Ben Owen III Resume

Education

  • 1989-1993 Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, East Carolina University, Greenville, N.C.
  • 1987-1989 Undergraduate Liberal Arts coursework, Pfeiffer University, Misenheimer, N.C. (Instructor in Ceramics Department)
  • 1984-1987 Apprenticeship with Ben Wade Owen Jr., Ben Owen Pottery, Seagrove, NC
  • 1977-1983 Apprenticeship with Ben Owen Sr., Old Plank Road Pottery, Seagrove, NC

Residencies

  • Travel to China to demonstrate at Sanbao Art Center, Jingdezhen, China. April 2007.                    
  • Travel to Australia and New Zealand to study with local potters, 1999.
  • IWCAT Cultural Exchange Program, Tokoname, Japan, 1995.
  • Resident Potter, The Hambridge Center, Rabun Gap, GA, June 6-July 8, 1994.

Presentations

  • Presenter, Smithsonian Museum of Folklife, Washington, DC April 2010.
  • Moderator, North Carolina Pottery Conference, Asheboro, NC. Val Cushing and Norm Shullman, A Lifetime in Clay, March 2009.
  • Speaker, Mint Museum Craft & Design, Charlotte, NC, 2008, 2002, 1998, 1995.
  • Keynote Speaker, Questers International Convention, Research Triangle Park, NC, 2002.
  • Keynote speaker, North Carolina Art Educators Annual Conference, 2002.
  • Panelist, Pyrochromatics: an International Symposium on Color, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, October 5-10, 1999.

Teaching

  • Jeffcoat Pottery workshop with Cynthia Bringle, February, 2010.      
  • Juror, National Exhibition, Franklin Square Gallery Exhibition, June 2008.
  • Odyssey Ceramic Art Center, Asheville, 2007.
  • Pocosin Art Center, Columbia, NC, 2002.
  • Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC, 2004, 2001, 1997, 1994.
  • Odessey Art Center, Asheville, NC, 2001.
  • Functional Ceramics 2000, Wooster, Ohio, April 2000.
  • Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN, July 18-30, 1999.
  • Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC, July 19-August 4, 1998.

Honors

  • Named “North Carolina Living Treasure” by Randall Library, UNC-Wilmington, 2004.
  • Personal photograph featured in 2004 edition of North Carolina state road map.
  • Commissioned to make awards for the Governor’s Business Awards in the Arts and Humanities by Governor James B. Hunt, 2000.
  • Outstanding Senior Award, School of Art, East Carolina University, 1993.
  • Recipient, two Gold Key in Scholastic Art Awards, UNC-Greensboro, 1987.

Solo Exhibitions

  • Influences from Nature, NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC, June 2010.
  • Ben Owen III, Blue Spiral 1 Gallery, Asheville, NC, August, 2007.
  • A Natural Influence: New Works by Ben Owen III, Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC, Feb 6-May 2, 2004.
  • Heritage and Innovation, Blue Spiral 1 Gallery Shows, Asheville, NC, September 2-October 30, 2004. 
  • Tradition and Transition, Blue Spiral 1 Gallery Shows, Asheville, NC, August 31-October 27, 2001. 
  • Ben Owen III, Ariodante Contemporary Craft Gallery, New Orleans, LA, September 11-30, 1999.
  • Ben Owen III, Blue Spiral 1 Gallery Shows, Asheville, NC, August 1998.
  • Ben Owen I & III, Berman Gallery, Atlanta, GA, February-March 1996.
  • Built Upon Honor, Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte, NC, June-December 1995.
  • Ben Owen III, Potter, The Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, VA, December 1994-April 1995.
  • Ben Owen III, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC, 1994.
  • Solo exhibition, St. Johns Museum of Art (now the Cameron Art Museum), Wilmington, NC, 1994.

Group Exhibitions

  • North Carolina Pottery Center, Time for Tea February-April 2011.
  • North Carolina Pottery Center, Owen/Owens Pottery exhibit February-April 2010.
  • National Teapot Show, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC. Jun, 2008. (Award of Excellence)
  • North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC, The Potter’s Eye, October 30, 2005-March 19, 2006.
  • Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, NC, National Teapot Show VI, June 2005A Celebration of Excellence, August 1998.
  • Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO, NC Pottery, September 12-October 20, 2003.
  • The Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, Clay, April 12–June 15, 2003.
  • Traveling Exhibit, NC Clay Past & Present, March 2001- December 2002: Bank of America, Charlotte NC, Gallery of Art & Design, Raleigh, NC,
  • Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC, Museum of Art, Hickory, NC
  • Museum of Art, Greenville, NC, Museum of Art, Fayetteville, NC,                                                  
  • North Carolina Pottery Center, Seagrove, NC.
  • Blue Spiral 1 Gallery Shows, Asheville, NC: Hot Ice III Teapots & Pitchers, March 1-April 20, 2002, Silver Celebration, November 1997, Hot Ice Teapot & Pitchers, August 1997, Wood Fired Pottery, September-November 1996, The Ethereal Soul, April-June, 1996Hot-Ice Teapot Show, August 1994, Clay 94, April-July, 1994.
  • Hambidge Center, Rabun Gap, GA, Jugtown Area Show, 1994-2002; 1992-1993.
  • Ogden Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA, October 2001.
  • Pinch Gallery, Northampton, MA, Teapots Transformed: The Studio Potters, June 2001
  • Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH, Clay/Wood/Fire/Salt, February 11- April 8, 2001.
  • Immaculata College, Immaculata, PA, Art Show, February 3-February 11, 2001.
  • Rocky Mount Arts Center, Rocky Mount, NC, January 13-February 11, 2001Vessels: half full/half empty, January 3-24, 199942 Artists, 42 Years, February 1997.
  • Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster PA, Strictly Functional Pottery National Exhibit, April 14-June 11, 2000; May 1993.
  • Gallery of Art and Design, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, The New Heritage of North Carolina Pottery, April 6-June 4, 2000
  • The University of Iowa Museum of Art, Iowa City, Iowa, Different Stokes, September 11-December 26, 1999.
  • Lil Street Gallery, Chicago IL, Serendipity: The Magic of Woodfire Ceramics, October 9-November 7, 1999.
  • Alfred University, Alfred, NY, Premeditated Function: The Corsaw Collection of American Ceramics, September 24, 1998-February 4, 1999.
  • Gallery WDO, Charlotte, NC, October 1998; 3 Potters, June 1997; New Visions, October 1995.
  • Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte, NC, Ceramic Art, February-May 1997.
  • Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, GA, Built Upon Honor, February 1996Tokoname Ceramic Exhibition, Tokoname, Japan, August 1995.
  • Cera Gallery, Tokoname, Japan, IWCAT Workshop Show, August 1995.
  • NC Museum of History, Raleigh, NC, New Ways for Old Jugs, June 1995.
  • Folk Art Center, Asheville, NC, Craft of the Carolinas, 1994.
  • Wayne Center of the Arts, Wooster, OH, Functional Ceramics, 1994.
  • McKissick Museum, Columbia, SC, New Ways for Old Jugs, July 1994.
  • Gibbs Museum of Art, Charleston, SC, Craft of the Carolinas, 1993.

Commissions

  • Arnold Palmer for his 80th birthday, 2010.                                         
  • US Flying Tiger Pilot Memorial, executive gifts for Chinese dignitaries, March 2007.                                                                        
  • UNC-Chapel Hill, Lifetime Achievement Award, James Taylor, 2006.
  • UNC-Chapel Hill, Lifetime Achievement Award, N.C. Symphony, 2006.
  • UNC-TV, gifts to North Carolina Governor, Mike Easley, 2002-2008.
  • Governor’s Office of North Carolina, executive gifts for dignitaries from Japan and Sweden, 1995-1997.
  • Tom Seleck, 1997.
  • Elton John, 1993.
  • Elizabeth Taylor, Perry Como, 1985.
  • Bob Hope, 1984.
  • Executive Office of U.S. President, Ronald Reagan, Christmas, 1983.

Museums and Collections

  • Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA.
  • Ceramics Monthly collection, Westerville, OH.
  • The Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, VA.
  • Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH.
  • Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX.
  • Mint Museum of Art and Craft and Design, Charlotte, NC.
  • New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA.
  • North Carolina Governor’s Mansion, Raleigh, NC.
  • North Carolina Museum of History, Raleigh, NC.
  • Ogden Museum of Art, Ogden, LA. 
  • The Schein-Joseph International Museum of Art, Alfred, NY.
  • Smithsonian Museum, Washington, DC.                                            

Public Collections

  • Boston Commons, Boston, MA
  • Federal Reserve Bank offices, Charlotte, NC
  • Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Boston, MA
  • Randolph Hospital Cancer Center, Asheboro, NC
  • The Ritz-Carlton Boston Commons, Boston, MA
  • The Ritz-Carlton Westchester, White Plains, NY
  • The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo, Japan
  • Sun Valley Ampitheatre, Sun Valley, ID
  • Umstead Hotel & Spa, Cary, NC

Television

WUNC-TV, Channel 4, PBS, Featured artist, Pottery Live 2002-2006, 2008-2011
North Carolina People, Chapel Hill, NC, 2000; NC Now, Chapel Hill, NC, 1994, 1995
PBS, Antiques Road Show, December 2003, 2007
FOX8-TV, Channel 8, In Touch, High Point, NC, 1997
WGHP-TV, Channel 8, ABC, Roy's Folks, High Point, NC, 1995
ABC, Good Morning America, New York, NY, November 16, 1995
WTVD-TV, Channel 11, ABC, Prime Time Sunday, Durham, NC, November 1994

Publications | Periodicals

  • New York Times, March 10, 2010 
  • Southern Living Magazine, Seagrove Pottery-The Next Generation, November 2009
  • Pinestraw Magazine, Pinehurst, NC, cover article, The Soul of a Potter, November 2008 
  • Ceramic Art & Perception (Ben Owen III), March 2008 
  • Ceramics Monthly, cover article (Ben Owen III Potter), November 2005, November 2004, December 1996, March 1996, September 1993
  • Our State Magazine of NC, 2005, 1993
  • Boston Globe, July 2005; May 29, 1994
  • East, The Magazine of East Carolina University, cover article, Fall Issue, December 2004
  • New York Times, Sunday, October 24, 2004; April 10, 2001
  • Los Angeles Times, Sunday, June 13, 2004
  • Bon Appetit Magazine, November 2003
  • Washington Post, June 9, 2002; February 14, 1996
  • Atlanta Journal & Constitution, April 1999; February 2 & 10, 1996; January 1, 1995; June 24, 1994
  • Clay Times, November/December 1998, May 1996
  • Smithsonian Magazine, October 1998
  • Studio Potter, December 1997
  • American Craft Magazine, April 1995
  • Chicago Tribune, October 5, 1986
  • USA Today, February 29, 1984

Books

  • Ben Owen III, A Natural Influence, Phyllis Blair Clark, Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC, February 2004
  • Grit, American Life and Traditions, November 16, 1997
  • North Carolina, North Carolina public school textbook, 1998
  • North Carolina Pottery: The Collection of the Mint Museums, Barbara Stone Perry, UNC Press, Chapel Hill, 2004
  • The Penland Book of Ceramics: Master Classes in Ceramic Techniques, Lark Books, 2003
  • The Potter’s Eye, Nancy Sweezy and Mark Hewitt, October 2005
  • The Remarkable Potters of Seagrove, Charlotte Brown, 2007
  • Setting Up Your Ceramic Studio, Virginia Scotchie, Lark Books, 2003
  • Wheel-Thrown Ceramics, Don Davis, Lark Books, 1998

Affiliations

  • Celebration of Seagrove Potters Festival, Seagrove, NC (Chair) 2008-2009
  • American Craft Council, 1993-2011
  • Community One Bank, Asheboro, NC, Advisory Board of Directors 1999-2011
  • North Carolina Pottery Center, member, Board of Directors 1996-1999, 2002-2003
  • Public Education Foundation for Moore County Schools, Southern Pines, NC, 2001-2003

Additional information is available upon request.