Bio
Marina Kuchinski is a Chicago based visual artist and educator practicing in ceramics, mixed media and installation. She primarily handbuilds and sometimes slip-casts animal and human forms. Animal and human subjects are used to explore various issues, be they social or psychological.
Kuchinski exhibited extensively throughout the United States and abroad in solo and group exhibitions, including European Cultural and Technological Centre in Slovenia, Beit Aharon Kahana in Israel, American Museum of Ceramic Art, The Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, Randall Museum, The International Museum of Dinnerware Design, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, Albuquerque Museum, Susquehanna Art Museum, The Plains Art Museum, Palmer Museum of Art, Koehnline Museum of Art, Kohler Arts Center, Northern Illinois Art Museum, and premiere NCECA exhibitions, including the NCECA Biennial and NCECA Annual.
Publications include Ceramics Monthly, Ceramics Art and Perception, Ceramics Now Magazine, The Boston Globe and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Kuchinski received numerous grants and awards, including Jerome and McKnight grants, juried exhibitions, and was a guest artist at a number of colleges and universities. Kuchinski has been an artist-in-residence at the Kohler Arts Center, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Chester Springs Studio, Northern Clay Center, New Harmony Clay Project, and Punch Projects.
Born in Latvia and raised in Israel, she earned her BFA from Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem and her MFA from Penn State University. She has been an art professor at St. Cloud State University and College of DuPage.
CV
One and Two Person Exhibitions
2023 Incongruous Dogs and other Beasts, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN
2023 Food for Thought, Randall Museum, San Francisco, CA, 2023
2022 One Square Foot, NCECA Conference, Hyatt Carmel Conference Room, Sacramento, CA, 2022
2020 Unbecoming Animals, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL, 2022
2017 Close Contact, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
2015 For Only, North Central College Art Gallery, Naperville, IL
2013 Wild Things, NCECA Conference, Winter Street Studios, Houston, TX
2012 Another View, Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove, IL
2009 Off the Record, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
2008 The Art of Concept, Purdue University, Fort Wayne, IN
2007 Wait, Kishwaukee College, Malta, IL
2007 Revach, McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, IL ,
2005 Worlds Apart, Tuttle Gallery, NCECA Conference, Baltimore, MD
2005 This and That, Illinois Central College, East Peoria, IL
2003 Contact Details, Beacon Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
2002 Distortions, Pearl Conard Gallery, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, OH
2001 Custom Made, Hopper House Art Center, Nyack, NY
2000 Within, Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, PA
2000 Out of Context, Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, MN
1999 Art in Space, Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN
1999 Opus and Installation, Middle Tennessee State University Art Gallery, Murfreesboro, TN
1998 Have, Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Wayzata, MN
1997 Spider’s Nests, Dayton Hudson Gallery, St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025
True and Real – 2025 NCECA Annual, NCECA Conference, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, Salt Lake City, UT
Domestic Affairs, Susquehanna Art Museum, Harrisburg, PA
ArtsThrive, Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM
The Art of Culinary Exhibition, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
2024
Feast, Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, Sedalia, MO
Filled Up 5, New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art, New Harmony, IN
Kohler Arts/Industry 50th Collective, Woodlake Galleries, Kohler, WI
Art History and Politics in Clay Formation, NCECA Conference, Artemis Gallery, Richmond, VA
International Exhibition on Animals in Art, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Metamorphosis, Emerging from the Dark, Brushwood Center for the Arts, Riverwoods, IL
Signal Jammers, MidwestNice Art Gallery, Aberdeen, SD
Well Versed, Dittmar Memorial Gallery, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Contemporary Portraits, The Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts, Lubbock, TX
