Christina West

Christina West



"If I were not a visual artist, I probably would be a psychologist, because I find the interiority of others to be endlessly fascinating. And actually, a large part of what I enjoy about exhibiting my work is that it gives me an opportunity to study people in a controlled environment."
Christina West














b. November 27, 1980

Christina West is an avid people watcher with a dry sense of humor, active imagination, and an innate impulse to create with her hands. If you meet her and she stares at you a bit too long, she's probably just picturing you naked.

Christina West sculpts realistically rendered human figures that exist at a strange scale and exhibit bold, unnatural colors. The figures are frozen mid-gesture, inviting our gazes and encouraging projection about the nature of their actions.  Christina lives in Atlanta, GA where she teaches at Georgia State University. She received a BFA from Siena Heights University in 2003 and a MFA from Alfred University in 2006. Christina has been an artist-in-residence at the Archie Bray Foundation, The Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, and The Clay Studio in Philadelphia. Her work has been supported additionally by a grants and fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts, the George Sugarman Foundation, the Mary L. Nohl Artist Fund and the Southeastern College Art Conference.

Education
2006        MFA, New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, NY
2003-04    Post-baccalaureate Studies, Alfred University, Alfred, NY
2003        BFA, Siena Heights University, Adrian, MI
summer 02    Studied Abroad in Florence, Italy, Santa Reparata International School of Art

Residencies
2011        The Clay Studio Guest Artist in Residence, Philadelphia
2010        Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE
2008        Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center, Buffalo, NY
2006-07    The Archie Bray Foundation for Ceramic Arts, Helena, MT


Awards
2012    Ernest Welch School of Art and Design Summer Research Award
2011    Georgia State University Research Initiation Grant
2011    Ernest Welch School of Art and Design Summer Research Award
2010    National Council on Education for the Ceramics Arts (NCECA) Emerging Artist Award
2010    Ernest Welch School of Art and Design Summer Research Award
2009    Southeastern College Art Conference (SECAC) Individual Artist’s Fellowship
2009    Mary L. Nohl Suitcase Export Grant, Milwaukee, WI
2007    New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship
2007    George Sugarman Foundation Grant
2006    Lilian Fellowship, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
2006    First Place, The Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Exhibition, The Clay Studio, PA
2004    Third Place, National Ceramic Competition, San Angelo Museum of Fine Art