Clayton Keyes
Claytonkeyes.com
Education
2011 MFA Ceramics, University of Tulsa
2000 BFA 3-Dimensional Art, University of Oklahoma
1998 AA Art, Northern Oklahoma College
University Teaching Experience
Courses: AT 4013 Ceramics Tile Installation – Summer 23 Art 4013 Head in Clay – Summer 23 - ART 4802 Senior Exhibition - ART 3433 Ceramics 2 – ART 4473 Ceramics 3 - ART 3423 Ceramics 1 - ART 2443 Sculpture 1 - ART 2243- Design II - ART 148 Ceramics 1- ART 203 Ceramic Sculpture - ART 330 Intermediate Ceramics: The Ceramic Surface - ART 335 Advanced Ceramics - ART 325 Figure Sculpture - Narrative Wall Mural - sculptural high relief wall sculpture (Mayterm) - ART 475 Senior Seminar - The Head in Clay – (Mayterm) - ART 401 Directed Study Habitats for Bees – SALT Summer Research Crystalline Glazes – ART 300DD Glaze Chemistry (Mayterm)
Positions/Titles:
Assistant Professor of Ceramics & Sculpture, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, OK 2021-2024
NSU Gallery Director, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024
Chair of the Art Department, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, UT – 2016-2019
Area Head - Ceramics Program, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, UT
Associate Professor of Art, Ceramics, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, UT-Fall 2019- Spring 2021
Assistant Professor of Ceramics, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, UT - Fall 2013-Spring 2019
Letter of Appointment - Fall 2012 - Summer 2013, Prof of Ceramics, Uni. of Nevada, Reno, NV
2011 Figurative Sculpture for the Clay Artist – 8-wk course Cont. Ed. – Univ. of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK
Professional Development – Workshops, Assistantships, Lectures, Demonstrations
2024
· Juror: Tulsa Community College Juried Student Exhibition
· Inaugural Visiting Artist/Recruitment – Sapulpa High School Visiting Artist Series
· Demonstration/Recruitment – Tulsa Community College, April, 2024
· Hollow Figure – Human Figure 2 Weekend Workshop, Red Heat Ceramics, February 3-4,10,11
2023
· Hollow Form- Human Figure Summer Workshop, July 2023, Red Heat Ceramics, Tulsa, OK
· Visiting Artist Workshop and Critique, 3-day workshop, May, Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS
· “Floral Delight” 4-week course, Red Heat Ceramics, Tulsa, OK
2022
· “Best Foot Forward” 4-day workshop, Red Heat Ceramics, Tulsa, OK
· Travel to NYC to spend time attending various Museums/galleries - Research
· “Fleshy Bits & Kinky Clay” 2-person exhibition with Adrien Lee, Liggett Studio, Tulsa, OK
· “Give us a Hand” 3-Day Workshop, Red Heat Ceramics, Tulsa, OK
· Demonstrating Artist, National Council on the Education of Ceramic Arts, Davis CA
· Co-creator of the New Studio Figure Drawing bi-monthly drawing sessions, Josh New Studio, Tulsa, OK
· “Animal Instincts” 8-week workshop, Red Heat Ceramics Studio, Tulsa, OK
2021
· “Hand-built” 2-day workshop, Red Heat Ceramics Studio, Tulsa, OK
· “The Head in Clay” 7-week workshop, Red Heat Ceramics Studio, Tulsa, OK
· Online Workshop, Pocossin Arts School of Fine Craft, Columbia, NC
· Online Workshop, Natsoulas Gallery Workshop Series, Davis, CA
2020
· “The Human Figure” 2-day workshop, Kimball Art Center, Park City, UT
· Artist Demonstration, MA Doran Gallery, Tulsa, OK
2018
· “Rendering the Human Form” Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
2017
· Demonstrator, Michigan Mud Conference, Albion, MI
· Guest Speaker, Rovin Ceramics, Ann Arbor, MI
· Demonstration, Henry Ford College, Dearborn, MI
· 2-day workshop, Clay Arts Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
· 2-day workshop, University of Nebraska Kearney, Kearney, NE
· “Pentaculum” Invited Artist, Arrowmont School of Art & Craft, Gatlinburg, TN
2016
· Summer Workshop Series, Sierra Nevada College, Incline Village, NV
2015
· 2-day workshop, Hawai’i Potters Guild, Honolulu, HI
· Featured demonstrator, 27th Annual California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Arts, Davis, CA
2013
· Juror, Modern Chair Competition, Mod-a-go-go Furniture & Art, Salt Lake City, UT
· Guest Lecturer, California State University Chico, Chico, CA
· 2-day workshop, Summer Workshop Series, Sierra Nevada College, Incline Village, NV
· “Heads and Hands” 2-day workshop, The Wedge Ceramics Studio, Reno, NV
· Visiting Artist Lecture, Skyline College, San Francisco, CA
2012
· Visiting Artist Workshop and Lecture, Sierra Nevada College, Incline Village, NV
· Visiting Artist Workshop and Lecture, Wells Fargo Hall, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV
· “Sculpting the Figure in Clay” Workshop, Norick Art Center, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, OK