Filled Up 4, New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art, New Harmony, IN
2023
What is for Supper? What is a Meal? NIU Art Museum, DeKalb, IL
Don’t ‘Drag’ Me Down: Today’s Battle for Liberation, Koehnline Museum of Art, Des Plaines, IL
Entomophagous Dining, The International Museum of Dinnerware Design, Ann Arbor MI
Our Animal Bodies and the Earth’s Currents, NCECA Conference, Art Academy of Cincinnati, OH
Angels and Demons, Stola Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Visions of Hope, Stola Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
2022
(re)bound: the altered book, South Haven Center for the Arts, South Haven, MI
Cat Exhibition, The Ceramics Congress, The Ceramic School, Vienna, Austria
Surface Circus, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
Undomesticated, Gallery One, Ellensburg, WA
Lost and Found, Gallery 118, Brooklyn, NY
Lenny Mitzi, and Co-Conspirators, Kenneth P. McCutchan Art Center/Palmina F. and Stephen S. Pace Galleries, University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, IN
2021
Social Recession–2021 NCECA Annual, NCECA Conference, Weston Art Gallery, Aronoff Center for the Arts, Cincinnati, OH
The Personal Universal Virtual Exhibition, NCECA Conference, Cincinnati, OH
Filled Up II, New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art, New Harmony, IN
These are a Few of my Favorite Things, Stola Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Where the Wild Things Are, The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
Filled Up, New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art, New Harmony, IN
2020
Food for Thought, Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD
Precious, Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago, IL
Where’s the Revolution, Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago, IL
Humanity, Cultural Center of Cape Cod, South Yarmouth, MA
Art History and Politics in Clay Formation, NCECA Conference, Artemis Gallery, Richmond, VA
Word as Art, Center for Detroit Art and Culture at Marygrove, Detroit, MI
Contemporary Clay, The Art Center of Western Colorado, Grand Junction, CO
2019
Mugshots, NCECA Conference, Mojo Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Clay Matters, Epperson Gallery of Ceramic Arts, Crockett, CA
Off Center, Blue Line Arts, Roselle, CA
Ceramic Centric, Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, MO
Residence III, New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art, New Harmony, IN
2018
River2River, Iowa Clay Conference, Coe College Galleries, Cedar Rapids, IA
Funny Clay, NCECA Conference, Borelli Edwards Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
International Cone Box Show, Bracker Good Earth Clays, Lawrance, KS; traveling to the NCECA Conference, Community College of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA
Fahrenheit, American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA
Food Glorious Food, The Art Center Highland Park. Highland park, IL
2017
Image & Word, Kaviar Forge Gallery, Louisville, KY
A Laugh, a Smirk, or a Snicker, Florence Quarter Gallery, Southwest University of Visual Arts, Tucson, AZ
Sculpture Exhibition, Indiana University, Kokomo, IN
Nature: Surface, Form, Content, The Clay Studio of Missoula, Missoula, MT
Mugshots, NCECA Conference, Verum Ultimum Gallery, Portland, OR
Seeing with Animals, Living with Animals Conference, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY
2016
Politics and Power, Ann Street Gallery, Newburgh, NY
I Witness: Activist Art and Social Movement Politics, Heuser Art Gallery, Peoria, IL
Figures of Speech, Anderson Museum of Art, Anderson, IN
Menagerie, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
Exploring Our Relationship with Food, Chait Gallery, Iowa City, IA
50 Women, A Celebration of Women in Ceramics, NCECA Conference, Kansas City, MO
2015
All Good, Guddahl Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Sinister, Gallery 659, Whiting, IN
River2River Exhibition, Iowa Clay Conference, The Ceramics Center, Cedar Rapids, IA
Graphic Clay: A Survey of Illustrated, Printed and Innovative Surfaces, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
Birds, NCECA Conference, Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Providence, RI
2014
Radical Inventions, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI
What Goes Bump in the Night, Clay Arts Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
History in the Making, Genesee Pottery and Firehouse Gallery, Rochester, NY
