Mark Pharis
Encyclopedia
Mark Pharis is an American ceramic art
ist and professor
residing in Roberts, Wisconsin
. Pharis is currently the Chair of the Department of Art at the University of Minnesota
where he has been a faculty member since 1985. Pharis was a student of Warren MacKenzie
.
In an interview with Jeanne Quinn
(faculty member of the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Colorado at Boulder
) Quinn describes MacKenzie’s artistic strength as his very narrow focus in clay—his ability to work within a structured set of rules. Quinn queries Pharis about his own working with clay. Pharis responds stating that it is his choice to make functional vessels, he states: “I was in love with the whole functional world and I could operate confidently in that world—I like the fact that this is [function is] structured—functional pots happen in a certain framework, both defining and liberating at the same time. It is interesting to investigate the boundaries of that.” Pharis states: "I want my pots to have that potential to flip or alternate, to appear to be about use at one time, but to be visually independent and clear enough to be other than functional as well."
His exhibitions are numerous and his work can be found in the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum
, London, England, Gardner Museum, Toronto Canada, Arizona State University
, Tempe, AZ, Ferguson Collection, the Kansas City Art Institute, The Woodman Collection, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, Everson Museum, and Los Angeles County Museum of Art
, amongst others.
Ceramic art
In art history, ceramics and ceramic art mean art objects such as figures, tiles, and tableware made from clay and other raw materials by the process of pottery. Some ceramic products are regarded as fine art, while others are regarded as decorative, industrial or applied art objects, or as...
ist and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
residing in Roberts, Wisconsin
Roberts, Wisconsin
Roberts is a village in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 969 at the 2000 census. In 2009, the population was estimated to be 1,658, a 71.1% increase...
. Pharis is currently the Chair of the Department of Art at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
where he has been a faculty member since 1985. Pharis was a student of Warren MacKenzie
Warren MacKenzie
Warren MacKenzie is a North American craft potter. He grew up in Evanston, Illinois the second oldest of five children including his brothers, Fred and Gordon and sisters, Marge and Marilyn. His high school days were spent at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois.MacKenzie studied with...
.
Biography and Artwork
Mark Pharis studied ceramics at University of Minnesota [Minneapolis] with Warren MacKenzie. Between 1971 and 1985, Pharis was employed by many Universities (mostly Midwestern) as a visiting faculty member, sabbatical replacement and summer session faculty. During this time Pharis showed in many group and two person shows as well as several solo exhibitions. In 1985, Pharis began as a professor in the Department of Art at the University of Minnesota, where he has also served as the Chair of the Department.In an interview with Jeanne Quinn
Jeanne Quinn
Jeanne Quinn is an American ceramic artist who works primarily with installations. She has exhibited widely, including the Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver; Robischon Gallery, Denver; Greenwich House, New York; Grimmerhus Museum, Denmark; Formargruppen Gallery, Malmö, Sweden; Sculpturens Hus,...
(faculty member of the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
) Quinn describes MacKenzie’s artistic strength as his very narrow focus in clay—his ability to work within a structured set of rules. Quinn queries Pharis about his own working with clay. Pharis responds stating that it is his choice to make functional vessels, he states: “I was in love with the whole functional world and I could operate confidently in that world—I like the fact that this is [function is] structured—functional pots happen in a certain framework, both defining and liberating at the same time. It is interesting to investigate the boundaries of that.” Pharis states: "I want my pots to have that potential to flip or alternate, to appear to be about use at one time, but to be visually independent and clear enough to be other than functional as well."
His exhibitions are numerous and his work can be found in the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
, London, England, Gardner Museum, Toronto Canada, Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, Tempe, AZ, Ferguson Collection, the Kansas City Art Institute, The Woodman Collection, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, Everson Museum, and Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is an art museum in Los Angeles, California. It is located on Wilshire Boulevard along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles, adjacent to the George C. Page Museum and La Brea Tar Pits....
, amongst others.