Thanks largely to the 40-year teaching career at Iowa of Bunny McBride (1938-2021), our ceramics program has long been recognized as among the finest in the nation.
McBride displayed work and gave talks around the world. Equally important, he passed on his skills and knowledge to generations of artist, creating a network of artists and teachers in the discipline that the National Council on the Education of Ceramic Arts nicknamed the "Iowa Connection."
Iowa's reputation as a center of innovation for ceramics continues today. Our faculty and students work in state-of-the-art studios equipped with essential tools for creating work that both respects tradition and pushes the boundaries of the form. They regularly display work throughout Iowa, across the nation, and around the world—including in biennial faculty art exhibitions on the UI campus—and give presentations and lectures.
Ceramics studio features
- Seven microprocessor/computer controlled Geil reduction kilns:
- Two large car kilns (82 and 54 cubic feet)
- Three 30 cubic feet
- One 20 cubic feet
- One 12 cubic feet
- All gas kilns can be remote operated from smart phones or computers with VPN connection.
- Nine computerized electric kilns ranging in size from large oval to test kiln size of various brands (Skutt, L&L, ConeArt).
- Two Bailey de-airing pugmills
- Two Soldner mixers
- Complete ventilated glaze mixing and application area, including:
- Three high quality digital scales
- Several triple beam balances
- Spray booth
- Bailey pneumatic extruder
- Manual extruders
- Hammer mill
- Ball mall
- Three 3D delta-based ceramic paste extrusion printers
- Makerbot Replicator 3D Printer
- 3D scanner
- Carbide 3D 4x4' CNC Router
- 24" vinyl plotter
- DCT digital ceramic decal printer
- Slab rollers
- Potter's wheels
- Mold making and plaster equipment in large dedicated space
- Slip blungers
- State-of-the-art OSHA compliant ventilation systems
Ceramics showcases and exhibitions
Ceramics students showcase in Colorado
Students and faculty from six major research universities gathered at the annual CIRCA Ceramics symposium to foster connections and share their work. Three faculty members and 12 students represented the University of Iowa.
Students featured in national ceramics exhibition
Out of 243 applicants, four students showed their work during the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts’ Juried Student Exhibition at the Reed Gallery in Cincinatti, Ohio.
Visiting speakers in ceramics
- 2024
Deshun Peoples
- 2023
Amanda Salov
Lin Chun
Antonio & Paula Pinto
Lindsay Pichaske
Jess Riva Cooper
Christina West - 2022
Paul S. Briggs
Paul Maloney
Lilly Powell
Adam Puryear
Iren Tete (virtual)
Eleanna Anagnos (virtual)
Jessica Shae (virtual)
Shannon Goff
Amy Santoferraro
Jesse Ring
Iren Tete
Margaret Bohls
Qwist Joseph
Kim Dickey
Andrew Quintero-Castaneda - 2021
Wesley Brown (virtual)
Brittany Mojo (virtual)
Jenni Sorkin (virtual)
Zach Tate (virtual) - 2020
Dirk Staschke
Guy Marshall-Brown (virtual)
Alanna Derocchi (virtual)
Lindsay Pichaske (virtual)
Ling Chun (virtual)
Naomi Dalglish (virtual)
Matthew Mitros (virtual)
Salvador Jimenez-Flores (virtual)
Robert Lugo (virtual)
Julia Haft Candell (virtual) - 2019
Brett Binford
Glenn Barkley
King Houndekpinkou
David Hicks
Mindy Solomon
Jeremy Chen
Del Harrow - 2018
Linda Lopez
Kahlil Irving
Peter Aguero
Brian Rochefort
Hiromi Iyoda - 2017
Steven Young Lee
Dawn Dishaw
Ryan Schnerel
Fran Rudolph
Jillian Moore
Matt Ziemke - 2016
Joanna Powell
- 2015
Pattie Chalmers
Mathew McConnell
Steven Hill - 2014
Rick Hintze
- 2012
Don Bendel
- 2011
Richard Notkin
Richard Notkin
Heidi Preuss Grew
Brian Boldon - 2010
Israel Davis
Christa Assad
Josh DeWeese
Lorna Meaden - 2009
Jason Briggs
Tara Wilson
Ted Adler
Don Reitz - 2008
Al Tennant
Chuck Hindes
Ceramics faculty
Andrew Casto