Workhouse Clay National, Workhouse Art Center, Lorton, VA
Shapes of Influence Contemporary Ceramics, Springfield Art Association, Springfield, IL
University of Florida National Exhibition, University of Florida Gallery of Art, Jacksonville, FL
2013
Big Fat Scary Deal, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
River2River Exhibition, Iowa Clay Conference, The Ceramics Center, Cedar Rapids, IA
Uncanny Congruences, Palmer Museum of Art, University Park, PA
Redefined, NCECA Conference, Spring Street Studios, Houston, TX
Functional/Dysfunctional, Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg, FL
2012
Ecumene: Global Interface in American Ceramics National Exhibition, Santa Fe Community College School of Art and Design Visual Arts Gallery, organized by NCECA in conjunction with the 45th General Assembly of the International Academy of Ceramics, Santa Fe, NM
International Ceramic Triennial UNICUM, European Cultural and Technological Centre, Maribor, Slovenia
Sculptural Ceramics, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
Beyond the Brickyard, The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, MT
2011
Ceramic Sculpture Invitational, Obsidian Gallery, Tucson, AZ
River2River Exhibition, Iowa Clay Conference, The Ceramics Center, Cedar Rapids, IA
Visions in Clay, LH Horton Jr Gallery, San Joaquin Delta College, Stockton, CA
64 Arts, Buchanan Center for the Arts, Monmouth, IL
Icons, Totems, Banalities, Emblems and Embodiments: Animals as Image, NCECA Conference, Creative Clay Cultural Arts Center, Tampa, FL
Twenty-Four Maximum, Christopher Art Gallery, Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, IL
2010
A New Decade of Clay, Co-sponsored by Clay Times Magazine, Sierra Nevada College and Northstar-at-Tahoe, Truckee, CA
2009
NCECA 2009 Clay National Biennial Exhibition, NCECA Conference, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ
64 Arts, Buchanan Center for the Arts, Monmouth, IL
2008
Feminist Ecology, Koehnline Museum of Art, Des Plaines, IL
Life's Unique Journey, Northwest Cultural Council, Arlington Heights, IL
Jersey Shore Clay, M. T. Burton Gallery, Surf City, NJ
Dreams & Visions, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
2007
1830 F, Springfield Art Association, Springfield, IL
Divine Dirt, The Kavanagh Gallery, Fine Line Arts Center, St. Charles, IL
Big Muddy, Quigley Gallery, Clarke College, Dubuque, IA
College and University Art Faculty Exhibition, Governors State University, University Park, IL
2006
Seventh National Exhibition, Ceres Gallery, New York, NY
Galex 40, Galesburg Civic Art Center, Galesburg, IL
2005
Art Under Fire, Brickton Art Center, Park Ridge, IL
Reason and Squalor, Kingston Gallery, Boston, MA
Open Destiny, Caladan Gallery, Beverly, MA
Quad-State Exhibition, Quincy Art Center, Quincy, IL
Photography Invitational, 621 Gallery, Tallahassee, FL
2004
International Award Exhibition, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA
Vitrified Clay: Form & Content, Rockport Center for the Arts, Rockport, TX
2003
Contemporary Ceramics Invitational, Bradley University, Peoria, IL
Mute, Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, MD
2002
Pushing Clay, University of Southern Maine Art Gallery, Gorham, ME
Red Heat, Contemporary Work in Clay, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK
2001
Stretch National Invitational, NCECA Conference, Afro-American Cultural Center, Charlotte, NC
Faculty Exhibition, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL
Origins in Clay, Traveling Exhibition, Art Gallery, The University of Texas, San Antonio, TX; Del Rio Gallery, Del Rio, TX
2000
Indoor/Outdoor Sculpture Show, Oannes Gallery, Tiverton, Rl
Studio Artists Exhibition, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Art of the State: Pennsylvania 2000, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA
1999
The Creative Arena at the Epoch of an American Century, Featured Artist, Raymond Lawrence Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Group Show, 11 Painters & 2 Sculptors, Lindenberg Gallery, New York, NY
'OO's, The Galleries, Rogue Community College, Grants Pass, OR
Creating and Connecting, Traveling Exhibition, St. John's University, Collegeville, MN, 1999; The College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN, 1996
McKnight Artists Exhibition, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
On the Plains, Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND
1998
The Penn State Tradition, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
