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I have created my work in order to unravel my sense of the world and challenge the narratives and beliefs I hold as truths. I explore the relationship between the brain, the mind and the body in the processing of trauma that originate in early childhood development and memory. I work to overcome the assumption that in order to heal something has to be completely resolved within the self. Instead, I offer that healing is an undescribed area, that is unmeasurable, and it is forever evolving and never finished.
My process of creating involves iterating the same forms in different media, and using the medium to understand the object in a new way. I utilize and experiment with a combination of materials from ceramics, steel, bronze, wood, and fibers to unconventional materials like paper pulp, gloop, and bubble gum. My overall vision for my work is to simulate the gesture and sensibility of a figure into systems that extend outside of the body but still allude to it.but in an unrealistic, imperfect, and nonfunctional way.
I believe that healing is an ongoing process, never fully attained. This is replicated in the- imperfect nature of the objects I make. I am not interested in chasing after a memory and seeking its validity or truth as a representation of what actually happened. I am however interested in embracing the uncertainty of an object and the memory tied to it.
Emily Potts (b. 1996 Houston TX, USA) is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice gives material form to invisible and chronic conditions. Emily’s research focuses on the relationship between the brain, the mind, and the body in processing and healing from trauma. Her sculptures give material forms to her childhood memories, and she works in a wide variety of media, from traditional materials like ceramics and wood to unconventional materials like paper pulp and bubble gum. The unique sculptural forms she creates are made by hand to have strange and childlike qualities, so they are familiar but also strange and somewhat unsettling. Her work has been exhibited at notable institutions regionally and nationally such as New York Academy of Art New York, NY, Mid-South Sculpture Alliance’s Confab 2023 at the University of Oklahoma School of the Visual Arts, Norman, OK, the SAA Visual Arts Center, Springfield, IL, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights IL, and LHUCA, in Lubbock, TX.
Emily's work has also participated in the local DFW arts community, and has exhibited work at the MAC, the Greater Denton Arts Council, Texas Woman’s University, and 500X. Emily graduated with her MFA in Sculpture in the Spring of 2022 from the University of North Texas in Denton, TX where she also worked as a graduate assistant, teaching assistant, and teaching fellow. Immediately after graduate school Emily taught at Graceland University in Lamoni, IA as a Visiting Artist Lecturer and Gallery Coordinator. Emily now lives in Allentown, PA, and teaches at Muhlenberg College, she works as the Visiting Assistant Professor in Sculpture. Emily recently opened up a small business, Farm Mouse Studio, selling jewelry and ceramic work, both online and at local shops in the area.
2022
University of North Texas, Denton, TX
MFA, In Studio Art concentration in Sculpture
2019
Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
BFA, In Studio Art concentration in Sculpture
2023
Honorable Mention, Second Place Award
Three-person exhibition in the Lightwell Gallery at the University of Oklahoma School of Visual Arts following the 2023-2024 academic year. The artists will receive speaking/exhibition honoraria, lodging support if travel is needed, and opportunities for further engagement with the campus community such as graduate student studio visits or teaching a workshop/demo.
2023
Professional Development Grant, Muhlenberg College Grant
Expenses to Present a Paper or to Be Involved in Leadership at a Professional Meeting.
2022
Outstanding Student Award Nomination, ISC2022 Honorable Mention, 2022 Student Juried Exhibition, The MAC, Dallas, TX
2019-22
Vortman-Ardoin Fellowship, University of North Texas, Denton TX
Toulouse Graduate Academic Scholarship, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
2019-22
Peggy Laverne Chavalier Graduate Fund, University of North Texas, Denton, TZ
2018
Outstanding Student Award Nomination, ISC
2023
Artist Talk, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
Participant of conference, International Sculpture Center Conference, International Sculpture Center, Hamilton Township, NJ
Sterling Silver Soldering Workshop, Banana Factory, Bethlehem, PA
Artist Talk, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS
Artist Talk, Graceland University, Lamoni, IA
2022
Ceramics Workshop, Graceland University Library, Lamoni, IA
Professional Development Talk, Cy-Fair Lone Star Community College, Cypress, TX
2023
Lamoni Local News Paper, Emily Potts Teardrop
2022
Canvas Rebel Voyage Feature
2021
Shoutout DFW, Meet Emily Potts, April 2021
2021
The Book of Arts: Children
2020
AXA Art Prize 2020, Exhibition Brochure
2020
Voyagedallas.com, Meet Emily Potts, February
2018
Emily Potts, Mind and Body, written by Taylor Criswell
2023
Member, ArtTable, National Professional Organization
Member, InLiquid, Philadelphia, PA
2019
Artpace Intern, San Antonio Studio, San Antonio, TX
Responsibilities include studio assistant to visiting artists and maintaining gallery space, as well as collecting material artist needs for projects
2018
Volunteer Intern, Big Medium, Austin, TX
