Experience is the best teacher

 

Curriculum Vitae

The lines and marks in a figurative ceramic sculpture tell you the structural and decorative cuts and movements made by an artist. A CV reveals a similar exploration and achievements of an artist’s lifelong practice.

  • 15

    Solo exhibitions

  • 70

    Group exhibitions

  • 4

    Awards & Honors

  • 4

    Selected collections

  • 10

    Publications

  • 12

    Artist lectures

  • 16

    Workshops

  • 1

    Residencies

  • 6

    Associations

Education

Master of Fine Arts (1994), San Francisco State University, Outstanding M.F.A. Candidate, Art Department

Bachelor of Arts, Studio (1984), University of California, Santa Cruz, University of California, Santa Cruz Chancellor’s Grant (1983)


Teaching

Tenured Professor of Ceramics and Sculpture (2002-present), San Jose City College, Department of Fine Arts, Division of Humanities and Social Science


Selected Bibliography

  • 31 Women, Catalogue, Whitney Modern (2020)

  • Bay Area Clay - A Legacy of Social Consciousness, Catalogue (2017)

  • Art and Perception International - Issue 96 (2014)

  • 500 Figures, Lark Press (2014)

  • Michelle Gregor, John Natsoulas Press (2013)

  • Art and Perception International - Issue 88 (2012)

  • 30 Ceramic Sculptors, John Natsoulas Press (2012)

  • Hands in Clay, by Speight and Toki. Mayfield Publishing (2006) 

  • Artweek, “Michelle Gregor @ Space 743” (2001, 1995)

  • Damn Fine Art by New Lesbian Artists, by Cherry Smyth, Cassell Publishing (1996)



Selected Visiting Artist Lectures and Workshops

  • John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA (2020, 2021)

  • Gaya Ceramic Center, Bali Indonesia (2018)

  • Harvard University, Office for the Arts at Harvard, Allston, MA (2018)

  • Sonoma Community Center, Sonoma, CA (2018)

  • Estudio Paloma, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (2017-2019)

  • Mendocino Art Center, Mendocino, CA (2016-2019)

  • Sierra Nevada College, Incline Village, NV (2012, 2015) 

  • Mills College, Oakland, CA (2013)

  • National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Panel, John Natsoulas Gallery, Seattle, WA (2012)

  • San Jose State University, Art Academy and Artist Talks (Sabbatical Research), San Jose, CA (2011) 

  • California Conference for Advancement Ceramic Art (2011, 2018, 2020)

  • Merritt College, Oakland, CA (2005-2007, 2016)

  • Cabrillo College, Santa Cruz, CA (2006)

  • San Jose State University, San Jose, CA (2003)

  • State University of New York, Plattsburg, NY (1997)

  • Pence Gallery, Davis, CA, Lecture “Expressive Figures in Form” (1997)



Selected Commissions and Collections

  • American Museum of Ceramic Arts, Pomona, CA, The Oracle acquisition (2013)

  • Bronze Exterior Freize, Olympic Club, San Francisco, CA Public Sculpture Installation (2004)

  • Private Architectural Residential Commissions - August Company, Oakland, CA (1995-2004)

  • Architectural Tile Mural Installations, The Spa at Pebble Beach, Pebble Beach, CA (2002) 


Solo Exhibitions

  • Michelle Gregor, Brumfield Gallery, Astoria, OR (2022) (upcoming)

  • Michelle Gregor, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA (2022) (upcoming)

  • Solo Exhibition, Udinotti Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ (2021)

  • Michelle Gregor, Brumfield Gallery, Astoria, OR (2020)

  • Confluence, San Jose City College Art Gallery, San Jose, CA (2019)

  • Confluence: Michelle Gregor, John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA (2018)

  • Susan Cooley-Gilliom Artist in Residence: Michelle Gregor, Blue Line Arts, Roseville, CA (2018)

  • Tributary, Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Solano, CA (2016)

  • Aeviterna, John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA (2013) (catalogue)

  • New Work, Roscoe Gallery, Oakland, CA (2017, 2013)

  • Whirl, Space 743, San Francisco, CA (2005)

