Lisa Conway

I want to make beautiful objects that engage the viewer on a physical level. I want my pieces to remind us of our own bodies, whether they be blushing or sagging, ticklish, tender, erect or deflated. I hope that by strongly referencing the plant world in my work, I can avoid direct references to any specific human anatomy. My goal is to create pieces that evoke these physical sensations, and ultimately the subtle emotions and human relationships that go along with them. Like plants growing towards the sun, I believe sexuality is a major force around which we gravitate.

Lisa Conway was born outside Detroit, Michigan, and received her BFA in Ceramics from the University of Michigan in 1990.  She received her MFA in Ceramics from Louisiana State University in 1993.  She has completed artist residencies at The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine, The Archie Bray Foundation in Montana, The Contemporary Crafts Gallery in Portland, The Oregon College of Art and Craft in Portland, Anderson Ranch Art Center in Colorado, Sitka Center for Art and Ecology in Oregon, Leland Ironworks in Oregon City, and the Ucross Foundation in Wyoming.  Lisa has exhibited her work nationally including showing at the Portland Art Museum, with solo shows at the Alaska State Museum in Juneau, IMA Gallery in Seattle, and Eutectic Gallery in Portland.  She has taught ceramics at The University of Alaska in Anchorage, The Alberta College of Design in Calgary, and Clark College in Vancouver, Washington, where she has been Head of the Ceramics Area since 2003.