· Featured Artist Demonstration, Philbrook Museum of Art Mix Party, Young Master’s Society, Tulsa, OK
2011
· “The Figure on Clay” 6-week workshop, Waterworks Art Center, Tulsa, OK
2010
· Assistant to Esther Shimazu, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
· Assistant to Cristina Cordova, Penland School of Craft, NC
Scholarship: Selected Exhibitions
2025
· Forthcoming – As of yet untitled, Solo Exhibition, October 2025, 108 Contemporary, Tulsa, OK
2024
· Forthcoming - “Farther Down the Road” Solo Exhibition, April 2024, Tulsa Artists Coalition, Tulsa, OK
2023
· “State of Craft” Juried Member Exhibition, 108 Contemporary – December – Juror: Mary Anne Jordan
· “Oklahomo” Center for Queer Prairie Studies, Tulsa Artist Fellowship Studios, Tulsa, OK
2022
· “Not-so-Guilty-Pleasures” National Council for the Education of Ceramic Arts concurrent exhibition. Kondos Gallery, Sacramento, CA *curated by Rebekah Bogard
· “Tree of Ceramics” National Council for the Education of Ceramic Arts concurrent exhibition. Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA *curated by John Natsoulas
· “Fleshy Bits” Liggett Studio, Pride Celebration, Tulsa, OK
2021
· Northeastern State University Faculty Art Exhibition, NSU Gallery, Tahlequah, OK
· Westminster College Faculty Art Exhibition, Salt Lake City, OK
2019
· Solo Exhibition “Leaves and Lovers” MA Doran Gallery, Tulsa, OK
· Westminster College Faculty Art Exhibition, Salt Lake City, OK
2018
· “Demonstrator Exhibit” Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
2017
· “Figurative Condition” Sisson Gallery, Henry Ford College, Dearborn, MI
· “Michigan Mud Demonstrating Artists” Albion College, Albion, MI
· “Heads Up” Manheim Gallery, Cottonwood, AZ
· “Heads and Tails” Clay Arts Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
· “Epics, Myths, and Fables” Meyer Gallery, Park City, UT *curated by Russell Wrankle
2016
· “Freak Show” Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT * curated by Wesley Harvey
· “Strictly Figurative” National Council for the Education of Ceramic Arts concurrent exhibition, Invitational, MCC Penn Valley Community College, Kansa City, MO *curated by Bernadette Torres
· “TU Core Connections: University of Tulsa Alumni Ceramics Program Exhibition” Alexander Hogue Gallery, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK *curated by Whitney Forsyth
· “Profit Margin” Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainsville, Fl *curated by Derek Reeverts
2015
· “Body Norms: Selections from the Spong Collection” Burchfield Penny Art Center at SUNY, Buffalo St., NY
· “Fabulous Figures” Clay Arts Vegas, Las Vegas, NV *jurors: Mark Burns, John Gregg, Peter Jakubowski
· “Transforming Hate” Myers Gallery, Living Arts, Tulsa, OK
2013
· “30 Ceramic Sculptors” John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA
· “1st Annual Figurative Invitational” Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT
· “Beginning to End” 3-person show, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
2012
· “Conjuring the Conjugal – Journeys Through the (Un)Imagined” Solo Show, MA Doran Gallery, Tulsa, OK
· “Small Favors IV” Invitational, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
· “Push Play” National Council for the Education of Ceramic Arts – Invitational, Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, WA *curated by Linda Ganstrom
2011
· “Material Mastery” Kansas Artist Craftsman Association, Eppink Gallery, Emporia State University, Emporia, KS *Juror Elaine O’Henry
· “New and Familiar Faces” Featured Artist, MA Doran Gallery, Tulsa, OK
· “Realism Show” MA Doran Gallery, Tulsa, OK
· “Omens and Prodigies” University of Tulsa MFA Thesis Exhibition, Myers Gallery, Living Arts, Tulsa, OK
· “Figurines” National Invitational, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
· “Figuration” Invitational, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2010
· “Un-Wedged: Contemporary Ceramic Work” Pottery Northwest, Seattle, WA *Juror Andy Nasisse
· “Red Heat – National Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition” Alexander Hogue Gallery, Tulsa, OK *Juror Adrian Arleo
· “7th Annual Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Student Exhibition” The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA * Juror Marge Brown Kalodner
· “42nd Annual Gussman Student Exhibition” Alexander Hogue Gallery, Tulsa, OK * Juror David Mesple
· “44th Annual Nat’l Drawing and Small Sculpture Exhibition” Del Mar College, Corpus Christi, TX * Juror Ron Koehler
· “2nd Annual Beyond the Brickyard” Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT * Juror Wayne Higby
