The 50th anniversary conference of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts marks a moment to shine for Kansas City ceramic artists, who join their clay colleagues from around the world in showcasing work in multiple exhibitions throughout the city.
In recognition of the role of KC talent in this city-wide ceramics extravaganza, KC Studio asked a dozen area curators, critics and collectors to each nominate an artist for inclusion in our “Gallery of Kansas City Ceramics,” presented in the following pages.
Nominators: Evelyn Craft Belger, art collector and executive director of the Belger Arts Center and Red Star Studios; Lennie Berkowitz, art collector and retired art dealer specializing in ceramics; Erin Dziedzic, curator and head of adult programs, Kemper Museum; Bruce Hartman, executive director, Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art; Elisabeth Kirsch, art historian, critic and contributing writer to KC Studio; Heather Lustfeldt, curator, Epsten Gallery; James Martin, independent consultant, curator, and contributing writer to KC Studio; John O’Brien, founder of Hammer Out Design and former owner of Dolphin Gallery; Dana Self, art critic and independent curator; Janet Simpson, executive director, Kansas City Artists Coalition; Raechell Smith, director/curator, H&R Block Artspace at the Kansas City Art Institute; Alice Thorson, editor, KC Studio.
