Biography

Jacob Foran (US. 1983; MFA 2010) is a Seattle based ceramic artist.  Born in Urbana, Illinois, Foran received a BFA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the interdisciplinary Painting & Sculpture Program.  He then obtained a second BFA in Ceramics from the Univ. of IL in 2008, where he was awarded Allie D. Hughston-Enochs Scholarship for the Outstanding Graduate in the School of Art+Design.   Prior to transferring to the Univ. of Illinois School of Art, Foran received a full tuition merit scholarship from Parkland College where is obtained an AFA with an emphasis in Drawing & Painting.  During these years, he developed working relationships with Cinema Gallery and Ann Nathan Gallery in Chicago. 

 Jacob moved to Seattle in 2008 to study with artists Akio Takamori, Doug Jeck, and Jamie Walker in the University of Washington’s Ceramics Department (consistently ranked in the top five nationally according to the U.S. News and World Report).  Foran received the Kottler & Noritake Scholarship from the UW and the national juried Kate Neal Kinley Fellowship (20k) in 2009.  He was awarded First Prize in the national Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Student Exhibit at the Clay Studio in Philadelphia, PA.  Foran began his teaching career while a graduate student at the UW under guidance from Akio Takamori.  Upon receiving his MFA he was also given the Teaching With Excellence Award from the School of Art+Art History+Design at the UW. 

 Foran’s 2010 thesis exhibition, titled ‘Headspace,’ made reviews in major publications including Surfaces Magazine in Beijing, China, Designboom in Milan, Italy and Beautiful Decay in Los Angeles, CA.   His work has also been featured in publications such as ArtSlant New York, Clay Times, Ceramics Monthly, and the Seattle Times. Museum exhibitions include ”Continuum of Excellence: Haystack Clay Selects,” at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA, “Creating The New Northwest: Selections from the Collection of the Herb and Lucy Pruzan” at the Tacoma Art Museum, WA, the NCECA National Biennial at the Museum of Art and Craft in Louisville, KY.    Major gallery exhibitions include “Games of Antiquities” at Gasser & Grunnert in New York City, SOFA New York and SOFA Chicago with Ann Nathan Gallery, and most recently “Bodies and Beings” at Abmeyer+Wood Fine Art in Seattle, WA. Esteemed acquisitions include Koen Theys Collection in Brussels, Belgium, the Pruzan Collection in Seattle, the Porter & Price Collection in Columbia, SC and the Rosenbaum Collection in Bethesda, Maryland.  Public collections include the Sonny and Gloria Kamm Foundation’s museum collection, Parkland College’s permanent collection in Champaign, IL as well as the Archie Bray Foundation for Ceramic Arts resident acquisitions collection in Helena, MT.    In 2014, Foran was a resident artist at the European Ceramic Work Center in The Netherlands.  He has also been a guest resident in the Ceramics Department at California State Long Beach University, and a two-time summer resident at the Archie Bray Foundation for Ceramic Arts in Helena, MT. 

 Jacob is currently a faculty member in the Visual Arts Department at Lakeside Upper School in Seattle, WA.  He also has taught courses at the University of Washington, Seward Park Clay Studio (Seattle), and workshop offerings at Boulder Mountain Clayworks in Ketchum, ID.  He is represented by Abmeyer + Wood Fine Art in Seattle.

 Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

2010    MFA    Ceramics                                             University of Washington, Seattle, WA

2008    BFA    Ceramics                                             University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL

2006      BFA   Painting & Sculpture                           University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL

2004      AFA   Fine Arts                                              Parkland College, Champaign-Urbana, IL

RESIDENCIES

2014    European Ceramic Work Center                       s’Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands

2013    California State Long Beach University           Long Beach, CA (Guest Artist in Residence)

2011    The Archie Bray Foundation               Helena, MT (Summer Resident)

2010    The Archie Bray Foundation               Helena, MT (Summer Resident)

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2019 ForanSuon at Threshold Gallery Mithuun Design, Seattle, WA

2018 Unconscious Continuum Eutectic Gallery, Portland, OR

2017    In Between Dreams                         Abmeyer + Wood Fine Art, Seattle, WA

2017    A Space For Everyone                        Cinema Gallery, Urbana, IL

2017   Jacob Foran: Ceramic Sculpture         Millikin University, Decatur, IL

2016    Beneath and Eyelid Lies a Moon        Zinc Contemporary, Seattle, WA

2016    In Space Together Forever                  Helen Smith Gallery, Green River College, Auburn, WA

2014    Essence                                               Yama Project, Seattle Design Center, Seattle, WA

2012    Inner Worlds                                         Gallery 4Culture, Seattle, WA

2012    Mindscapes                                         NCECA, Seattle Design Center, Seattle, WA

2011    Figureheads                                         Cinema Gallery, Urbana, IL

2010    Headspace                                          CMA Gallery at University of Washington, Seattle, WA

2009    Trounce                                                Bellevue College Gallery, Bellevue, WA

2008    Powerful Useless                                 Springer Cultural Center, Champaign, IL

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS & ART FAIRS

2018 On A Pedestal Dublin Castle, Dublin Ireland

2018 Seattle Art Fair Abmeyer + Wood Fine Art, Seattle, WA

2018 ClayFest Northwest Pottery Northwest Gallery, Seattle WA

2017   SOFA Chicago                                   Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL

2017  Contemporary Ceramics Invitational  Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens, OH

2017    3D                                                     Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL

2017   Clayfest Northwest                            Pottery Northwest Gallery, Seattle, WA

2017   Lakeside Faculty Show                      Pigott Gallery, Lakeside Upper School, Seattle, WA

2016    Ceramics Invitational                          Gallery IMA, Seattle, WA

2016    Clay? VI                                               Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, WA

2016    Party in the Park                                  SAM Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle, WA

2016    Alumni Exhibition                                Giertz Gallery Parkland College, Champaign, IL

2016    Lakeside Faculty Exhibition                Pigott Gallery, Lakeside Upper School, Seattle, WA

2015    Bodies+Beings                                     Abmeyer + Wood Fine Art, Seattle, WA

2015    Continuum of Innovation                      Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA

2015    Party in the Park                                  SAM Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle, WA

2015    Artscape                                              City Hall, Shoreline, WA

2015    Small Ones                                          Cinema Gallery, Urbana, IL

2015    Extreme Tureens                                  Bellevue College Gallery, Bellevue, WA

2015    Lakeside Faculty Exhibition                Pigott Gallery, Lakeside Upper School, Seattle, WA

2014    Final Presentation Exhibition              SundayMorning@EKWC, Den Bosch, Netherlands

2014    Figurative Association: Human Form   Arrowmont School of Art, Gatlinburg, TN

2014    Through the Decades                           Giertz Gallery at Parkland College, Champaign, IL

2013    Creating the New Northwest: Selections from the Herb and Lucy Pruzan Collection

                                                                        Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA

2013    SOFA Chicago                                     Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL

2013    Diversiform                                           Seward Park Gallery at SDC, Seattle, WA

2013    Speaks Volumes                                  Seward Park Gallery at SDC, Seattle, WA

2013    Beyond the Brickyard                           The Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT

2013    Strange Coupling                                Blindfold Gallery, Seattle, WA

2012    SOFA Chicago                                     Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL

2012    SOFA New York                                   Ann Nathan Gallery, New York, NY

2012    A Show of Heads II                              NCECA Seattle Design Center, Seattle, WA

2012    Animal                                                 Cinema Gallery, Urbana, IL

2012    SPCS Retrospective                            NCECA Seattle Design Center, Seattle, WA

2012    Extreme Teapot                                  Bellevue College Gallery, Seattle, WA

2012    Exquisite Teapot                                 Cinema Gallery, Urbana, IL

2012    Local Produce                                     Harborview Medical Hospital, Seattle, WA

2011    SOFA New York                                   Ann Nathan Gallery, New York, NY

2011    Archie Bray Resident Exhibition          St. Pete’s Clay, NCECA, Tampa, FL

2011    Artists to the Edge                               Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT

2011    Recent Acquisitions                             Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, Spokane, WA

2011    Simple Cups                                        Kobo Gallery, Seattle, WA

2011    All Steamed Up                                   Cinema Gallery, Urbana, IL

2010    Games of Antiquities                           Gasser & Grunnert Gallery, New York, NY

2010    Man as Beast                                       SOIL Gallery, Seattle, WA

2010    Clay? III                                                Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, WA

2010    The Tame and Wild (Animal)                Pacini Lubel Gallery, Seattle, WA

2010    MFA Thesis Exhibition                         Henry Art Gallery, Seattle, WA

2010    Summer Resident Exhibition                The Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT

2010    Resident Artist Exhibition                    Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, Spokane, WA

2009    NICHE Student Awards Competition    Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft,                                                                                                          Philadelphia, PA          

2009    Beyond the Brickyard                           Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT

2009    First Year Graduate Exhibition             University of Washington CMA Gallery, Seattle, WA

2009    Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Student Exhibition

             The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

2008    Clay? II                                                 Kirkland Arts Center, Seattle, WA

2008    Flesh and Blood                                   Cinema Gallery, Urbana, IL                                        

2008    Fins, Fur, and Feathers                          Cinema Gallery, Urbana, IL

2007    Clay National Biennial                          Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, Louisville, KY

2007    National Juried Ceramics Exhibition    Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, KS

2007    Clay on the Wall: 2007 Clay National  Landmark Gallery, Lubbock, TX

2007    Visions and Voices                              Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, Louisville, KY

2007    Emerging Excellence                           NCECA Mellwood Place, Louisville, KY

2007    Big Muddy Juried Ceramic Exhibition, Quigley Gallery at Clarke College , Dubuque, IA

2007    Honor Awards 2007                             Art St. Louis Gallery, St. Louis, MO

2007    Extinction                                            University of Illinois Link Gallery, Champaign, IL

2007    Ceramics Exhibition                             University of Illinois Link Gallery, Champaign, IL

2007    At the Edge                                         Cinema Gallery, Urbana, IL

2007    BFA Exhibit                                         Krannert Art Museum, Champaign, IL

2007    1830F                                                  Edwards Historic Place, Springfield, IL

2007    Red Heat                                             Alexandre Hougue Gallery, Tulsa, OK

2006    Bluegrass Clay National                     Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY

2006    Art in Clay                                            Art Sites Gallery, Riverhead, NY

2006    BFA Exhibit                                         Krannert Art Museum, Champaign, IL

2006    Isolation                                               Aesthetic Eye Gallery, Chicago, IL

2006    Figuration                                            University of Illinois Link Gallery, Champaign, IL

2005    Illinois Board of Higher Education Annual Collegiate Artists Competition

             Schmidt Art Center, Bellville, IL

2005    Vim and Vinegar II                                Aesthetic Eye Gallery, Chicago, IL

2005    Summer Blend                                      Aesthetic Eye Gallery, Chicago, IL

2005    Spirits                                                  Aesthetic Eye Gallery, Chicago, IL

2005    Flora and Fauna                                  Cinema Gallery, Urbana, IL

2005    Pain and Cult                                      University of Illinois Link Gallery, Champaign, IL

2005    Self Portraits                                        University of Illinois Coalition Gallery, Champaign, IL

2005    Unholy Matrimony                                University of Illinois Link Gallery, Champaign, IL

 AWARDS | GRANTS

2017    2017 Emerging Artist                         Ceramics Monthly Magazine

2017   Fellowship Award                                Artist Trust

2017   City Arts Artwalk Awards Finalist        City Arts Magazine

2014    Individual Artist Project Grant               4Culture

2011    GAP Grant                                               Artist Trust

2010    Teaching With Excellence Award            University of Washington

2010    SMART Ventures Project Grant              Mayor’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs

2009    Kottler/Noritake Scholarship                University of Washington

2009    Scholarship for Scholars                      University of Washington

2009    Kate Neal Kinley Memorial Fellowship            University of Illinois

2009    First Prize Award                                  Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Student Exhibition

2008    Scholarships for Scholars                    University of Washington

2008    Allie D. Hughston-Enochs Scholarship            University of Illinois

2008    Outstanding Graduate + School of Art University of Illinois

2008    Tuition Support Award                         University of Illinois 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2011-Present   Visual Arts Faculty                               Lakeside Upper School, Seattle, WA

