Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Brett Freund has studied and traveled in a variety of areas in the United States. After a residency at St. Petersburg Clay Company in Florida Brett received his MFA from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and later was awarded the Lormina Salter Fellowship from Baltimore Clayworks. He exhibits nationally and was chosen as 2012 Emergency Artist by Ceramics Monthly.
FEATURED WORK
Brett Freund investigates patterns of aesthetics and symbols in order to produce a mash-up of form and imagery by exploring the decorative nature of the highbrow and surplus of popular culture.
His work reflects on definitions of preciousness and value. How does an object qualify itself as being important? Is it rare like a diamond? Does it take time to grow like a crystal or is it a symbol that references a status or identity?
“It is hard to separate from the rat race of contemporary hierarchies and feel disconnected from conspicuous consumption. Trends and lifestyles help us create identities while great emphasis is put on legitimacy. As a maker of things my definition of materialism is when an object is born out of an attempt to create an image. I enjoy investigating patterns of aesthetics and symbols in order to produce a mash-up of form and imagery by exploring the decorative nature of the highbrow and the surplus of culture.
When working I think about my own definitions of preciousness and value. How does an object qualify itself as being important? Is what I’m after rare like a diamond, does it take time to grow like a crystal or is it a symbol that references a status or identity? Everything is constructed from slip casted parts and rearranged to make up new interpretations of form. The origins of my work started conceptually as a product that communicates preciousness but is manipulated with a chaotic integrity that confuses the presitne. I liken my cutting and pasting process as a means of utilizing prototypes for one of a kind decorative objects intended for personal interior spaces not necessarily defined by art, craft, or design.”
BRETT FREUND’s C.V. (resume)
EDUCATION
2011 – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Master of Fine Arts
2001-2005 – Indiana University of Pennsylvania
– BFA Art Studio
RESIDENCIES
2012-Present – Baltimore Clayworks, Lormina Salter Fellowship
2005-2007 – St Petersburg Clay Company, Artist in Residence
AWARDS
2012 – Lormina Salter Fellowship, Baltimore Clayworks
– “Emerging Artist 2012” Ceramics Monthly
2011 – Below the Surface: Fourth Annual Lillstreet International
Chicago, IL, Honorable Mention
– Student Success Arts Competition Award, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
2010 – Research Grant for Graduate Students, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
– Technical Assistant Grant, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts
– Friends of Art Annual Art Auction, Honorable Mention
2009- Student Art Showcase, 22nd Art Fair, Laumeier Sculpture Park,
St. Louis Missouri, Jurors Choice: Third Place
– Friends of Art Annual Art Auction, Honorable Mention
2008 – First Illinois Teapot Invitational, Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois. Jurors Choice: Third Place
2007 – Pinellas County Art Grant
– Its Only Clay 2007, Bemidji Community Art Center, Purchase Award
2006 – Cup: The Intimate Object V, Charlie Cummings Clay Studio, Fort Wayne, IN, Jurors Choice Award: Pete Pinnell
2004 – Frank Ross Memorial Scholarship
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2013 – Bliss Point, Baltimore Clayworks
2011 – Ornamentation of Regret, Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition, Mad Art Gallery, St. Louis, MI
2006 – Tightening the Strings, Tim Salen Gallery
– St. Petersburg Clay Company, St. Petersburg, FL
2005 – Working Towards a Standard, Miller Gallery, IUP
JURIED AND INVITATIONAL EXHIBITIONS
2014 – New Media Exploration, Mimi and Ian Rolland Art Center, University of Saint Francis
2013 – Featured Artist, Plum Collective
– Cup: The Intimate Object IX, Charlie Cummings Gallery
– Containment IV: Allstars, Crimson Laurel Gallery
– 2013 Yumoni Invitational, AKAR
– Distilled Essences I, Charlie Cummings Gallery
– Multiplicity, Julio Fine Arts Gallery, Loyola University Maryland
2012 – Our Cup Runneth Over, The Society of Arts and Craft, Boston
– Three Cups, Durango Arts Center
– Cup: The Intimate Object VIII, Charlie Cummings Gallery
– Source Material, Crimson Laurel Gallery
– 20th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National
Juror: Jack Troy
– Clay National VIII Sculptural Ceramics, Carbondale Clay Center
– Clay EVV, University of Southern Indiana
– New Work, New Problems, Pittsburgh Filmmakers Galleries
– Daily Companions, Baltimore Clayworks
– Small Favors VII, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2011 – Cup: The Intimate Object VII, Charlie Cummings Gallery
– 19th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National. Juror: Mary Barringer
– Below the Surface, 4th Annual Lillstreet International, Chicago, IL
– The Eighth Annual Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Student Exhibition, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
– Student Success Arts Competition, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
– “A.I.R. Support” of The Resident Show, St. Petersburg Clay Company, St. Petersburg, FL
– NCECA National Student Juried Exhibition, USF Tampa, Florida
– MFA Juried Exhibition, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
2010 – Student Success Arts Competition, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
– MFA Juried Exhibition, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
– Shino Redux 2010, Clay Art Center, Juror: Malcolm Davis
2009 – The Sixth Annual Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Student Exhibition, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
– Friendly Fire-CERAMICS, Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, MO
– Student Art Showcase, 22nd Art Fair, Laumeier Sculpture Park, St. Louis Missouri. Jurors Choice: Third Place
– ‘Endangered’, Gloria Kennedy Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
– MFA Juried Exhibition, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
2008 – Cups Galore, JFH Studio, Missouri
– First Illinois Teapot Invitational, Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois
2007 – Craft Art 2007, Florida Craftsman, Inc., The Coliseum, St. Petersburg, Fl
– Its Only Clay 2007, Bemidji Community Art Center. Juror: Jeff Oestreich
– Hopelessly Devoted, Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, Florida
– Cup: The Intimate Object V, Charlie Cummings Clay Studio, Fort Wayne, IN. Juror: Pete Pinell
2006 – Craft Art 2006, Florida Craftsmen, Inc., The Coliseum, St. Petersburg, Fl
– Holiday Member’s Show, Florida Craftsmen, Inc. St Petersburg, Fl
– 40 under 40, The Clay Place, Carnegie, Pennsylvania
– 662.16 A Resident Exchange, Odyssey Center for Ceramic Art, Odyssey Gallery and St. Petersburg Clay Company, Tim Salen Gallery
PUBLICATIONS
– “Emerging Artist 2012” May 2012, Sherman Hall, Ceramics Monthly, p. 74
– “Exposure” April 2012, Sherman Hall, Ceramics Monthly, p. 18
– Merino, Tony, The 2011 National Student Juried Exhibition, Ceramics Monthly, September 2011, pages 58-59, Image of Artwork p. 59
COLLECTIONS
– Kamm Teapot Foundation, NC
– Student Success Center, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
– Margaret Harlow Collection, Bemidji State University, MN
Contact Brett at bfreundly@gmail.com or visit his website.
View the ceramic artists list.
