Rebekah Bogard received her MFA from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2003. She received a BFA from the University of Wyoming in Laramie in 2000. She is currently an Associate Professor in Ceramics at University of Nevada Reno as well as a studio artist.
She has received numerous awards including being named an “Emerging Artist” by both the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts and Ceramics Monthly Magazine. She has been awarded a residency at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts. In addition she is a two-time recipient of the Nevada Fine Arts Council Fellowship, as well as receiving the “Best of Show” in several national art competitions. Her work has shown in several solo and group exhibitions nation wide. Moreover, her work has been reviewed in publications such as Art in America, LA Times, Ceramics Monthly Magazine, Clay Times Magazine, and Artweek.
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I employ fictional animals in my artwork to explore the narrative of my life and my own personal history as they provide me with both anonymity and security to the secrets I reveal. I enjoy utilizing animals because they are beautiful and mysterious creatures, vulnerable to relations with humans. This susceptibility gives them a sense of benevolence that is often lacking in human associations. I use this vulnerability as a source of power. It takes a brave and confident person or animal to make themselves vulnerable, for they must have the strength to withstand the consequences.
The narratives are purposefully ambiguous as there are many ways to interpret a single piece. Some pieces look cute, sweet and innocent, but upon closer inspection, one realizes that the piece is conceptually more complicated. They may be read simultaneously as happy-go-lucky as well as melancholic and out of place. I blend the beautiful with the sad, fantasy with reality, idealism with truth as well as the sexual with the innocent. I decidedly leave these compelling dualities open for the viewer to draw their own conclusions.
The fictional creatures juxtaposed with non-fictional animals are there to turn the world up-side-down and to leave the viewer off balance. By changing the rules of engagement, anything is possible in the world I create. Fantasies become realities and dreams become actuality. Concrete gender roles no longer exist. Females can be more like males and males can be more like females.
As a female artist, I am interested in gender and how specific gender roles are assigned to both girls and women. I exploit normative female iconography such as flowers, butterflies, and curving-sensuous lines as well as “feminine” color combinations such as pinks and purples. I embrace female sexuality, vulnerability and romance not as the stereotypical taboo, but as an empowered re-contextualization. Through these creatures, I embrace and reclaim female stereotypes, powerful messages relevant to today’s world.
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Education
2003 University of Nevada Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV, M.F.A. in Ceramics
2000 University of Wyoming Laramie, WY, B.F.A. in Art
1996 Casper College Casper, WY, A.A. in Elementary Education 1996 &
1994 A.A.A. in Fine Art 1994
University Teaching Experience
2010-Present Associate Professor of ceramics University of Nevada Reno
2004-2010 Associate Professor of ceramics University of Nevada Reno
2001-2004 Adjunct Professor University of Nevada Las Vegas
Awards
2008 Sierra Arts Foundation Endowment Fund
2007 Nevada Arts Council Fellowship
2006 NCECA Emerging Artist Portland, OR
2005 Merit Award Wichita National, Wichita, KS
Merit Award Feats of Clay, Lincoln, CA
2004 Best of ShowFine Contemporary Crafts Exhibition, Raleigh, NC
Merit Award 24th Annual July National Show, Southport, NC
2003 Honorable Mention 2nd World Ceramic Biennale 2003 Korea International
Competition, Icheon, Gyeonggi, Korea
First Place Global Art Look, Sacramento, CA
Emerging Artist Ceramics Monthly Magazine
Emerging Talent FinalistClay Times Magazine Emerging Talent Competition
2002 Merit Award 14th San Angelo National Ceramic Competition, San Angelo, TX
2001 Purchase AwardClay Cup VIII, Carbondale, IL
2000 Best of ShowBelow 2002, Portland, OR
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