About
Sophie is a cat mom, teacher, and maker of things based in the Detroit Metro area. She earned her BFA in Ceramics at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2014, and her MFA of Ceramics at the University of Cincinnati in 2016. She was a recipient of the International Sculpture Center’s 2016 Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award.
She currently teaches courses at Schoolcraft College, Oakland Community College, Macomb Community College, as well as various workshops at The Hawk Community Center in Farmington Hills.
Artist Statement
My work is an exploration into the politics of design. Each element, reference, decoration comes from its own time with its own baggage. I focus on the redesign of objects steeped in tradition using humor and camp to blur the lines between “appropriate” in regards to sex, gender, pop culture, and kitsch.
My making practice is fluid, including not only ceramics, but also textiles, installation, and most importantly: glitter. The act of mold-making allows me to recreate and transform traditional objects and vessels and recontextualize them within the modern social landscape. I am specifically interested in notions of function and utility and how these affect not only the dynamics of design, but also the dynamics between maker and user.
%20(1)_edited_edite.jpg)
Teaching Philosophy
I care deeply for the success of my students, and strive to create a classroom environment grounded in constructive, productive conversations that are aimed at improvement throughout a student's work rather than as a means to a grade. I aim to help them develop not only as students, but as critically thinking makers. I employ a student-centered approach of inquiry-based learning – allowing students to discover the answers to questions that arise during the making process. “Failures” are as much of a learning experience as the successes.
I want my students to take personal pride in the level of craftsmanship, care, and thought that they invest in their work. I connect my students to contemporary ceramic and sculptural discourse as well as current social issues by challenging them with questions about what their art means, what it is accomplishing, and why it matters in the contemporary world.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2014 - 2016 MFA Ceramics - University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
2010 - 2014 BFA Art & Design - New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, NY Magna Cum Laude, Alfred University Scholar
2009 - 2010 Art & Design - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Dean’s List
Relevant Employment
Aug 2024 - Current Adjunct Faculty - Macomb Community College, Clinton Township, MI
Art Appreciation
Sep 2023 - Current Art Department Faculty Representative - Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI
Sep 2023 - Current Cultural Arts Specialist - The Hawk Community Center, Farmington Hills, MI
Handbuild Platters, Sip & Spin, Vino & Vases, Ornaments, Handbuilt Vases
Sep 2021 - Current Adjunct Faculty - Oakland Community College, Auburn Hills, MI
Sculpture, Introduction to Ceramics, Intermediate Handbuilding, Wheel-throwing I & II
Jan 2020 - Current 3D Art Lab Coordinator - Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI
May 2017 - Current Adjunct Assistant Professor - Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI
Sculpture, Ceramic Theory & Elements I, II, III, & IV
Apr 2021 - Dec 2021 Art Lab Technician/Contract Instructor - The Hawk Community Center, Farmington Hills, MI
Tile-making & Handbuilding
Aug 2017 - Jan 2020 Bulb Glazing Team Lead/Glaze Engineer/Glaze-a-tile Instructor, Motawi Tileworks, Ann Arbor, MI
Feb 2017 - Aug 2017 CEPD Lab Coordinator - Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI
Jan 2015 - May 2016 Instructor of Record - University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Basic Ceramics for non-majors, Intro Ceramics
Aug 2014 - May 2016 Studio Technician - University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Sep 2011 - May 2012 Grinding Room Attendant - Alfred Claystore, Alfred, NY
Residencies, Artist Talks, Workshops
2020 Presenting Artist - Artist Talk, Rovin Ceramics, Ann Arbor, MI
Demonstrating Artist - Large Scale Handbuilding, Rovin Ceramics, Ann Arbor, MI
2016 Presenting Artist - MFA Thesis Exhibition Artist Talk, 21c Hotel, Cincinnati, OH
2015 Presenting Artist - Lightning Round Artist Talks, Sculpture X Symposium, Detroit, MI
Visiting Resident Artist - The Pottery Workshop, Jingdezhen, China
2014 Presenting Artist - Artist Talk, The Pottery Workshop, Jingdezhen, China
Visiting Resident Artist - The Pottery Workshop, Jingdezhen, China
Select Group Exhibitions
2024 Michigan Ceramic Art Association Biennial & Competition - Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham, MI
Bodyworks - The Jam Handy, Detroit, MI
2023 Every Body - Gutman Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI
2022 Dorchester Art in the Yard - Butter Castle Studios, Royal Oak, MI
2019 Clay Bodies - Clay Center of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA (juried)
2018 The Body: Power, Meaning, and Representation in Contemporary Art - Washington State University, Pullman, WA (juried)
TrustArt Trade - Adrian Center for the Arts, Adrian, MI
Material: Hard + Soft - Patterson-Appleton Arts Center, Denton, TX (juried)
2017 Unconventional - Dayton Society of Artists, Dayton, OH, Best in Show (juried)
Currents 2017 Perception: Color and Content - Gary R. Libby Gallery, Gainesville, FL (juried)
Juicy - The Front, New Orleans, LA
2016 Southern Miss Ceramics National - Southern Mississippi University, Hattiesburg, MS (juried)
Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Traveling Exhibition - Grounds for Sculpture, New Hamiltion, NJ (juried)
After the Pedestal - The Sculpture Center, Cleveland, OH (juried)
Post-Local USA - Clay Street Press, Cincinnati, OH
Director’s Choice Exhibition - Reed Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
International Sculpture Day - Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park, Hamilton, OH
MFA Thesis Exhibition - Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH
Size Matters - Rare View Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2015 Post-local - Mufei Gallery, Jingdezhen, China
Get Stoned - 840 Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
Do it for Drizzy - 840 Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
Open Studios - Rare View Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
One and Done - Rare View Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
Morph - 840 Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
Stay Handsome - Clay Street Press, Cincinnati, OH
2014 One Artist One Sheep - Mufei Gallery, Jingdezhen, China
[Enjoy] The Show - Ease Gallery, Columbus, OH
Open Studios - Rare View Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
BFA Thesis Exhibition - New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred, NY
Guerilla Shows - Art Walk, Alfred, NY
From the Eye to the Heart - Robert C. Turner Gallery, Alfred, NY
Awards & Scholarships
2017 Best in Show - Unconventional, Dayton Society of Artists
2016 Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture - International Sculpture Center
DAAPworks Director’s Choice Winner - University of Cincinnati
2014 - 2016 Graduate Scholarship - University of Cincinnati
2014 - 2015 International Travel Grant - University of Cincinnati
2014 Alfred Clay Collective Undergraduate Development Grant - Alfred University
The Bernstein Fund for Student Development - Alfred University
Alfred University School of Art and Design Professional Development Grant - Alfred University
2013 Peter’s Valley Craft Education Center Summer Workshop Scholarship - Alfred University
2012 - 2014 Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
2010 - 2014 Alfred University Presidential Scholarship - Alfred University
Alfred University Dean’s List - Alfred University
2009 - 2010 University of Michigan Dean’s List - University of Michigan
Publications
“The International Sculpture Center 2016 Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Awards.”, Josh Reiman, Sculpture, vol. 35, no. 8, 13 Oct. 2016, p. 56.
“Chubby Bunny.”, Arin Moyer & Shelby Wauligman, Cooperative, vol. 1, 2016, pp. 8–11., http://shelbywauligman.com/content/cooperative_volume-01_digital-version.pdf.
Permanent Collections
2016 Sorrynotsorry - Anderson Township, OH