Brett Wallerstein earned an MFA in ceramic arts at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland in 2021 and a BFA at Tyler School of Art, Temple University in 1993. He has taught ceramics and art at every grade level for the past thirty years and is an adjunct professor in the Ceramic/Art Department of Rowan College of Burlington County. He has been an associate artist at the Clay Studio in Philadelphia, but currently maintains a studio at home just outside Philadelphia in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He creates his whimsical sculptural forms in porcelain inspired by diminutive organic forms that usually contain beautiful fractal patterns when examined closely.
Wallerstein has participated in regional, national, and international juried shows both solo and group exhibitions. Currently, he is exhibiting in the 2022 Ellarslie Open 39 at the Trenton Museum in New Jersey for the second year in a row. His work has been published in various magazines including Ceramics Monthly, Arts & Activities, Dwell Magazine, Atomic Ranch, and Modern Magazine: Design, Architecture, & Decorative Arts.
In an increasingly complex world, my sculptures explore the connection between nature and the feeling of tranquility through the creation of abstract biomorphic porcelain sculptures. Inspiration from ordered organic structures and fractal patterns found in nature can be seen in my work, which can evoke a sense of calmness when appreciating the order that can be observed in nature. My process and work explore the connection between the feeling of serenity, nature, abstract biomorphic sculpture, the viewer, and the act of sculpting. Left unglazed, the form's surface remains pure and simple, drawing attention to its bold silhouette and graceful movement. Polished sheens are often produced on the surfaces bringing out the beautiful characteristics of the porcelain. Inspired by organic structures and fractal patterns found in nature, special design features are fabricated in the sculpting process to address the larger goal of creating work that takes the viewer to a tranquil place.
Brett Wallerstein____________________________________________
Education
Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts, 1993
Bachelor of Science in Art Education, 1993
(Attended Rhode Island School of Design (1989-1990)
Gratz College, Philadelphia, PA
Masters of Arts in Education, 2003 Summa Cum Laude.
The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Earned over 40 additional graduate credits in ceramics, painting and studio arts, computer arts/technology, and art history
Hood College, Frederick, MD
Master of Fine Arts in Ceramic Arts, 2021
Major Exhibitions
2022 Trenton City Museum Show, Ellarslie Open 39, Trenton, NJ
2021 Trenton City Museum Show, Ellarslie Open 37/38, Trenton, NJ
2020 Small Favors, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2020 Collective Voices, Associate Artists Exhibit, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2018 Organic Art, solo exhibition, Show of Hands Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2018 Fractals of Nature, solo exhibition for Masters of Art, Hodson Gallery, Tatem Arts Center, Hood College, Frederick, MD
2012 Three Contemporary Raku Ceramic Artists, featuring the works of Fran Leyenberger, Joyce Inderbitzin and Brett Wallerstein, Show of Hands Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2011 Bubble Pots, solo exhibition, Crestmont Gallery, Collingswood, NJ
2011 Altered Forms in Raku, solo exhibition, Soha Arts Galleries, Haddon Township, NJ
Juried Craft Shows/ Arts Festivals
2013 Bucks County Guild of Craftsmen Exhibition, Show of Hands Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2013 Annual Graduate Student Show, Hodson Gallery, Hood College, Frederick, MD
2013 Gift of Art , Markeim Arts Center Gallery, Haddonfield, NJ
2013 Fine Crafts at the Winery, Bucks County Guild of Craftsmen, New Hope, PA
2012 Haddonfield Crafts and Fine Arts Festival, Haddonfield NJ
2011 Ruttenberg Fine Arts Invitational Exhibition, Manhattan, NY
2011 Haddonfield Crafts and Fine Arts Festival,, Haddonfield, PA
2011 Collingswood Fine Arts Festival, Collingswood, NJ
Galleries
Currently represented by Show of Hands Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Awards
2020 The Penland School of Craft Scholarship, Bakersville, NC
2020 The John & Robyn Horn Foundation Scholarship, Pocosin Arts (School of Fine Craft), Columbia, NC
2014 The Peter’s Valley School of Craft Art Teacher’s Scholarship Layton, NJ
2011 Ardmore Toyota Award, Best in Show in ceramics, Main Line Art Center Exhibition
Publications
Ceramics Monthly, Featured Artists at Hood College Gallery Openings, April 2018
Arts& Activities Magazine: Biomorphic Creations in Clay, February 2017
Dwell Magazine, Hunt with the Hounds, May/June 2017
Atomic Ranch, Preservation & Personality, winter, 2015
Modern Magazine: Design, Architecture,& Decorative Arts, spring, 2013
Teaching and Professional Experience
30 years of experience of teaching Ceramics/Fine Arts in Neshaminy School District, Langhorne, PA including the following:
Carl Sandburg Middle School Art Teacher and Department Head, Levittown, PA, 1998- Present
Pearl S. Buck Elementary Art Teacher, Levittown, PA, 1994-1998,
Neshaminy High School Art Teacher, Langhorne, PA, Advanced Art Program, 1993-1994
Neshaminy Summer Fine Arts Teacher, Maple Point Middle School, Langhorne, PA, 2000
Other Teaching Positions:
Adjunct Professor of Ceramic Arts: Rowan College of Burlington County, winter-spring semester, 2017 –present
Ceramics Instructor: Yay Clay, Philadelphia, Pa., spring-summer 2017
Ceramics Instructor: teacher workshop A Day In Clay, Maple Point Middle School, Langhorne, PA, 2013
Ceramics Instructor (co-taught): raku one-day workshop for art teachers, Into the Fire, Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA, 2010
Photographer Instructor: Summer Fine Arts Program at Bucks County Community College
Arts Instructor (Foreign Exchange Summer Program, Columbia University, Manhattan, NY, summer, 1998
Recent Ceramic Workshops Attended
Transformation in Form & Surface with CJ Jilek, Pocosin Arts School of Fine Crafts, Columbia, NC, summer, 2020
Building Structures with Paperclay with Shiyuan Xu, Penland School of Craft, Bakersville, NC, summer 2020
Testing the Limits of Porcelain with Jennifer McCurdy, Santa Fe Clay, NM, summer 2019
Ceramic Sculpture with Claudia Matroba, The Clay Studio, PA, summer, 2016
Elegantly Altered with Martha Grover, Sugar Maple Art Center, NY, summer, 2015
Approaches to Slab Built Sculpture with Dan Molyneux, Peters Valley Craft Center, NJ, spring, 2015
Mold Making and Slip Casting with Wynn Bauer, The Clay Studio, PA, winter, 2015
Firing the Anagama Kiln with Simon Levine, Peters Valley Craft Center, NJ, summer, 2014
Ceramic Decal Workshop with Sharon Bartman, Conshohocken, PA, spring, 2014
Alternative Firing with Bob Green, Bennington, VT, summer, 2013