Wendy Kusmaul Keeling
Wendy grew up in Bloomington, Illinois. She was a creative child involved in activities from dance, theater, music, and art. She however, seemingly had very little talent in art. Crushed by her inability to "draw things right", she moved on to other creative outlets.
Wendy's love for ceramics started in 1998 when she enrolled at Florida Keys Community College and studied ceramics under the tutelage of Jay Gogin. There she discovered there was more to art than drawing. Her passion quickly caught the attention of her instructor, and she was soon appointed the teaching assistant in the ceramics department. During her time at the college, she had the privilege of working alongside ceramic legends including Paul Soldner, Peter Voulkos, Rudy Autio, Peter Callas, Koie Ryōji, and Robert Piepenburg.
In 2002, Wendy was selected as an artist for the International Workshop for Ceramic Art in Tokoname (I.W.C.A.T) in Japan, where she had the opportunity to immerse herself in the local culture and interact with other artists from around the world. The experience greatly impacted her work, as she was inspired by the unique aesthetics of Japanese art and the techniques used by the local potters. She returned to her studio with new ideas and a fresh perspective, which she incorporated into her subsequent pieces.
Wendy utilizes various atmospheric firing techniques including Raku, Pit Firing, and Wood Firing. She employs both wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques to create her forms. Wendy often incorporates textures found in the natural world, as well as man-made imprints, into her pieces. She enjoys pushing the limits of the clay by intentionally encouraging the surface to crack, which adds an element of unpredictability to her work. She recently added a wood kiln to her studio, calling back to her formative years working in The Keys and in Japan.
Wendy recently completed an artist residency at the prestigious Hambidge Center for Arts and Sciences and is the recipient of the South Arts Individual Career Opportunity Grant.
