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

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

-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

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Two Person Exhibitions

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

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Group Exhibitions

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

-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

-2012         P.O.S.T. Open Studio Show, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

                    The Cat Show, Practice Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

                    Small Favors VII, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

                    Tyler Student Show, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

                    NASAD Site Specific Project, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

-2011         Other Possible Titles, GrizzlyGrizzly, Philadelphia, PA

                    Our Community I, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia PA

                    TerraFirma, Temple Contemporary, Philadelphia, PA

                    Small Favors VI, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

                    Tyler Student Show, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

-2010        Small Favors V, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

                    Tyler Ceramics NCECA Showcase, Temple University, Philadelphia,PA

-2009       35th. Anniversary Auction, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia,PA

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Grants/Awards

-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

-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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Teaching/Professional Experience

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

• Classes taught: Handbuilding, Wheel Throwing, 3D/Multimedia, 2D Ceramics

• Ceramics Area coordinator

• Work Study 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