Carole Epp
I’m incredibly honored to work with Cohorts.Art as my passion for mentorship has been career-long. My extensive experience in the field of ceramics will be instrumental in guiding artists at any stage in their career to discover and refine their unique voices. I bring an understanding of various ceramic techniques, materials, and styles, which I will share through hands-on workshops, guest artists, readings and personalized feedback sessions. We are going to really dig deep into each artist’s creative practice as well as the business/professional side of a career in the arts. We will learn practical knowledge such as navigating the art market, effective self-promotion, grant writing, and sustainable studio practices. By equipping you with both creative and professional tools, I aim to empower you to confidently express your artistic visions and establish successful careers in ceramics.
My approach emphasizes the importance of experimentation and exploration. One of my biggest passions is storytelling through illustrative ceramics and I look forward to helping you figure out your story! I’m open to working with artists exploring any kind of functional or sculptural work, it need not be narrative based. I will be encouraging you all to push the boundaries of traditional practices while remaining true to your individual inspirations. By providing a supportive environment where artists feel free to take creative risks, I aim to help you develop a distinctive style that is both innovative and authentic and allows you to see your place within the context of contemporary ceramics. I can’t wait to build a Cohort community with you, where your individual passion and art is supported, but also where you feel like you can be vulnerable enough to really challenge yourself to take this year to make some focused changes on the path to getting you where you want to be as an artist.
Carole Epp (she/her) is a ceramic artist, curator, writer and community organizer based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She received her MFA from the Australian National University and BFA from the University of Regina. Her studio practice centers dialogues about current political and social concerns through the lens of dismantling privileged social structures, art as activism, and the complexity of the human condition as narratives displayed on functional ceramics. Through illustration that captures the innocence of youth, nostalgia and the potential of hope, she addresses difficult topics through common everyday objects.
A fierce advocate for the ceramics community, for 17 years she was the editor of Musing About Mud an online blog that showcased information, calls for entry, exhibitions and artist profiles related to the ceramic arts. In 2015 she co-founded Make and Do ceramics; a Canadian collective focused on the promotion of Canadian ceramics internationally. In 2020, she co-authored The Encyclopedia of Inspiration: Ceramics (Profiles of Potters and Artisans) through Uppercase publishing. Supported by the Canada Council for the Arts in 2021 she curated a major exhibition for the Ceramics Congress showcasing the work of 88 ceramic artists from across Canada to an international audience. She worked as the Community Coordinator for The Ceramic School, an online international ceramics organization based out of Austria that produces monthly online workshops and a bi-yearly Ceramics Congress. In 2023 her research shifted to focus on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the artist’s creative practice and the impact of AI as a tool specific to the production of ceramic art. Her work has been exhibited throughout Canada, Australia, Scotland and the United States. She has taught workshops in Canada, the United States and Australia on ceramics, social media and professional practice. Her artwork and writing have also been published in magazine publications, websites and books; most notably in 2017 in Ceramics Monthly when she was named the Ceramic Artist of the Year.
