I have always loved throwing on the wheel.
For the first ten years or so, I threw
strictly functional pottery, but
slowly the traditional pieces
began to evolve into a sort of
"funk"tional pottery, such
as a camel toothbrush
holder, a walrus
menorah, and giraffe
candlesticks.
I found
myself drawn
to animals with
exaggerated features,
such as the wondrous
rhinoceros, because of the
way that I manipulate the clay.
Collapsing the cylinders of soft clay
creates the folds that lend a unique
character to each piece and stamp it
with my signature. For coloring, a
wash of manganese and iron or
underglazes are added to these
creatures, which are then
fired to cone ten. The
eyes are glazed to give
them depth.
Patricia Uchill Simons
B.S. in Design. University of Michigan.
M.F.A. in Ceramics. University of Chicago.
M.A.E. in Ceramics. Rhode Island School of Design.
Shows include
Hot Tea 2!, Del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, 11
Menagerie of the Mind, Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, WI, 10
Tea by the Sea, Newport Potters Guild, RI,
Creatures of the Tea, Skera Gallery, Northampton, MA,
House and Garden Designer Showcase, Southampton, NY.
Glaze Storm Show, Indianapolis, IN,
AMACO/Brent Show, University of Indianapolis Gallery, IN,
Bark in the Park, Westerly, RI,
Animals on Parade, Philinda Gallery, Edwards, CO,
"Animal Crackers", Carlyn Galerie, Dallas, TX, '97
"Invitational Teapot Show", Vespermann Gallery, Atlanta, GA, '90,'92,'96
"No Body's Perfect", Constance Lindhohm Gallery, Milwaukee, WI, '96
"Noah's Art", Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, '95
"Devils and Angels", Mariposa Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, '94
Doll Collectors Show", Mindscape, Evanston, IL, '94
Art Show at the Dog Show", Wichita, KS, '91, '93
It's Raining Cats and Dogs", Skillbeck Gallery, Charlotte, NC, '90
"Bathroom Art", Walker Gallery, Milwaukee, WI, '90
"Creatures from the Ark (and Some Who Missed the Boat), Uptown Gallery, Portland, OR, '90
Honors include
Glaze Storm, AMACO, Indianapolis, IN,
Artist in Residence, ArtPark, Lewiston, NY, Invited Artist
Hasbro Children's Hospital, Providence, RI, '95.5' x 15' Mural (raised $160,00.00 for Kids with Cancer in Rhode Island)
First Prize, "Diva Art Show", Warwick, RI, '95
Finalist, Niche Awards Ceramic Sculpture, '94
First Prize, Art Show at the Dog Show". Ceramics, KS, '93.
Endangered Species Prize, Royce Galleries, Denver, CO,
Articles include
21st Century Ceramics, Lark Books, 2011
500 Animals in Clay, Lark Books, 2006
Clay Menagerie(Cover and Story), by Harriet Gamble, Arts & Activities, Feb. 2001
It's a Jungle Out There, by Noelle Backer, The Crafts Report, August, 1998
Portfolio 123, 1994 Craft Arts International No. 30