2016    Body and Mind: Ceramic Sculpture Workshop Boulder Mountain Clay, Ketchum, Idaho

2016    Instructor, Ceramic Sculpture                          Seward Park Clay Studio, Seattle, WA

2015    From the Head: Ceramic Sculpture Workshop Boulder Mountain Clay, Ketchum, Idaho

2011    Instructor, Ceramic Sculpture,                         Seward Park Clay Studio, Seattle, WA

2011    Instructor, Resident Training Seminar             Seward Park Clay Studio, Seattle, WA

2010    Instructor, BFA Independent Study                  University of Washington, Seattle, WA

2009    Instructor of Record, Intro Ceramics                 University of Washington, Seattle, WA

2009    Instructor of Record, Intro Sculpture                University of Washington, Seattle, WA

2008    Teaching Internship, Akio Takamori                University of Washington, Seattle, WA

2007    Teaching Assistant, Cristina Cordova              Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC

WORKSHOPS | SYMPOSIUMS

2014    Figurative Association: Symposium on the Human Form

Arrowmont School of Art Gatlinburg, TN

2012    Work Intensive III: Figuration               California State Long Beach University, Long Beach, CA

CURATED

2012    A Show Of Heads II                                          Seattle Design Center, Seattle, WA

2010    A Show Of Heads                                            Cinema Gallery, Urbana, IL

(Traveling group show including Tom Bartel, Tanya Batura, Cristina Cordova, Thaddeus Erdahl, Judy Fox, Arthur Gonzales, Judy Fox, Roxanne Jackson, Doug Jeck, Akio Takamori, and Tip Toland)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Ceramics Monthly, Exposure, Sept 2017. p. 16

• Ceramics Monthly, 2017 Emerging Artists, May 2017. p. 50

• Upchurch, Michael, “For February, 3 Shows at Seattle Galleries Worth Your Time.” Seattle Times. February 7, 2017

• Kangas, Matthew, “Jacob Foran: In Between Dreams.” Preview. February/March 2017, p.34

• Ceramics Monthly, Exposure, December 2015, p. 16.

• Upchurch, Michael. “Bridging the Real and the Surreal at Abmeyer + Wood.” Seattle Times, July 21st, 2015

• Anderson, Alex, “Bodies + Beings: What Place Can Ceramics Have in Contemporary Art Now?.” Artslant New York, July 27th, 2015.

  • Link: http://www.artslant.com/ny/articles/show/43582

• Collins, Rebecca Jo, “Jacob Foran: Beneath the Surface of a 3D4M artist,”

  • http://artsci.washington.edu/features/3D4Mprofile.asp

• Huberman, Bond, City Arts Magazine, “Submersible Drifter,” January, 2010, p.30 (text, image)

• http://www.cityartsmagazine.com/issues/eastside/2010/01/curators-eye-0

• Kim, Erica, Designboom, “Headspace: Jacob Foran,” http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/10/view/10674/jacob-foran-headspace.html

• Upchurch, Michael, The Seattle Times, The Arts, “Two ceramics dogs you can love—and the problems they have,” Nov. 16, 2010. (text, image)

  • http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2013449702_beast17.html?prmid=related_stories_section

• Veltkamp, Joey, Best Of, “UW MFA 2010, “ June 1, 2010.

• http://joeyveltkamp.blogspot.com/2010/06/uw-mfa-2010.html

• Yang, Selena, Surfaces Magazine (China), “Subconscious Emotion,” August, 2010, p. 80

• Donahoe, Emily, Ceramics Monthly, Reviews, April, 2009, pp. 24-25. (text, image)

• Paff, Katie, The Daily of University of Washington, “The Circle of Art: Interdisciplinary Art Master’s Program Attracts Best and Brightest,” Feb. 24, 2009, http://dailyuw.com/photo/2009/02/24/4792/.

• Merli, Melissa, The News-Gazette, “Jacob Foran,” Entertainment, March 9,, 2008. (text, image)

• Ceramics Monthly, Gallery Guide, May, 2008, p. 82. (image)

• Carpenter, Syd, Clay National Exhibition Catalogue, National Council on Education for the Ceramics Arts, 2007, pp. 4, 31 (text, image)

• Kangas, Matthew, Clay on the Wall Exhibition Clay National Catalogue, Texas Tech University, (image)

• Clay Times, Clay Contents, Vol. 13. No.1, January/February, 2007, p. 7. (image)

• Ceramics Monthly, Gallery Guide, October, 2007, p. 81 (image)

• Merli, Melissa, The News-Gazette, Entertainment, July 29, 2007, F-1 (text, image)

• Russo, Elyse, Buzz, “Artists Corner: Jacob Foran,” Arts +Entertainment, Feb. 2. 2006, p. 15 (text, image)

• Happel, Austin, The Daily Illini, “Embracing the Arts is Essential,” Business, Jan. 18, 2006 (image)

• 190 North on ABC7, Chicago, IL, March 12, 2006 (video)

• Chicago Reader, Galleries and Museums, Aug. 5, 2005, p.22 (image)

• The Hub, Culture, Nov. 17, 2005, p.25 (text)

• Russo, Elyse, Buzz, “Flora and Fauna in the Wintertime,” Arts + Entertainment, Dec. 22, 2005, p.10.