Oliver Elias Bio
Oliver Elias is a potter based in Minneapolis, MN. He earned his BFA at the Kansas City Art Institute. Oliver Elias is a functional pottery artist who focuses on creating elegant pottery for everyday use. Using wheel throwing and slip casting techniques, he creates easily accessible, affordable and fully functional pottery. His complex forms and simplistic glazes allow his work to feel welcomed in anyone's home. Oliver Elias has been creating and selling work all over the nation through his website, olivereliasceramics.com. Oliver Elias creates videos that highlight the process of his pottery from start to finish. These satisfying and informative 1- 3 minute videos give a glimpse into how his work is created. You can find them on both Instagram by searching @oliverthepotter.
Education
2022 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ceramics and Art History, Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI),
Kansas City, Missouri
Honors and Awards
2018 Best Collaboration in Ceramics, Tiger Arts Department Awards, South High School
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Certificate of Achievement, Augsburg University, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2017 MPS Arts Award, Viva City Fine Arts, Minneapolis Central Library,
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Professional Experience
2020-2021 Tile Maker and Apprentice, Clay Squared,, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Made, glazed and fired tiles.
2020 Juror, National Clay Week, Hosted Juried video competition through Instagram and Tiktok.
2016-2020 Instructor, Simply Jane Art Studio, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Taught hand building and wheel throwing techniques to students from age 5-18 with all abilities and disabilities at a non profit Art Able.
2019-2020 Intern, Greg Volkar Ceramics, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Studio assistant, loaded kilns, studio prep and maintenance.
Professional Experience continued
2016-2021 Art-A-Whirl Arts Festival, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Curated a studio and sold my work.
Exhibitions
2020 Fielding, Stern Ceramics Building, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas
City, Missouri
2019 Touchy Subjects Stern Ceramics Building, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, Missouri
2018 Augsburg University Juried show, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2017 Viva City Fine Arts Festival, MPS Arts Juried Exhibition, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Skills
Welding, Carpentry, clay & glaze formulation, mold making, electric and gas kiln firing, digital modeling and fabrication skills including 3D printing and cnc milling operations. Filming, video editing, slip casting, luster, photography.
