Artist Statement

My work throws light on the complex issues experienced by most women—from becoming aware of the male gaze and self-objectifying, to harassment, abuse, marginalization and ageism. Simultaneously, women struggle to remain relevant, take care of their physical and mental health, and maintain financial stability. And like many women, I've had firsthand experience with all of it; from finding my way as a young single mother to having spent a large chunk of my adult years in a male dominated corporate world, to navigating the art world later in life. My uncompromising figures are informed by these matters. I create deliberate parallels between my materials and how women are treated in society. I often use clay—a medium historically excluded from the fine art world—to illustrate how age is explicitly linked to failure for women. The pieces are hand built and sometimes include bits of fabric, found objects, metals and nature. I apply surface treatments like graphite, pastels, stains and wax to emphasize the textures and characteristics of living, breathing skin.  I display my figures as solitary objects on plinths or hung on walls to create an intimate viewing experience, or as part of larger installations—interacting with collages, paintings, and other related works to foster an immersive environment. Since relocating from the Southwest back to the Northeast, installations are evolving as I adapt to my environment and consider ways my work is being influenced by it.

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Artist Biography

Constance McBride delves into gender-based issues with ceramic sculpture, installations and mixed media collage. Recent awards include a CFEVA (Center for Emerging Visual Artists) 2023 New Courtland Teaching Fellowship, a position in the 2021 Chautauqua Visual Arts Summer Residency Program in Chautauqua, New York and grants from The Puffin Foundation, Philadelphia Sculptors and Phoenix Art Museum's Contemporary Forum. Her work has appeared in Europe at La Providence Art Centre, Ille sur Tet, France and Zilverhof Art Space, Ghent, Belgium and throughout the United States, including at the Abington Art Center (PA), Phoenix Art Museum (AZ), The Delaware Contemporary (DE), The Clay Studio (PA) and Archie Bray Foundation for Ceramic Arts (MT). It has received attention from several publications including Yahoo News Cities Rising series w/Katie Couric, Philly Artblog, Phoenix Magazine and the international platforms Inspirational Art and Ceramics Now. Currently based in the Philadelphia metro area, she teaches sculpture and hand building and is a guest host of the show Art Watch at WCHE Radio Station in West Chester, PA. McBride earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Arcadia University, Glenside, PA.

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Education

2006 – 2011        
Archie Bray Foundation for Ceramic Arts

Oregon College of Art and Craft

Scottsdale Artists’ School

Paradise Valley College
Ceramics, Sculpture, Painting

1998                      
Arcadia University, Glenside, PA
Bachelor of Arts, Communications

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Awards & Honors

2023
New Courtland Teaching Fellowship, CFEVA, Philadelphia, PA

2022
Puffin Foundation Grant
Dorothy Wackerman Hutton Prize, The Plastic Club, Philadelphia, PA

2021
Visual Arts Residency, Chautauqua School of Art, Chautauqua, NY (five weeks)

2020
P.S. We Love Our Members Grant, Philadelphia Sculptors
Arts Aid PHL Grant, Philadelphia, PA
Third Prize, Manayunk Roxborough Art Center Annual Show, Juried by Pam McLean Parker

2018
World Academy for Future of Women, Visiting Artist, via U.S. State Department Grant, Sias University, Xinzheng, China (five weeks)

2017
Semifinalist, Bombay Sapphire National Artisan Series

2016
Contemporary Forum Artist Grant, Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ
Juried by Kurt Weiser

2013
Emerging Artist Award, Statewide All AZ CLAY Exhibition, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Juried by Kurt Weiser

2011
Professional Development Grant, Arizona Commission on the Arts
Honorable Mention Portrait Cover Contest, Professional Artist Magazine

2010
Best in Show, Retro 2009: A Look Back Exhibition, SunDust Gallery, Mesa, AZ

2009
League for Innovation Award, International Competition representing Paradise Valley College, Arizona

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Bibliography

2023
Women United Art Movement, Stronger Together Catalogue
Included images: Lonely Girl Room 717, Lonely Girl Room 3104, Lonely Girl Room 6123, p. 15, August

