Brian Benfer

Education

M.F.A. Visual Arts, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 2003
B.A. Studio Art, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, 2000

Selected Exhibitions

2021 Latvia Ceramics Biennale, Mark Rothko Art Centre, Daugavpils, Latvia
2021 All that remains, Brian Benfer and Paul Turounet, jdc Fine Art, Gleneden Beach, OR
2020 You & Yours, jdc Fine Art, Gleneden Beach, OR
2019 Porceliano Tapatybė, Panevėžio miesto dailės galerija, Panevėžys, Lithuania
2018 Porcelain Identity, M.K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum, Kaunas, Lithuania
2019 Melting Point: Movements in Contemporary Clay, Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA 2017 Renegade Fiber, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Novato, CA
2016 ROJA Lab 16, Exhibition and Workshop Center, Roja, Latvia
2016 Thunder in Our Hearts, Noysky Projects, Los Angeles, CA
2016 ArtAxis, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
2015 What Remains: Debris and Detritus in Fine Art, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA
2015 Reshaping the 2%, Mesa Art Gallery, San Diego, CA
2014 Art San Diego, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA
2015 Brian Benfer and Carlton Bradford, Prescott College, Prescott AZ
2013 Ready MADE, Lawndale Art Center, Houston, TX
2013 Brian Benfer, Amazon Headquarters, Seattle, WA
2012 Cultural Foundation Fellows Exhibition, Seto City Museum, Seto, Japan
2012 Brian Benfer, Brown University, Providence, RI
2012 Brian Benfer, Kittredge Gallery, Tacoma, WA
2012 Brian Benfer and John Grade, Gallery4Culture, Seattle, WA
2011 Premio Faenza, Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche, Faenza, Italy
2011 Connections and Beyond, Red Lodge Clay Center, Helena, MT
2011 Brian Benfer, Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY
2010 Biennial Exhibition, Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, WA
2010 Biennale de la Contemporaine Céramique, Centre Culturel d'Andenne, Andenne, Belgium
2010 Beyond the Brickyard, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
2009 Biennial Ceramics Exhibition, NAU Art Museum, Flagstaff, AZ
2009 NCECA Clay National Biennial Exhibition, Arizona State University Art Museum, Tempe, AZ Margins: A Nontraditional Approach to Clay, The Icehouse, Phoenix, AZ
2008 Ceramic Objects/Conceptual Material, Anne Kittrell Gallery, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
2008 Falling to Earth, CSAW Gallery, Houston, TX
2007 Ceramics in Architecture, SERDE Art Center, Aizpute, Latvia
2006 Eastern Philosophy, Gaddis Geeslin Gallery, Huntsville, TX
2005 Five Years of the Anagama, Rotermann Art Center, Tallinn, Estonia
2005 International Ceramic Exhibition, Tohisoo Mansion, Kohila, Estonia
2003 Off the Top, Bill Maynes Gallery, New York, NY
2003 Generations: Impending Lineage, Art & Industry Gallery, San Diego, CA
2002 International Invitational Exhibition, Period Gallery, Omaha, NE
2001 Invitational Exhibition, Reese Bullen Gallery, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 2000 Tilts 2000, Latvijas Makslinieku Savienibas Galerija, Riga, Latvia
2001 International Exhibition, Zvartava Castle, Gaujiena, Latvia
1999 Holiday Invitational Exhibition, First Street Gallery, Eureka, CA
1999 Invitational Exhibition, Reese Bullen Gallery, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA

Collections

Amazon, Seattle, WA
Artists Union of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, WA
Brown University, Providence, RI
City of Roja, Latvia
The Estonian Ceramists Association, Tallinn, Estonia
Gallery4Culture, Seattle, WA
Grossmont College, El Cajon, CA
Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Nebraska City, NE
M.K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum, Kaunas, Lithuania
Mark Rothko Art Centre, Daugavpils, Latvia
Mesa College, San Diego, CA
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA
Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche, Faenza, Italy
Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Ohio University, Athens, OH
Palomar College, San Marcos, CA
Prescott College, Prescott, AZ
SERDE Art Center, Aizpute, Latvia
Seto City Art Museum, Seto, Japan
Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
Ann and Morris Weiner, Houston, TX
The Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY
University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA
Vilnius Academy of Arts, Kaunas, Lithuania
Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, PA

Selected Bibliography

Brian Benfer, “Seeking Sustainability”, Ceramics Art and Perception, #117 (2021)
ROJA ART LAB, Roja, Latvia-2021 (catalogue)
Exposure, Ceramics Monthly, June/July/August 2021: 17.
Sustainability, Vilnius Academy of the Arts-2021 (catalogue)
Brian Benfer, “Rat Trap Clay Club”, Ceramics Monthly, December 2019: 18-20.
Brian Benfer, “Tapatybės Likučiai”, Nemunas, NR. 11 (2018): 36-45.
Brian Benfer, “Questioning Identity”, Ceramics Art and Perception, #110 (2018): 98-103.
Porcelain Identity, Vilnius Academy of the Arts, Kaunas, Lithuania, 2018 (catalogue)
Gintarė Vasiliauskaitė, “Kaulinis Porcelianas”, Kauno Diena, July 12, 2018.
Brian Benfer, “The Particulate of Molis”, New Ceramics, January/February 2018: 19-21.
Stanton Hunter, “Creativity through Curiosity”, Ceramics Monthly, January 2017: 38.
Brian Benfer, “Māris un The Merry Men”, STUDIJA, No. 110 (2016): 55-56.
Patrick Whitehurst, “Artist chalks up his inspiration to tactile, analogue communication”, The Daily Courier, May 15, 2014.
Kyla Foster, “Casting Residue: Works by Brian Benfer”, Ceramics Art and Perception, No. 93 (2013): 3-7.
Kyla Foster, “Brian Benfer-Chalkboard Series”, Collect, Autumn 2012: 43.
Rosemary Ponnekanti, “UPS Art Exhibits Feature Dual Sides of Creative Coin”, The News Tribune, February 24, 2012.
Dave R. Davison, “Two New Exhibits Feature Ceramic Art at UPS”, Tacoma Weekly, February 23, 2012. 57th Premio Faenza, Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche Faenza-2011 (catalogue)
Suzanne Beal, “Bent Without Breaking”, Ceramics Art and Perception, No. 84 (2011): 38-41.
Fired, Manifest Gallery-2011 (catalogue) “Documenting Fire: A Profile of Brian Benfer’s Industrial Series,” Ceramics Technical, No. 31 (2010): 100-103.
Stanton Hunter, “Devil’s Advocate,” Ceramics Monthly, November 2010:10.
Biennale de la Contemporaine Céramique, Centre Culturel d'Andenne-2010 (catalogue)
Brian Benfer, “The Industrial Ceramics Series”, NCECA Journal, Vol. 31 (2010): 28.
Adam Welch, “The Margins: A Theory of Resistance in Contemporary Ceramics,” Ceramics Art and Perception, No. 79 (2010): 42-47.
Beyond the Brickyard, Archie Bray Foundation-2009 (catalogue)
Johnson, Garth. 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse. Beverly, MA: Quarry, 2009. Clay3, ClaySpace-2009 (catalogue)
Germaine Shames, “2009 NCECA Clay National Biennial Exhibition,” Ceramics Monthly, June/July/August 2009: 28-29.
NCECA Clay National Biennial Exhibition-2009 (catalogue)
Margins: A Nontraditional Approach to Clay-2009 (catalogue)
Crafting Content: Ceramic Object/Conceptual Material, University of Arkansas-2008 (catalogue)
Anda Puce, “Svetkus aizpute svin plasi,” Kurzemes Vards, August 13, 2007.
Maiju Altpere-Woodhead, “Dance Around the Esthoggama,” Ceramics Technical, No. 22 (2006): 96-99. Off The Top, Bill Maynes Gallery-2003 (catalogue)
Ieva Rupenheite, “Skaistaks par kugi,” Diena, August 30, 2003.
Tilts, Latvijas Makslinieku Savienibas Galerija-2000 (catalogue)
Ieva Rupenheite, “Zvartava makslinieki cel tiltu,” Diena, August 11, 2000.

Selected Awards

2022 Fulbright Scholar
2019 California Arts Council, Artist Grant
2018 The LOFT, Artist Travel Grant
2015 Humanities Institute, Artist Grant
2013 Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, Artist Grant 2012 Shunpike, Artist Project Grant
2013 Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, Artist Grant
2011 Agency for Cultural Affairs, Seto Cultural Foundation Award
2011 Artist Trust, Artist Project Grant
2009 Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, Artist Grant
2009 NAU Biennial Exhibition, Third Place
2009 Vermont Studio Center, Clowes Fellow
2009 Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Kimmel Harding Nelson Award
2003 Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Graduate Scholars Award
2002 Vermont Studio Center, Nadine Goldsmith Fellow
2002 Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Anonymous Donor Award
2001 Humboldt State University, Reese Bullen Award for Excellence in Art
1999 Humboldt State University, Marchi Award for Excellence in Sculpture