Biography 

Dennis Ritter’s work explores the roles of common objects –house plants, books, appliances, and keepsakes- as foundational markers for identity and memory. These objects are often juxtaposed with one another to create works that reference domestic spaces, second-hand sales, and the personal collection. Ritter’s sculptures are based in the ceramic medium, digital photography, and installation. His intention in working with these processes is to create illusions which elude to personal memories and cultural identities. The impetus for his work exists at the “blurred nexus of personal myth; an intersection of autobiography, family history, and literature.”

 

Dennis received his BFA from Tyler School of Art at Temple University and his MFA from The New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. A committed educator, Dennis has taught at the Tyler School of Art, Alfred University, and at Louisiana State University. He has also taught extensively in community arts programs in Philadelphia with The Clay Studio. Dennis Ritter is currently visiting assistant professor of Art at Berry College where he teaches ceramics and sculpture.

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CV

Education

-2015         Master of Fine Arts, NYSCC, Alfred University, Alfred, NY

-2012         Bachelor of Fine Arts, Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

-2000         Fine Arts/General Studies, Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA

                                                                                                                        

Solo Exhibitions

-2021         The Melancholy of Objects, Roy C. Moore Gallery, University of North Georgia, Gainesville, GA

-2019         Collect, Gather, and Assemble, Moon Gallery, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA

-2017         Black/1995, Resident Artist Show, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA

-2016         Daily Objects: Index and Context, Sella-Granata Gallery, Tuscaloosa, AL

                     Summery of Objects: Index and Context, 7 Elements Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA

-2015         inHabituation, Fosdick-Nelson Gallery, NYSCC, Alfred NY

-2012         Industrial-Suburbia, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA

-2010         Emergence II, Bird Park, Philadelphia, PA

-2009         Emergence, Bird Park, Philadelphia, PA

                                                                                                                        

Two Person Exhibitions

-2022         Untitled, collaboration with Grace Tessein, In Tandem Gallery, Bakersville, NC

-2020         Reverie, collaboration with Grace Tessein, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

 

Group Exhibitions

-2023         Wichita Ceramics National, Reuben Sanders Gallery, Wichita, KA

-2022         Wassaic Project Summer Exhibition, Wassaic Project, Wassaic, NY

                      Gathered V: Georgia Artists Selecting Georgia Artists, Museum of Contemporary Art Georgia,                                    Atlanta, GA

                      Gather, NCECA Sacramento, Elk Grove Fine Arts Center, Elk Grove, CA

-2021           Little Things Matter-Small Sculpture Exhibition, University of Southern Miss, Hattiesburg, MS

                      Into Darkness Peering, NCECA, Cincinnati Ohio (Virtual Exhibition)

                      The Table, NCECA Gallery Expo, The Signature Gallery, (Virtual Exhibition)

                       A Southern Census, New Orleans Clay Center, New Orleans, LA

-2020         Tableware Show, The Signature Gallery, Atlanta, GA

                      Small Favors 2020: Expanding the Field, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

-2019         Inspire Artists, Harbin Clinic Gallery, Rome, GA

                    NWGA Clay Exhibit, Rockmart Arts Center, Rockmart, GA

                    Clay Review 5, Abernathy Art Center, Sandy Springs, GA

                    Branching Out, Jacksonville State University, Hammond Gallery, Jacksonville, Al

                    Small Favors, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

-2018         Southern Mississippi Ceramics National, University of Southern Miss, Hattiesburg, MS

                    Tactic III, Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art, Augusta, GA

                    Southern Table, Mason-Scharfenstein Museum of Art, Demorest, GA

-2017         Small Favors: Think inside the Box, NCECA, The Clay Studio, Portland, OR

                    Confluence and Bifurcation, NCECA, Portland, OR

                    Tactic, NCECA, Portland, OR

                    Tactic II, Kennedy Museum of Art, Athens, Ohio

-2016         Food Fight, Practice Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

                     Ignoble in Between, Site-Lab, Grand Rapids, MI

                     Flora, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

-2015         Art in Craft Media, Burchfield-Penney Center, Buffalo, NY

                     Variance, Alfred 2015, The Wurks, NCECA, Providence, RI

                     Marge Kalodner Brown Graduate Show, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

-2014         Small Favors IX, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

-2013         PA Made, Goggle Works, Reading, PA

                     Show Clay, SCCA, Elizabethtown, PA

                    Our Community III, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

 

Teaching Experience

-2023-present        Assistant Professor of Fine Art, Berry College, Rome, GA

-2018-2022           Visiting Assistant Professor of Fine Art/Ceramics, Berry College, Rome, GA

• Classes taught: Handbuilding, Wheel Throwing, 3D/Multimedia, 2D Ceramics, Intermediate and Advanced Ceramics, Ceramics I, II, & III

