Heather O’Brien
Adjunct Faculty
A.A. - Mott Community College (1990 - 1992)
B.F.A - Cleveland Institute of Art (1992 - 1996)
M.F.A. - Rhode Island School of Design (2004 - 2007)
Pottery.
Cuisine.
Presentation & Service.
Pottery has guided and participated in our histories, while recording our existence at the same time.
Professional Experience
Heather O’Brien grew up in Michigan and started her journey in the visual arts at what was then the Genesee Area Skill Center – now the Genesee Career Institute, where she studied commercial art, screen-printing, sign painting, and typography. It was there that she discovered the importance of visual art and design as a vital means of communication; she learned to draw and was a painter before focusing on ceramics. Heather O’Brien holds an undergraduate degree from the Cleveland Institute of Art and a graduate degree from the Rhode Island School of Design; she also worked as Artist-in-residence at the School for American Crafts at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She has shown her work in museums and galleries throughout the United States and her work is part of the permanent collection of The White House. Her work has received recognition and awards, most notably the National Society of Arts and Letters Ceramic Prize, and she was selected as one of Ceramics Monthly’s “Emerging Artists 2003”. To celebrate 1000 years of porcelain, in 2004, one of her pieces was selected to travel to Jingdezhen, China as part of the exhibition highlighting exceptional work in contemporary porcelain. Her work can be seen in the popular books, “500 Cups” and “500 Pitchers”. Encouraged by the intellect, insight and creativity of her students, she remains committed to teaching as a means of countering misinformation and giving back by fostering students’ foundational knowledge and critical-thinking skills. Heather O’Brien currently teaches in both Flint and Detroit.
Significant Publications, Presentations and Exhibitions
– “500 Pitchers”, Suzanne Tourtillott, Lark Books, June 2006, pages 196 & 270.
– “500 Cups”, Suzanne Tourtillott, Lark Books, June 2005, pages 6 & 391.
– “Jingdezhen International Ceramic Art Education 2004 Conference Catalogue”, page 169.
– “Emerging Artists”, Ceramics Monthly (periodical), May 2003, page 72.
– “Teapot Invitational in San Diego”, Ceramics Monthly (periodical), September 2003, page 26.