  • One Hundred Heads and Hands, Space 743, San Francisco, CA (2003)

  • inVocation, Space 743, San Francisco, CA (2000)

  • Soul’s Container, Space 743, San Francisco, CA (1997)

  • New Work, Space 743, San Francisco, CA (1995)

  • Expressive Figures in Form, Pence Gallery, Davis, CA (1995) 


Selected Group Exhibitions

  • Tree of Ceramics, NCECA Group Concurrent Exhibition, 56th Annual Conference of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, Fertile Ground, John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA (2022) (upcoming)

  • Tap Roots, NCECA Group Concurrent Exhibition, 56th Annual Conference of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, Fertile Ground, Epperson Gallery of Ceramic Arts, Crockett, CA (2022) (upcoming)

  • Relics and Rebirth, NCECA Group Concurrent Exhibition, 56th Annual Conference of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, Fertile Ground, Sacramento Fine Arts Center, Sacramento, CA (2022) (upcoming)

  • 30 Ceramic Sculptors, John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA (2010-2021)

  • Continuous Clay: Trends & Innovations, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art (MarinMOCA), Novato, CA (curated by Jeff Downing, Professor of Art and Head of Ceramics at San Francisco State University, CA) (2021)

  • Bay Area Figurative, John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA (2021)

  • Summer Group Show, Whitney Modern, Los Gatos, CA (2020)

  • Group Exhibition, Udinotti Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ (2020)

  • Surface, Place and Time, Toby’s Feed Barn, Pt. Reyes Station, CA (2020)

  • 31 Women, Whitney Modern, Los Gatos, CA (curated by Marianne McGrath, art historian, curator, art consultant and educator, Los Gatos, CA; with Karen Gutfreund, artist, activist, curator, Yosemite, CA; and Suzanne Whitney-Smedt, owner/director, Whitney Modern, Los Gatos, CA) (2020) (catalogue)

  • Bay Area Clay: A Legacy of Social Consciousness, Pence Gallery, Davis, CA (curated by Lisa Reinertson, artist, Davis, CA) (2018) (catalogue)

  • Deconstructing The Conversation, National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Exhibition, Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA (2018)

  • Sculptural Objects Functional Art (SOFA) Chicago, IL (2012-2015, 2017-2019, 2022) (upcoming)

  • Bay Area Clay, A Legacy of Social Consciousness, National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Exhibition, The Hoffman Gallery of Contemporary Art, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR and Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia, CA (curated by Lisa Reinertson, artist, Davis, CA) (2017) (catalogue)

  • Go Figure ~ The Human Body in Clay, The Potters' Studio, Berkeley, CA (2017)

  • Omnus Terra, NCECA Gallery 114, Portland, OR (2017)

  • Body Language, Ice House Gallery, Petaluma, CA (2017)

  • 7th Annual Art of Painting in the 21st Century: Exhibition, with Solo Exhibition by Avery Palmer and Kristen Napier, John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA (2016) (catalogue)

  • La Nino, SMAart Gallery & Studio, San Francisco, CA (2016)

  • Brea Invitational Glass and Ceramic Exhibition—ACGA, City of Brea Art Gallery, Brea, CA (curated by Mary Bayard White for glass, artist/educator, Oakland, CA, and Lana Wilson for Clay, artist/writer, Berkeley, CA) (2015)

  • Cross Pollination, Art Ark Gallery, San Jose, CA (2015)

  • Oakland Museum Art Guild Studio Tour, Oakland, CA (2014)

  • California Style, John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA (2013)

  • Figuratively Speaking, SMAart Gallery & Studio, San Francisco, CA (curated by Steven Allen, artist, San Francisco, CA) (2013-2015)

  • Body language, Figures in Clay, Skyline College Art Gallery, San Bruno, CA (2013)

  • Ceramics Annual of America, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA (2010-2012)

  • ACGA Exhibition, The Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz, CA (2011)

  • Transcendent, Pence Gallery, Davis, CA (curated by Kathleen Hanna, artist, Petaluma, CA) (2010)

  • Innovations in Contemporary Craft, Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA (2010)

  • People’s Choice Award Las Cadre - 21st Century Groove, Pacific Grove Art Center, Pacific Grove, CA (2010)

  • Firing a Legacy: David Kuraoka & San Francisco State University, Pence Gallery, Davis, CA (2009)

  • Las Cadre: Craft Masters, Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA (2009)

  • Community Clay, College of Marin Fine Arts Gallery, Kentfield, CA (2009)

  • Exploring the Surface, Pence Gallery, Davis, CA (2008)

  • Indoor Sculpture Competition, City of Santa Clara, CA (2007) First Place Award

  • Sculpture Competition, City of Santa Clara, CA (2006) Second Place Award

  • Strange Days, Pacific Rim Sculptors Group, The Atrium Gallery, San Francisco, CA (2005)

  • Garden Gallery Walk, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA (1994-1998)

  • California Clay Competition, The Artery, Davis, CA (1993-1997)

  • Delirium, OPTS Arts, San Francisco, CA (1994)

  • West Coast Clay: The New Breed, California Crafts Museum, San Francisco, CA (1993)

  • Manifestazione Ceramica, Savona, Italy (1990)



Selected Awards and Honors

  • Indoor Sculpture Competition, City of Santa Clara, CA (2007) First Place Award

  • Sculpture Competition, City of Santa Clara, CA (2006) Second Place Award

  • Outstanding M.F.A. Candidate, Art Department (1994)

  • University of California, Santa Cruz Chancellor’s Grant (1983)



Residencies

  • Susan Cooley-Gilliom (SCG) Artist in Residence and Teaching (ART) Program, Blue Line Arts, Roseville, CA (2018)



Professional Associations and Experience

  • Art Axis, member (2015-present)

  • Board of Directors - Association of Clay and Glass Artists (ACGA) (2008-2014)

  • Juror, California Clay Competition, CCACA, Artery, Davis CA (2013)

  • Palm Ceramics - Design and production of one of kind tableware (1993-2015)

  • National sales - include Whitney Museum Store, L.A. County Museum Store

  • International sales - Japan, France, and Canada

 
 
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“Michelle Gregor’s figurative ceramic sculptures evoke a timeless and yet contemporary expression of the human condition embodied in the exploration of “woman” as subject. Michelle handles the clay medium and her rich color palette with a process-oriented and intuitive approach that resonates from her Bay Area roots and her deep understanding of Abstract Expressionism. Her female figures are solid and strong, as they carry both their mortal history and the beauty of their spirits intact.”
— Lisa Reinertson, Artist and Exhibition Curator
Bay Area Clay: A Legacy of Social Consciousness (2017)
 

Q: Do you have a sense of connection to a particular woman artist from art history?

 
 

A: When I was a young girl, I spent a lot of time in our small town library. I recall being particularly interested in the art section and was perplexed why there were so few books on women artists. I remember counting only three books with women’s names on the spine (O’Keeffe, Imogen Cunningham and one other). From that day on, I have relentlessly pursued finding everything I can about women artists and their creative processes. I still recall the thrill of discovering Artemisia Gentileschi. As far as specific artists and their work, I’m deeply enamored of Joan Mitchell’s paintings.

 

Got a question?

Ask away. I love to chat with art collectors, galleries, curators and members of the media about my sculpture and painting practice, teaching and the growing field of contemporary ceramics.

 
“One can also find the wonderful sensibilities of Voulkos and De Staebler in the way Gregor handles the clay in a push-and-pull movement. The arms of her figures can appear like wings, similar to DeStaebler’s winged figures. These techniques result in powerful, strong, and heavy sculptures that have an immense volume to them.”
— John Natsoulas, Owner, Natsoulas Gallery
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Biography

Heavily influenced by Greek, French and Southeast Asian sculpture, Gregor often remarks that our perception of Classical works includes their now fragmentary nature.

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Studio

The communal aspect of the art studio has felt like my spiritual home. I’ve always been drawn to creative people, they are the source of my greatest wealth, my artist family.

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Artist Statement

Exploring the territory somewhere between representation and abstraction, to practice sculpture is to be deeply humbled by its treasures, exquisite and remarkable.