• Ceramics Area coordinator

• Student Work supervisor

-2017-2018           Lecturer/Teaching Resident, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA

• Classes taught: Advanced Ceramics, Graduate Seminar: Research and Group Critique, Beginning Handbuilding, and Intermediate Ceramics: Molds, Multiples, and Installation

-2016-2017           Adjunct Assistant Professor, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA

• Classes taught: Intermediate Ceramics, Beginning Ceramics (BFA Majors), Ceramic Materials and Process, and Advanced Ceramics

-2015 Baton Rouge Community College, Baton Rouge, LA

Alfred Summer Intensive Teaching Assistant, NYSCC, Alfred University, Alfred, NY

• Big Clay II with Walter McConnell

Foundations Teaching Assistant, NYSCC, Alfred University, Alfred, NY

• MakeLab with Jason Greene

NYSCC, Alfred University, Alfred, NY

-2014                     Beginning Ceramics, Teacher of Record, NYSCC, Alfred University, Alfred, NY

Alfred Summer Intensive Teaching Assistant, NYSCC, Alfred University, Alfred, NY

• Big Clay with Walter McConnell

Graduate Teaching Assistant, NYSCC, Alfred University, Alfred, NY

• Sophomore Handbuilding with Walter McConnell

-2013                     Graduate Teaching Assistant, NYSCC, Alfred University, Alfred, NY

• Modeling and Moldmaking with John Gill

-2011                     Diamond Peer Teacher Tyler School of Art, assisted Chad Curtis, Beginning Ceramics

-2009-11               Clay Camp Instructor, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

-2010                     Teaching Assistant, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA ,

• Beginning Ceramics

-2008-13               Claymobile Teaching Artist, Claymobile Outreach Program, Philadelphia

 

 

Curatorial

-2022         Gather, NCECA Sacramento, Elk Grove Fine Arts Center, Elk Grove, CA

-2015         Variance, Alfred 2015, The Wurks, NCECA, Providence, RI (co-organizer)

 

Bibliography

-2022         Gather (exhibition catalog), Stormy Cat Press (self-published, edition of 100), Ritter, D. (Ed.).

-2015         Variance, A Survey of Graduate Student Work at Alfred University. Exhibition Catalog.

                      Art in Craft Media, Burchfield-Penney Art Center, Buffalo NY. Exhibition Catalog. Pgs. 100-101

-2014         The Complete Guide to Mid-Range Glazes. John Britt. Pgs. 54, 89.

 

Grants/Awards

-2021        Faculty Scholarship Grant for Gather exhibition and catalog, Berry College

                  Academic Community Engagement (ACE) course development grant, Berry College

-2018         Honorable Mention, Southern Mississippi Ceramics National, University of Southern Miss,

Hattiesburg, MS

-2016         Windgate Craft Fellowship, The Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT

-2015         Funding Award for Alfred NCECA Graduate Show, NYSCC, Alfred, NY

-2014         Artist invite Artists, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, ME

-2012         Rudolf Staffel Award for Excellence in Ceramics, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA

-2012         Kiln God Residency Scholarship, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, ME

-2012         Dean’s Grant, Project Completion Award, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA

-2011         Diamond Peer Teachers Award, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA

 

Residencies

-2023                     Guest Resident Artist, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

-2017-18               Ceramics Teaching Resident, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA

-2016-17               Tyler School of Art Ceramics Resident Artist, Philadelphia, PA

-2016                     Vermont Studio Center, Windgate Craft Fellowship, Johnson, VT

-2014                     Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, ME

-2012                     Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, ME

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Other Professional Experience

-2023         Slab Building Workshop and Artist talk (w/ Grace Tessein), The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

Visiting Artist Talk, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY

-2021         Artist talk for The Melancholy of Objects, University of North Georgia, Gainesville, GA

-2020         Virtual Artist Talk with Grace Tessein for Reverie

                  The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

-2019         Visiting Artist Workshop with Grace Tessein

                  Chastain Arts Center, Atlanta                                                            

-2018         Visiting Artist, Lecture and Demonstration

Tulane University, New Orleans, LA

-2016         Visiting Artist Lecture

University of Alabama Ceramics, Tuscaloosa, AL

Visiting Artist Lecture and Handbuilding Workshop

Baton Rouge Community College, Baton Rouge, LA

Visiting Artist Lecture and Handbuilding Workshop

Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA

Education/Outreach Coordinator and Technical Associate

Southern Pottery and Equipment, Baton Rouge, LA

-2015         Guest Artist for Mid-term and Final Critiques for Advanced Ceramics

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA

-2014         Systems for Construction, Handbuilding Workshop

The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

-2013         Electric Kiln Firing and Maintenance Workshops

The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

-2012-13   Studio and Facilities Manager

The Clay Studio, Philadelphia PA

-2008-10   Senior Studio Technician

The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA