About
Born in Detroit, MI
Lives & works in Lafayette, LA
John Gargano is a ceramic artist and professor in the Department of Visual Arts at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He has consistently exhibited his work at museums and galleries for over 31 years and received awards, grants and multiple Artist Fellowships in Ohio and Louisiana. Primarily a ceramics sculptor, John engages in atmospheric firing processes, particularly wood, soda and reduction cooling techniques with his pottery. Professor Gargano earned a B.F.A. with Honors from The Center for Creative Studies in 1992 and an M.F.A. From The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
In 2021 Mr. Gargano’s ceramic sculpture was juried into the Korean International Ceramic Biennale 2021 at the Gyeonggi Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art(G-MoCCA), Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea. John has participated in an international residency at The Historic Medalta Potteries in Medicine Hat, Alberta in 2015 and at Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, New Castle, Maine in 2011. He has given numerous Workshops/Lectures at regional universities and at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, Hartwick College in Onenonta, New York and The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. John spends his free time playing music with his band, Cones of Uncertainty, and is often surfing or riding motocross bikes.
CV abbreviated
Education
1995-97 MFA, Magna cum laude, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
1989-92 BFA with Honors, Center for Creative Studies, Detroit, Michigan
Grants & Awards
2021 Honorable Mention, Korean International Ceramic Biennale 2021, Gyeonggi Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art, Korea Ceramic Foundation,
Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Rep.of Korea
2020 Second Prize, 10th Annual Clay International Juried Exhibition, Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA
2017 Honorable Mention Award, Craft Forms 2017, 23rd International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Fine Craft, Wayne Art Center, Wayne PA
2015 LEDA and Acadiana Center for the Arts ArtSpark Artist Stipend
Louisiana Division of the Arts Artist Career Advancement Grant
2014 First Prize, 4th Biennial Central Time Ceramics, Bradley University Galleries, Peoria, IL
Exhibitions
International
2021 Korean International Ceramic Biennale 2021, Gyeonggi Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art(G-MoCCA), Korea Ceramic Foundation, Icheon-si,
Gyeonggi- do, Rep.of Korea
Materials: Hard + Soft International Contemporary Craft Competition and Exhibition, Patterson-Appleton Arts Center, Denton, TX, Juried
Off Center: An International Ceramics Competition, Blue Line Arts, Roseville, CA, Juried
2020 10th Annual Clay International Juried Exhibition, Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA
2019 Off Center: 3rd Annual International Ceramic Art Show, Blue Line Arts, Roseville, CA, Juried
Materials: Hard + Soft International Contemporary Craft Competition and Exhibition, Patterson-Appleton Arts Center, Denton, TX, Juried
2017 Craft Forms 2017, 23rd International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Fine Craft, Wayne Art Center, Wayne PA
7th Annual Workhouse Clay International, Lorton, VA, Juried
Ceramic Innovations, International Juried Exhibition, Wayne Art Center, Wayne PA
Off Center, An International Ceramic Art Competition, Blue Line Arts, Roseville, CA
2015 America's Clayfest III, Blue Line Arts, Roseville, CA, Juried
National
2022 Lush 2: A Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition, Lighthouse Arts Center, Tequesta, FL, juried
2020 7th Central Time Ceramics, Bradley University Galleries, Peoria, IL, Juried
23rd San Angelo National Ceramic Competition, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, TX, Juried
2019 Sculpture National, Clay Center of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, Juried
2018 Shapes of Influence Biennial Ceramics Exhibition, Springfield Art Association, Springfield, IL, Juried
22nd San Angelo National Ceramic Competition, Juror Peter Held, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, TX, Juried
2017 Intersection from Highway 90, Gadsden Museum of Art, Gadsden, AL, Invitational
Off the Table: Clay for the Wall National Ceramics Exhibition 2017, Missouri Western State University, Potter Fine Arts Gallery, Saint Joseph, MO, Juried
2016 Jagged Fragments-Contemporary Ceramic Sculpture, Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, Biloxi, MS, Invitational
5th Biennial Central Time Ceramics, Bradley University Galleries, Peoria, IL, Juried
2015 Group Dynamic, New Bedford Museum of Art, New Bedford, MA, Invitational
2014 4th Biennial Central Time Ceramics, Bradley University Galleries, Peoria, IL
2013 Fall Into Art, Next Step Studio & Gallery, Ferndale, Michigan
Bodies, Bombs & Fragments, NCECA Conference CIE, Houston, TX
Regional
2022 Art of the Cup 2022, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA, Juried Invitational
2019 Louisiana Contemporary, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA, Juried
Branching Out, Roundhouse Gallery, Jacksonville State University, in conjunction with Alabama Clay Conference 2019, Invitational
Faculty Miniatures, Hilliard Art Museum, University of Louisiana Lafayette, LA
2018 Celebrating American Craft – Southern Style, Sarratt Gallery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, Juried
Clay: A Southern Census, Clay Center of New Orleans, LA, Juried
2017 One Work, One Text, Fletcher Hall Gallery, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
2016 Art of the Cup and Teapot, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA, Invitational
Louisiana Contemporary, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA, Juried
2015 Selections from UL College of the Arts Faculty, Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum, Lafayette, LA
Clay Heads of Louisiana Higher Education, Ameen Art Gallery, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA
2014 Hand Crafted Treasures from the Louisiana Crafts Guild, Wedell-Williams and Cypress Sawmill Museum, Patterson, LA
Art of the Cup 2014, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA, Invitational
2013 Louisiana Contemporary, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA, Juried
University of Dallas Regional Ceramic Juried Competition, Dallas, TX, Juried
Solo
2021 John Gargano: Le Détroit In Dust Ree, Hilliard Art Museum, UL Lafayette, Lafayette, LA
2016 From the Hat, Solo Exhibition, Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA
2012 Armamenta, Solo Exhibition, Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA