Melissa E Symmonds
Introduction
I was first introduced to ceramics in high school, where I fell in love with the medium. I still have most of the pieces from that period, though they are somewhat the worse for wear after multiple moves. Sadly, making a living intervened and I was unable to pursue ceramics except to take isolated classes.
After retiring from a career in IT Management for the Petroleum Industry, I returned to art as my new occupation. I have taken classes at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts’ Glassell School of Art 2014 - 2021. Wanting to try different media, I took classes in Jewelry Making and Painting before returning to Ceramics as my medium of choice.
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Since returning to Ceramics, I have been honing my craft and creating steadily more complex pieces. The best part is I am still loving it!
Artist Statement
My pieces are of animals - designed to speak to viewers and bring a smile to their faces. I have always loved animals; they all have such individual personalities. Growing up we frequently had more animals in the house than people, and we were a family of 6! I have created a variety of different animals and enjoy researching each different type and its habits and characteristics.
No matter what kind of animal I am creating, I always try to pick one whose personality shows and will be visible to the viewer. Since each is an individual to me, they all have names.
Artist CV
Exhibitions
2023 - UMLAUF Museum Sculpture Exhibition for Austin Museum Day, Austin, TX
2023 - Georgetown Public Library/TSOS Sculpture Show, Georgetown, TX
2023 – "Animalia", Art Fluent Exhibition, online
2022 – "Art Hop XV", Juried Statewide Exhibition, Georgetown, TX
2021 – Visual Arts Alliance 37th Juried Open Exhibition, Virtual, Houston, TX
Dr Harry Cooper, National Gallery of Art - Senior Curator and Head of Modern Art
2021 – "Clay: A Southern Census" 2021, Clay Center, New Orleans, LA
2020 – Visual Arts Alliance 37th Juried Membership Exhibition, Virtual, Houston, TX
2020 – "Fall", Kinder Morgan HQ, Houston, TX
2020 – "Glassell Student Show", Glassell Studio School, Virtual, Houston, TX
2019 – "Glassell Student Show", Glassell Studio School, Houston, TX
2018 – "Creatures Exhibit", Kinder Morgan, Houston, TX
2018 – "Multiplicity", Silos at Sawyer Yards, Houston, TX
2018 – "CAMEO Emerging Artist Show", U of H, Clear Lake, TX
2017 – "Ceramics in the Garden", Houston Center for Contemporary Crafts, Houston, TX
2017 – "Glassell Student Show", Glassell School of Art, Houston, TX
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Workshops
2018 – Beth Cavener, The Contemporary Austin, TX
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Organizations
NCECA - National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts
Clay Houston - Communications Chair, 2019-2022
Texas Society of Sculptors - Public Relations Chair, 2023-2025
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