Michelle Summers
Akron, OH
michellesummersstudios@gmail.com
Born: Portland, Oregon, USA 1981
Education
2014 - MFA, Ceramics, University of Minnesota, MN
2005 - BFA, Ceramics, Alfred University, Alfred, NY
2001 - Coursework, Portland Community College, Portland, OR
Artist Residencies
2020 Pentaculum, Arrowmont School of Art and Craft, Gatlinburg, TN
2017-18 Artist in Residence, Holter Museum, Helena, MT
2015-17 Long-Term Resident, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
2014-15 Anonymous Potter, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Solo Exhibitions
2016- Digital Debut, Belger Crane Yard Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2007- Curious Cabinet, Feed Gallery, Bloomington, IN Group Exhibitions
Group Exhibitions
2025- Clay Fest, Saratoga Clay Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY
Simple Cup, KOBO Gallery, Seattle, WA
10th Annual Ceramics Invitational, Radius Gallery, Missoula
Sip: A Ceramic Cup Show, Savannah Clay Community, Savannah, GA
2024- NCECA Ashtrays Class or Trash, Abode Gallery, Richmond, Va
2023- Transference, Amelia Center Gallery, Gulf Coast State College, FL
NCECA Western Reserve Currents, Curated Storefront, Cincinnati, OH
Now & Then: Seven Decades of Kent State Ceramics, Kent, OH
2022- Other Lands, Monument Gallery, Hudson, NY
2021- Kindred Object, The Artists Archives of the Western Reserve, Cleveland, OH
Biennial Faculty Show, CVA Gallery, Kent, OH
2020- The Cup The Mug, Main Street Arts, Clifton Springs, NY
Sip: A Ceramic Cup Show, Savannah Clay Community, Savannah, GA
5th Annual Ceramics Invitational, Radius Gallery, Missoula, MT
2019- Art Mobile: Traveling Art Exhibition, MT
Art of Repetition, Gallery One Visual Arts Center, Ellensburg, WA
Montana Clay Tour, Mel Grin and David Peters Studio, Helena, MT
2018- Pipe Dream, Now Space, Los Angeles, CA
Handmade For Your Valentine, Clay Akar Gallery, Iowa City, IA
2017: Archie Bray at the Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, Spokane, WA
Second Year Archie Bray Fellowship Show, Holter Museum, Helena, MT
NCECA Bray Resident Artist Show, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, OR
2016: Archie Bray at the Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, Spokane, WA
2016: First Year Archie Bray Fellowship Show, Holter Museum, Helena, MT
2016: NCECA Bray Resident Artist Show, Belger Crane Yard Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2015: Closer, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
2015: The Fogelberg, Red Wing, and APS Artists exhibition, Minneapolis, MN
2015: Winter Ware, Circa Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2015: Plate, Mudfire Gallery, Decatur, GA
2014: Brown Study, UMN MFA Group Thesis Show, Minneapolis, MN
2014: Immersive Stages, NCECA, Milwaukee, WI
2014: Drink This, The Workhouse International Ceramic Cup Show, Lorton, VA
2014: Laundry Fresh, Quarter Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2014: Winter Ware, Circa Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2013: Minty Fresh, Quarter Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2012: Friends with Benefits, Quarter Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2012: Cups of Fire, National Competition, Clay Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI
2011: One and Only, John Michael Kohler, Sheboygan, WI
2011: Drink This, The Workhouse, Lorton, VA
2011: Fresh Works, Quarter Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2007: Impressions, Angie Newman Johnson Gallery, Alexandria, VA
Honors and Awards
2020: Best of Show, Sip a Ceramic Cup Show, Savannah Clay Community, Savannah, GA
2016: Lillstreet Art Center Fellow, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
2015: Joan Lincoln Fellow, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
2014: Anonymous Potter Studio Fellow, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
2013: Graduate Travel Research Grant, University of Minnesota, MN
2011: Best of Show: Drink This, The Workhouse, Lorton, VA
Academic Employment
2025–Present · Adjunct Instructor of Ceramic Arts
University of Akron & Cuyahoga Community College
● 2024 -25: Tri-C Community College, 3-D Art Lecturer, Highland Hills, OH
● 2019-2023: Assistant Professor of Art, Kent State, Kent, OH
● 2019: Travelling Art Instructor, Art Mobile Montana, Helena, MT
● 2014-2020: Freelance Community Educator
○ Lillstreet Art Center
○ Northern Clay Center
○ Archie Bray Foundation
○ Holter Museum
○ Crow Reservation High School
● 2014-15: Instructor of Ceramics and Art Appreciation, Concordia University, St. Paul, MN
● 2014: Instructor of Intermediate Ceramics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
● 2011-14: Teaching Assistant, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
● 2007-11: Community Education Instructor, Portland Community College, Portland, OR
● 2006-11: Ceramic Lab Tech, Portland Community College, Portland, OR
● 2006: Ceramic Coordinator and Arts Educator, Bucks Rock Arts Camp, New Milford, CT
● 2005: Ceramic Arts Educator, Bucks Rock Arts Camp, New Milford, CT
Artist Lectures
● 2025: Hot Dog Day Visiting Artist and Brat Off Juror, Ohio University, Athens, OH
● 2024: Visiting Artist Talk and Demonstration, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
● 2023: Visiting Artist Talk, Portland Community College, Portland, OR
● 2023: Artist Talk, Carleton College, Northfield, MN
● 2018: Ceramics and Community: Panel Talk, Holter Museum of Art, Helena, MT
● 2016: Visiting Artist Series, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA
● 2015: UM Bray Days; Annual Artist Lecture Series, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
● 2015: Visiting Artist Talk and Demonstrator, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
● 2013: Guest Artist Talk, Tokyo University, Tokyo Japan
● 2013: Artist Talk, Carleton College, Northfield, MN
Curated Exhibitions
● 2020: Kent State National Ceramics Invitational; Drawing the Line, Downtown Art Gallery, Kent, OH
Collections
● The Rosenfield Collection: Contemporary Functional Ceramic Art Collection, TX
Publications
● 2016: Ceramics: Contemporary Artists Working In Clay, by Kate Singleton
● 2013: Michelle Summers Interview, DPI Magazine, March 2013, Vol 167
● 2013: Exposure, Ceramics Monthly, February 2013, Vol 61, Number 2
