hard and Soft, Art of Possibilities, Craft Forms, It's Only Clay. Art fair best of show/ceramics awards: St. Louis, Plaza(Kansas City), Des Moines, Uptown, Art on the Square (Madison), Marion, Peoria, Laumier, Brookside, Cambridge Potter’s Festival and Philadelphia Museum Craft Show.
EMPLOYMENT
1999-Present
Adjunct Assistant Professor - Ceramics Department
School of the Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, Illinois
1989-2000
Gallery and Arts Center owner and director
ArtWorks in Oak Park, Oak Park, Illinois
1981-1989
Gallery and pottery studio owner
Oak Park Pottery, Oak Park, Illinois
1979-1983
Professor - Art Department
St. Xavier College, Chicago, Illinois
RECENT EXHIBITIONS
2017
“Thirty Anniversary Invitational” Artisan Gallery, Paoli, WI
“Strictly Functional,” Market Gallery, Lancaster, PA
“25th Anniversary of Pottery Tour,” Weisman Art Museum, MN
“The Splendid Table,” Sage Gallery, Sheridan, WY
“Americanos,” ClayAKAR, Iowa City, IA
“Tea,” Abel Contemporary, Paoli, WI
2016
“Central Time,” Bradley University, Peoria IL “A Non-Traditional Approach,” Artisan Gallery, Paoli WI “Strictly Functional,” Market Gallery, Lancaster PA “Small Favors,” The Clay Place, Philadelphia, PA “Orton Cone Box Show,” NCECA 2016, Kansas City, KS
2014
“Pour.” Terra Incognito, Oak Park IL.
“Twin Cups.” Missouri Western University, KC, MO
“Central Time.” Bradley University, Peoria, IL
“San Angelo Ceramic National.” San Angelo Museum, TX
“Cup Show.” Kent State University, Kent, OH
“UNF National.” University of North Florida, FL
“Clay and Context.” University of Indiana, Terra Haute, IN
“Elevating Clay.” Overture Center, Madison, WI
“Ring of Fire.” Verona Gallery, Verona, WI
“Material Attraction.” Jacoby Art Center, Alton, IL
“Lill Street Gallery at NCECA.” NCECA, Milwaukee, WI
“Yunomi 2014.” AKAR. Iowa City, IA
“Food and Craft.” Artisans Gallery, Paoli, WI
“Small Favors.” The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
“Twenty Dirty Hands.” OTLAG. Dubuque, IA
“Minnesota Potters Tour.” St. Croix, MN
Margo’s. Buffalo, WY. Ceramic Center, Cedar Rapids, IA
2013
“Cup,” Kent State University, Kent, OH
“100 Teapots,” Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
“Hardwire,” Ceramics National, HCAF, Ingram, TX
“Influence and Inspiration,” Artisan Gallery, Paoli WI
“Yunomi Invitational,” AKAR, Iowa City IA
“2013 Biennial,” Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque IA
2012
“Materials Hard and Soft.” GDAC, Denton, TX
“Clay3.” Clayspace, Warrenville, IL
“4th Ceramics Biennial.” Concordia University, St. Paul MN
“Clay? IV.” Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, WA
“Daily Companions.” Baltimore ClayWorks. Baltimore MD
“Clay EVV.” Indiana University, Evansville, IN
“Clay National VIII.” Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale CO
“Strictly Functional.” MHCC, East Petersburg PA
“Teabowl National.” KSCG, Kansas City KS
“It’s Only Clay.” BAC, Beminji, MN
“Lill Street Invitational.” Lill Street Gallery,Chicago, IL
“Minnesota Potters Tour.” St. Croix, MN
“Two Person Show, Outside the Lines, Dubuque, IA
“Yunomi Invitational.” AKAR, Iowa City IA
“One Person Show.” Artisans Gallery. Paoli WI
“Teapots.” Illinois Artisans Gallery. Chicago IL
“5x30.” AKAR, Iowa City IA
2011
“Materials Hard and Soft.” GDAC, Denton, TX
“TeaBowl National.” Kansas City Clay Guild, Kansas City, KS
“Clay National.” Wichita Center for the Arts, Wichita, KS
“It’s Only Clay.” Bemidji Art Center, Bemidji, MN
“River to River.” Iowa Art Center, Cedar Rapids, IA
“Topeka National.” Sabatini Gallery, TSCPL, Topeka, KS
“He Said, She Said.” NIU, Gary, IN
“Yunomi.” AKAR, Iowa City, IA
‘50 on 50.’’ Minneapolis, MN
“Lill Street Invitational.” Lill Street Gallery,Chicago, IL
‘Tea.” McLean Arts Center, McLean, IL
‘Voices.” Warehouse District, Dubuque, IA
“Ceramics Invitational.” Artisans Gallery, Paoli, WI
“Tea and Coffee.” Artisans Gallery, Paoli, WI
“Terra Local.” Terra Incognitio, Oak Park, IL
“Minnesota Potters Tour.” St. Croix, MN
“Biennial.” Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque, IA
AWARDS
2017
Brookside Art Fair, Best of Show
Uptown Art Fair, Honorable Mention
2016
Uptown Art Fair, Best of Show
St. Louis Art Fair, Best of Show
2012
“Clay3.” Clayspace, Warrenville, IL
“It’s Only Clay.” BAC, Beminji, MN
2011
“Tea.” Kansas City Ceramics Center. Purchase Award
“River to River.” Iowa Art Center. Best of Show
“It’s Only Clay.” Bemidji Art Center
“Topeka National.” Sabatini Gallery, TSCPL, Juror’s Award
COLLECTIONS
Bemidji Art Center. Bemidji, MN
Collections Topeka Art Museum. Topeka, KS
Prudential Insurance Company. Dubuque, IA
Shulli Ceramics Center. Shulli, Taiwan
Mino Ceramics Museum. Mino Japan
GALLERY REPRESENTATION