2022
InLiquid, The Beauty of Stillness Exhibition Catalogue, Issuu, October 18
Vinton, Vicki, Art Watch, WCHE radio interview, The Beauty of Stillness Exhibition, October 5
Chambers, Alice. InLiquid website, The Beauty of Stillness; For your Consideration, October 4
Philadelphia Stories, Image, Lonely Girl Room 3400, p.11, Summer Issue, August
Flickinger, Victoria, "Thriving Art in Chester County," Chadds Ford Live, January 20

2021
Moore, Kait, "New art league exhibits explore themes of memory, life and death," Cape Gazette, November 19
Potsic, Amie, "The Lonely Girls (revisited) Exhibition", Art Watch – WCHE radio interview, November 10
Hopper, John, Artist Interview Inspirational Magazine, p. 7-20, Issue no. 54, October
Cleaver, "Sensitive Skin," Philadelphia’s International Literary Magazine, Issue no. 33, March

2020
Featured artist profile, Ceramics Now, October 19
Potsic, Amie. Art Watch, WCHE radio interview, Between Two Worlds Exhibition, September 20
"Image, Memory Fragment (no. 6)", Philadelphia Stories, p. 17, Spring Issue, March

2019
Superstition Review, Arizona State University Online Literary Journal, Issue 23
Featured artist profile, Voyage Phoenix, January 15

2018
"From the Hearts of Stars", Snax Magazine, The Phoenix Issue; images, p. 45-50, October
Krieger, Deborah, "Sculptors probe the impossibility of 'Shelter' at Da Vinci Art Alliance", Artblog, September 24
Young, Amy, "Constance McBride Heads to Philly...", Java Magazine, p. 16, 17, Issue No. 266, March
Going Once! Contemporary Forum Auction and Exhibition Catalogue, Phoenix Art Museum, p. 48

2017
Kapsalis, Jim, "Artists Grant Winners", Art Collector World Magazine, Phoenix Art Museum 2016 Contemporary Forum, September 4
Foley, Kaye, "Phoenix’s Cultural Renaissance Heating Up", Yahoo News, Cities Rising with global anchor Katie Couric, August 28

2016
Kozinski, David, "Beauty in the Ephemeral – The Sculptures of Constance McBride", Schuylkill Valley Journal, October 14
Simcox, Shannon, "Making Sense of Alzheimer’s", Art of the Mind, July 13
Royse, Nicole, "Fresh/Art Series", North Valley Magazine, p. 26, 27, June 1
Trimble, Lynn, "Phoenix Art Museum’s 2016 Contemporary Forum Winners", Phoenix New Times, May 12
Young, Amy, "Art in Unusual Places", Java Magazine, p.19, January

2015
Trimble, Lynn, "The Best Art Shows in Metro Phoenix in 2015", Phoenix New Times, December 22
Ross, Deborah, Eye 2 Eye - Recommendation, Visual Art Source, July
Royse, Nicole, "Artist Spotlight", Arizona Foothills Magazine, January 19

2014
Bartkowski, Becky. "100 Creatives", Jackalope Ranch, July 21
Hirdo, Vasi. Online Featured Artist Profile, Ceramics Now, July

2013
"Paperclay: Art and Practice by Rosette Gault", University of Pennsylvania Press, Image: Will There Ever Be Peace, p. 83

2012
"Superstition" Review, Arizona State University Online Literary Journal, Issue 9

2011
Portrait Contest/Honorable Mention, Professional Artist Magazine, Image: Will There Ever Be Peace, February 17

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Curatorial Projects

2021                      
Immersion (with Francis Beaty, Virginia Maksymowicz, and Hanna Vogel), The Art Trust, West Chester, PA

2020                     
Chester County Art Association's Fresh Perspectives Group Exhibition, Henry Gallery at Penn State Great Valley, Malvern, PA

2017                      
No Paint Required Group Exhibition, Coe House, Phoenix, AZ

2016                     
SNOW Group Exhibition, Coe House, Phoenix, AZ

2015                      
Avant-Garde Group Exhibition, Eye Lounge, Phoenix, AZ

Solo Exhibitions

2024
The Melancholic Joy of Living, Chesapeake Gallery, Harford Community College, Bel Air, MD                      ‍

Liminal Spaces, Chesapeake Gallery, Harford Community College, Bel Air, MD

2023
The Lonely Girls, Abington Art Center, Jenkintown, PA

2021                      
The Lonely Girls, Tubbs Gallery, Rehoboth Art League, Rehoboth Beach, DE

2020                    
Between Two Worlds, Clay on Main, Oley, PA

2018                     
From the Hearts of Stars, Phoenix Institute of Contemporary Art, Phoenix, AZ            

2017                     
Its Nature’s Way, Royse Contemporary Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Fragility and the Lonely Girls Club, Estrella Mountain Community College, Avondale, AZ

2016                     
The Presence of Absence, Eye Lounge Contemporary Art Space, Phoenix, AZ
Reflections of Arizona Juror’s Exhibition, Shemer Art Center, Phoenix AZ

2015                      
Place out of Time, The Icehouse, Phoenix, AZ

2014                     
Timescapes, Eye Lounge Contemporary Art Space, Phoenix, AZ

Two and Three Person Exhibitions

2024
Pushing Buttons, Fine Arts Center, Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
Philadelphia Sculptors and Tri-State Sculptors

ISMS: Narratives, Issues, and Difficult Topics of Our Time, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

2023         
Poems for the Lonely Girls (with Bernadette McBride), Arts & Cultural Council Bucks County, Library of Lower Southampton, PA
External Reflections / Internal Identities (with Sue Johnson), Curated by Erica Loustau and Sara Ganter, The Delaware Contemporary, Wilmington, DE
Singularity of Thought (with Stanwyk Cromwell), curated by Kenny White, City Arts Salon, Philadelphia, PA

2022                     
The Human Narrative (with George Nista and Karen Bailor), Curated by Roberta Gross, Bob Jackson Gallery, The Plastic Club, Philadelphia, PA

2020                      
Figurative (with Diane Cirafesi and John Suplee), Curated by Liz Ruff, The Art Trust, West Chester, PA

2017                      
Unmasking Identity (with Malena Barnhart and Karolina Sussland), Curated by Faith Damm and Alexis Sheets, Phoenix Institute of Contemporary Art, Phoenix, AZ

2016                     
PsychoPomp (with Dean Reynolds), Curated by Tara Sharpe, {9} Gallery, Phoenix, AZ

2014                      
One (with Cheryl Brandon), Eye Lounge Contemporary Art Space, Phoenix, AZ
Restory (with Cherie Buck-Hutchison and Madison Creech), Step Gallery at Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ

2013                     
Silver Blue (with Eric Cox), Curated by Robert Pela, R. Pela Contemporary Art, Phoenix, AZ

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Select Group Exhibitions

2024
InLiquid Toasts 25, Off the Wall Gallery at Dirty Franks, Philadelphia, PA

2023    
‍Kindred, Curated by Vicki Vinton, Joy Smoker, and Lisa Baird, The Hook Building, Oxford, PA  
CFEVA Secret POSTcard Show, Gross McCleaf Gallery, Philadelphia, PA  
In Review, Curated by Colleen Gahrmann, Artworks, Trenton, NJ  

2022                     
The Beauty of Stillness (with Geoffrey Agrons, Daria Panichas and Richard Hricko), Curated by Clare Finin, InLiquid Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
CFEVA Secret POSTcard Show, Gross McCleaf Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Sculpture 2022, New Hope Arts Center, New Hope, PA
My Body/My Choice, Annual Postcard Exhibition, A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
14th Annual Sculpture, Juried by Chris M Rodgers, Goggleworks Center for the Arts, Reading, PA
Avant-Garde, The Henry Gallery, Malvern, PA

2021                     
CVA Residency Exhibition, Curated by Sharon Louden and Judy Barie, Fowler-Kellogg Art Center, Chautauqua, NY
Get out of your Skull, Curated by Ron Weijer, Zilverhof Art Space, Ghent, Belgium, Design Store by Branderhorst, Dordrecht, the Netherlands and La Providence Art Centre, Ille sur Tet, France
PSSST, Philadelphia Sculptors/Tri State Sculptors at Wilma W. Daniels Gallery, Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, NC
New Now IV, InLiquid Gallery, Crane Arts, Philadelphia, PA
County Studio Tour at Scarlett Thicket Farm (with Katee Boyle, Leah Wells and Lauren E. Peters), Kennett Square, PA
Home, Juried by Susanna Gold, Community Arts Center, Wallingford, PA

2020                    
Small Favors, Juried by Leila Cartier, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
20/20, 20 Years of Eye Lounge, Northlight and Step Galleries, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ
Subversion, Juried by Alice Oh, Philadelphia Sculptors at Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA
CFEVA Annual Members’ Exhibition, Juried by Laurence Salzmann, Felicity R. “Bebe” Benoliel Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Transformation, Juried by Natalie Merritt, High 5 Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
County Studio Tour at Scarlett Thicket Farm (with Katee Boyle, Roderick Hildago and Alex Griffin), Kennett Square, PA
Professional Artists' Member Exhibition, Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA

2019                     
Craft Forms, Juried by Jane Milosch, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA
Crafting Narratives, Juried by Bruce Hoffman, Art in City Hall Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Biggs Body, Juried by Brittany Webb, Biggs Museum of American Art, Dover, DE
Arising, Organized by Yoko Ono, Fondation Phi pour l’art contemporain, Montreal, QC and Museum der bildenden Künste Leipzig, Germany
Art of the State, Juried by Janet Koplos, Rachelle Mozman Solano and Marin R. Sullivan, The State Museum, Harrisburg, PA
County Studio Tour (with Ellie Byrom-Haley, Sharon Bartmann, Jim Roberts, and Randy Strader), West Chester, PA
NOW! Juried by Virginia Maksymowicz, Natalie Merritt, and Sheena Garcia, City Hall, Philadelphia, PA

2018                      
Snax Magazine Showcase Exhibition, Phoenix Issue, Areté Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Philadelphia Sculptors Present, Juried by Amie Potsic, Art in City Hall Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Opening Up, Juried by Natalie Merritt, High 5 Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Shelter, Juried by Elaine Crivelli, Da Vinci Art Alliance Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2017                     
Contemporary Forum Grant Recipient Show, Curated by Gilbert Vicario, Saskia Jorda, and Gabriela Muñoz, Phoenix Art Museum, AZ
Arizona Artists Guild Celebrates 90 Years, Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Museum, Phoenix, AZ
Frankenstein in the 21st Century, Curated by Wendy Raisanen, Civic Center Library Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Exploring AZ Talent, Udinotti Museum of Figurative Art, Paradise Valley, AZ

2016                     
The Clay Studio National, Juried by Elisabeth R. Argo, Jennfier Zwilling, Philadelphia, PA
Beyond the Brickyard, Juried by Peter Beasecker, Archie Bray Foundation for Ceramic Arts, Helena, MT
21st San Angelo International, Juried by Christy Johnson, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, TX
Biennial: CLAY, Juried by Garth Johnson, Patsy Cox and Peter Held, Tempe Center for the Arts, Tempe, AZ
Clay Houston Biennial, Juried by Garth Johnson, Jung Center, Houston, TX
9th Annual Human Form Show, Juried by Bob Swearengin, Hilliard Gallery, Kansas City, MO
Arising, Organized by Yoko Ono, Reykjavík Art Museum, Reykjavík, Iceland
Intimate, Universal: Figure Forward, Curated by Robert Siracusa, Arc Gallery, Cottonwood, AZ
IN SIGHT, Eye Lounge Contemporary Art Space, Phoenix, AZ
Myopia (with Cheryl Brandon, Peter Deise and Justin Queal), Curated by Larry Ortega, New City Studio, Phoenix, AZ

2015                     
6th Annual Visions in Clay, Juried by Lisa Reinertson, LH Horton Jr. Gallery, Stockton, CA
America's ClayFest III, Juried by Tip Toland and Peter Held, Blue Line Arts, Roseville, CA
Clay in the Garden, Juried by Sheila Menzies, Seedboat Center for the Arts, Silver City, NM
A Show of Heads, Juried by Tim Slowinski, Limner Gallery, Hudson, NY
Avant-Garde, Eye Lounge Contemporary Art Space, Phoenix, AZ
Next Level, Art Intersection, Gilbert, AZ
Artlink's 16th Annual, Juried by James Ballinger, Louise Roman, Randy Slack, The Icehouse, Phoenix, AZ
Self-Made, 15 Years of Eye Lounge, Vision Gallery, Chandler, AZ
Feminism Today, Curated by Nicole Royse, Shade Gallery at the monOrchid, Phoenix, AZ

2013                     
9th Annual Art Kudos International Exhibition, Juried by Kara Rooney
All AZ CLAY, Juried by Kurt Weiser, Peoria City Hall Gallery, Peoria, AZ
Artlink’s 15th Annual, Juried by Angela Ellsworth, Gordon Knox, R. Pela, A.E. England Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
All Art Arizona, Juried by Carol Panaro-Smith, James Hajicek, Art Intersection, Gilbert, AZ

2012                      
Exploring AZ Talent, Udinotti Museum of Figurative Art, Paradise Valley, AZ
Still Here: Aging in America, Juried by Robrt Pela, Herberger Art Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix +, Curated by Jeff Chabot, Modified Arts, Phoenix, AZ

2011                      
From the Ground Up XXV, Juried by Kurt Weiser, Las Cruces Museum of Art, Las Cruces, NM
All AZ CLAY, Juried by Sam Chung, Chandler Center for the Arts, Chandler, AZ

2010                      
Cave Creek Film & Arts Festival, Cave Creek, AZ
Resolutions & Articulations, Curated by Ingrid Donaldson, Blink Gallery, Phoenix, AZ

2009                     
All AZ CLAY at NCECA (National Council for Education in Ceramic Arts), Convention Center, Phoenix, AZ
Emerging Artist Series, Inaugural, Curated by David Bradley, Paradise Valley College, Phoenix, AZ

2008                     
All AZ CLAY, Juried by Aurore Chabot, Shemer Art Center & Museum, Phoenix, AZ

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Select Online Exhibitions

2023     
Stronger Together, Women United ART MOVEMENT

2022                    
Perfect Imperfection: Faces and Figures, Juried by Erika B. Hess, Women United ART MOVEMENT
108th Annual Members' Medal Exhibition, The Plastic Club

2021      
The Feminine Face of Dreams, Myths, and Terrors, Curated by Mary Jo Fitz, Cecil College Galleries

2020                     
Remembering the Suffragists, 100 Years of Women Voting in the US, Huried by Patricia Moss-Vreeland, InLiquid Exhibition
Congruence, Juried by Bridgette Mayer, I Like Your Work Podcast Summer Show
Manayunk Roxborough Art Center Annual Show, Juried by Pam McLean Parker
Artists in the Time of Coronavirus, theartblog.org

2015                      
Who’s Afraid of Feminism, Juried by Catherine Morris, National Women’s Caucus for Art Exhibition
Figure 50-Arizona Artist, Juried by Maureen Bloomfield, National Showcase of Figurative Art

2013                     
9th Annual Art Kudos International Exhibition, juried by Kara Rooney