2009
· “41st Annual Gussman Student Exhibition” Alexander Hogue Gallery, Tulsa, OK * Juror Laura Kina
2008
· “Momentum” Living Arts Gallery, Tulsa, OK *Juror Sunni Mercer
Awards
2023
· Art & Dialog Award- Awarded by Mary Anne Jordan, Professor of Art, KU, (State of Craft, 2023, 108 Contemporary)
2020
· Tulsa Remote Grant – George Kaiser Family Foundation
2018
· Keck Grant – Scientists & Artists Learning Together – Summer Research, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, UT
2017
· Keck Grant – Scientists & Artists Learning Together – Summer Research, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, UT
2015
· Best of Show, “Fabulous Figures” Clay Arts Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
2011
· 3rd Place, Graduate, “43rd Annual Gussman Student Exhibition” University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK
2010
· Juror’s Choice, “Un-Wedged” 1st Annual Ceramic Competition and Art Show, Seattle, WA
· Alpha Rho Tau Scholarship, given annually by the Alpha Rho Tau Art Collective, Tulsa, OK
· Compelling Narrative Award, “Red Heat” Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition, Tulsa, OK
· First Prize, “7th Annual Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Student Exhibition,” The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
· Best of Show, “42nd Annual Gussman Student Exhibition,” University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK
· Thomas Manhart Award for Excellence in Ceramics, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK
· Assistantship Scholarship, Penland School of Craft, Penland, NC
· Graduate Assistantship, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Ok
2009
· Best of Show, “41st Annual Gussman Student Exhibition.,” University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK
· Jerry Jones Advanced Research Award, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Ok
· Graduate Assistantship, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK
2008
· Graduate Assistantship, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK
2000
· Juror’s Choice Award, “Outart” Individual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery, Oklahoma City, OK
Bibliography
· 2024 Independent Review Crew, ““The State of Craft”at 108 Contemporary,” by Alicia Chesse, January 8th
· 2023 Hyperallergic, “A Visit to Tulsa’s Center for Queer Prairie Studies,” by Lucas Ondak, Sept, 7th, 2023
· 2018 NCECA Journal, Volume 39, pg. 135
· 2017 The Mirror News, “The Figurative Condition: Humanity Reflected in Mud” Sarah Williams Volume 43, Issue 3 November 6, 2017
· 2014 Ceramic Sculpture Making Faces, Lark Books, Alex Irvine, pg. 104
· 2014 500 Figures, Volume 2 Lark Books, Juror: Nan Smith
· 2013 “Silhouettes” Randi O’Brien, Ceramics Monthly Magazine, November
· 2013 “25th Annual CCACA 2013: The Ceramic Sculpture Conference” Exhibition Catalogue, John Natsoulas Gallery
· 2012 “Ceramics Cycle: Figurative Imagery of Christine Golden, Clayton Keyes, and Aisha Harrison” Michael Abatemarco, Pasatiempo Magazine, pgs. 52-53, December 14.
· 2012 “Push Play: The 2012 NCECA Invitational” Exhibition Catalogue, Linda Ganstrom & Stefano Catalani, pgs.32-33 (text/image)
· 2012 “Eye-Popping Ceramic Art at BAM, the Henry and Beyond” Michael Upchurch, The Seattle Times, March 4, 2021, Seattle, WA
· 2012 ”Figuration at the Clay Studio Exhibition Review” Colette Copeland, Ceramics: Art and Perception, Issue 87
· 2012 “Dark Childhood Push Play: The 2012 NCECA Invitational” Matthew Kangas, Ceramics Monthly Magazine, April (text/image)
· 2012 “Reinterpreting Childhood” Jen Hopper, Tulsa People Magazine, April (text)
· 2012 “Beyond the Brickyard, 2nd Annual National Juried Exhibition” Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT, catalog (text/image)
· 2012 “Report from the NCECA Conference” Myra Block Kaiser, Brady Craft Alliance Blog, www.bradycraftcalliance.org/blog, pg.4, April (text/image)
· 2012 “TAC’s Tulsa Taboo: More than Naughty Bits” Jane McCormick, OVAC Blog, www.ovacblogspot.com, July 12, 2012
· 2011 “Artist Interview: Joshua Meier” Eileen Rafferty, In Butterflies and Anvils: A Photographic Journal about Inspiration ad Art issue 4, Fall: 2011 pg. 10-43
Professional Memberships
· National Sculpture Society 2024
· 108 Contemporary 2021, 2023
· ArtAxis: a curated, evolving independent network of artists (2012-current)
· American Craft Council (2012)
· Kansas Artist Craftsmen Association (2011)
· Tulsa Artist Coalition (2011)
· Oklahoma Visual Coalition (2009-2010, 2021)
· National Council for the Education of Ceramics Arts (NCECA) (2000, 2008-2016, 2022)