FASA Member, San Marcos, TX
2017
Volunteer Assistant, Texas Clay Fest, Greene, TX
2023-Current
Visiting Assistant Professor, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
Sculpture I, Advanced Sculpture, Drawing I, CUE (Senior Capstone)
2022-23
Visiting Artist Lecturer and Gallery Coordinator, Graceland University, Lamoni, IA
Special Topics, The Body as a Vessel, Photography, Sculpture (Senior Capstone)
2022
Remote Adjunct Instructor, Odessa College, Odessa, TX
Art Appreciation (Remote)
2021-22
Teaching Fellow, University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design, Denton, TX
Beginning Sculpture, Traditional Methods
2021-22
Teaching Assistant, University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design, Denton, TX
Professional Practice, Pedagogy Course for Digital Methods, Sculpture I
2020-21
Class Lab Instructor, University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design, Denton, TX
Art 1900 Foundations, Class Lab Instructor for Design II, Class Lab Instructor for Drawing II
2017-18
Intern and Volunteer Teaching Assistant, The Art School at Laguna Gloria, Austin, TX
Wood and Steel Fabrication
2024
Lightwell Gallery at the University of Oklahoma School of Visual Arts, Norman, OK
Gus Guts, Soft Machine Gallery (2 Person Exhibition), Allentown, PA
2023
Teardrop, Graceland University, Lamoni, IA
2022
Healing & Reassembling, Cora Stafford Gallery, University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design, Denton, TX
2016
Finger Food, Wake the Dead, San Marcos, TX
2024
The Naked Show, InLiquid Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Center for Visual Research Spring Show, Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA
2023
ArtsQuest Staff & Teaching Artist Exhibition, Banana Factory, Bethlehem, PA
Vox Populi $99 Exhibition: Little Windows, Vox Populi, Philadelphia PA
Clay Cup VI, George Caleb Bingham Gallery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Healing/Nobility/Community, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
CFEVA Secret POSTcard Fundraiser, CFEVA, Philadelphia, PA
Of the Land, Mid-South Sculpture Alliance’s Confab 202, Virtual Exhibition Space & University of Oklahoma School of the Visual Arts, Norman, OK
Honorable Mention Second Place Award
‘A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose’, Accrete Art Collective, Bloomington, IN
2022
Art of Possibilities Art Show, Courage Art, Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, Minneapolis, MN
Innovations, Art Gallery of St. Albert, St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
MAC Juried Student Exhibition, MAC Gallery, Dallas, TX
30 Under 30, Greater Denton Art Council, Denton, TX
2021
CHILDREN-2021, Dual Exhibition and Publication, Online Exhibition Organized by Galluriem Biafarian
First Impressions, Lewisville Grand Theater, Lewisville, TX
REPRESENT Series Intersections, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX
Artovation, (Student Show) Texas Association of Art Schools, Online Exhibition
500X College Expo, 500X, Dallas, TX
Curated by Dr. Valerie Gillespie
2020
AXA Art Prize, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY
Juried by Ian Alteveer, Lauren Haynes, Brett Littman, and Eugenie Tsai
Creep Show II, The Clay Center of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
5$ Video, LHUCA, Lubbock, TX
Digital Dream Tour, Risen Shine Gallery, Instagram-Exclusive Exhibition
Town and Country: 2020 Texas Painting Symposium Juried Exhibition, LHUCA, Lubbock, TX
Go Figure, SAA Visual Arts Center, Springfield, IL
2019
30 Under 30, Denton Art Council, Denton, TX
Dubois Pop-Up Gallery, Price Center, San Marcos, TX
Precipice, Texas State Gallery, San Marcos, TX
People First, Gallery of Common Experience, San Marcos, TX
2018
FASA Group Exhibition, Dalilah Woods Gallery, San Marcos, TX
2018
Commissioned float for the city of San Marcos, TX
Awarded best float for the annual Mardi Gras Parade in San Marcos. Float illustrated the Greek god of the river Okeanos, constructed out of styrofoam and paper-mache
2022-23
Gallery Coordinator, Graceland University, Lamoni, IA
Responsible for interacting with the public, liaising with artists, budgeting, creating workshops, and overseeing exhibition and public programs
2022
Lab Specialist-Art, Digital Art & Design, Architecture (Part-Time), Dallas College Brookhaven Campus Farmers Branch, TX
This was a tech position that aided in running kilns, both electric and gas, as well as helping in creating ceramic shell for bronze casting
2019-21
Graduate Assistant in Sculpture Department, University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design in Denton, TX
I was directly working under the head technician of the sculpture department, Jeff McClung. Responsibilities included maintaining and organizing shop tools and equipment for the whole sculpture area. This included the woodshop, the metal fabrication, and welding area, the plaster and mold making area, and the CNC router
2019
Sculptor, Grapevine Fine Art Program and Foundry, Grapevine, TX
2019
Studio Intern, Artpace,
Responsibilities include studio assistant to visiting artists and maintaining gallery space, as well as collecting material artist needs for projects in San Antonio, TX
2019
Studio Assistant, to Gil Bruvel in Wimberly, TX
Duties included shop maintenance, production artist, mediums included wood and mold making
2018 Studio Assistant, to Colleen McCulla-Thomas in San Marcos, TX
Duties Included preparation for her exhibition utilizing direct plaster, full-scale body molds, woodworking