National All Media Exhibition, Paint Creek Center for the Arts, Rochester, Ml
1997
Greater Midwest International Exhibition, Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, MO
Sculptural Works in Clay - 97, Maine Artist's Space, Danforth Gallery, Portland, ME
Form 97, BAG Gallery, Manitou Springs, CO
1996
Faculty Exhibition, Kiehle Gallery, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN
The Miami Valley Crossroads in Clay, Middletown Fine Arts Center, Middletown, OH
1995
Feats of Clay, Lincoln Arts Gallery, Lincoln, CA
1994
Crafts National 28, Zoller Gallery, Penn State University, University Park, PA
Education
1995 MFA, Penn State University, University Park, PA
1992 BFA, Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem, Israel
Teaching
2023 Professor Emeritus, Art, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL. (2009-2023: Professor of Art; 2003-2009: Associate Professor of Art; 2000-2003: Assistant Professor of Art)
2000 Ceramics Instructor, Millersville University, Millersville, PA
1995-98 Assistant Professor of Ceramics and Foundations, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN
1994-95 Teaching Assistant, Penn State University, University Park, PA
Honors
2024 Invited Artist in Residence, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, ME
2022 Visiting Artist in Residence, Gallery One Visual Arts Center/Punch Projects, Ellensburg, WA
2021 Overflowing Award, Filled Up, New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art, New Harmony, IN
2021 Going Solo, Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, MO
2019 Artist in Residence, New Harmony Clay Project, New Harmony, IN
2014 John Michael Kohler Arts and Industry Residency, Sheboygan, WI
2012 Summer Kiln God Artist Residency, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, ME
2012 Beyond the Brickyard Award, The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, MT
2006 Sculpture Award, Galex 40, Galesburg Civic Art Center, Galesburg, IL
1999-2000 Artist in Residence, Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, PA
1999 Travel and Study Grant, Jerome Foundation, St. Paul, MN
1998-99 Jerome Grant, Installation Art Commission, Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN
1998 McKnight Artist Residency for Ceramic Artists Grant, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
1997 & 1998 Central Minnesota Arts Board Individual Artist Honorable Mention Grant, St. Cloud, MN
1996 The Miami Valley Annual Crossroads Competition in Clay Award, Middletown, OH
1994 Artist in Residence, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, ME
1992 The America-Israel Cultural Foundation Award for Ceramic Artists, Tel Aviv, Israel
Visiting Artist
2023 Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN
2021 The Ceramic School, Vienna, Austria
2020 Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL
2015 John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI
2012 Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove, IL
2007 Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
2007 Kishwaukee College, Malta, IL
2001 Governor's School for the Arts, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
2001 Panelist, Women in the Middle East through Art, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL
2000 Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, PA
1999 Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
1999 Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN
1998 Hope College, Holland, Ml
1998 Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Collections
The International Museum of Dinnerware Design, Ann Arbor MI
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts
Jeremy Efroymson Collection, Indianapolis, IN
Beth Morean Collection, St. Petersburg, FL
Cal Cullen Collection, Cincinnati, OH
Stola Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Robert Lee Bluffer Foundation, New Harmony, IN
Hieronymus Objects, Akron, OH
Cam Newton and Cecil Newton Jr., Fellaship, Atlanta GA
Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY
John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI
Kohler Company, Kohler, WI
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
OnView Gallery, Park Ridge, IL
George Kravis II Collection, Tulsa, OK
Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, PA
Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem, Israel
Resource Networks
artaxis: an evolving independent network of artists
accessCeramics: a contemporary ceramics image resource
The Marks Project: The Dictionary of American Studio Ceramics