CURRICULUM VITAE
Education:
2014 Clemson University, Master of Fine Arts, Ceramics.
2011 University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Bachelor of Fine Arts, 3D Design.
2008 San Diego Mesa Community College, General Education
Exhibitions:
2026 Western North Carolina Art & Craft Showcase, NC Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC, May 23.
2025 WNC Craft Futures: From Here, Center for Craft. Bresler Family Gallery, Asheville, NC. April 1- August 30.
2023 Potters Market at the Mint, Mint Museum Randolph, Charlotte, NC Sept 23.
Elemental Energy, Solo Exhibition. Mars Landing Galleries, Mars Hill, NC. Aug 4-Sept 30.
2022 Journey Home, Solo Exhibition. Continuum Art Gallery, Hendersonville, NC. July 16-Oct 9.
2021 Finding Nature, Blue Spiral 1, Asheville, NC. Organized by Elaine Quave.
2020 Conscious Transitions. Uptown Gallery, Richmond, VA. Curated by Nina Kawar and Lisa Battle. NCECA 2020 Exhibition.
2019 Carve: Process of Reduction, Asheville Area Arts Council, Thom Robinson and Ray Griffin Gallery, Asheville, NC.
Curated by Nina Kawar.
2018 Into the Blue, Blue Spiral 1, Asheville, NC.
2017 Intro-Emerging Ceramicists in Western North Carolina, Asheville Area Arts Council, Thom Robinson and Ray Griffin . Gallery, Asheville, NC. Curated by Akira Satake.
Baltimore Fine Craft Show, Palm Beach Show Group, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD.
American Craft Council Show, Atlanta 2017, Cobb Galleria, Atlanta, GA.
2016 Best of WNC Emerging Craft Artists Showcase, Asheville Area Arts Council, The Refinery Creator Space, Asheville, NC.
2014 Liminal/Sustenance, MFA Thesis, Rudolph E. Lee Gallery, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.
The 10th International Ceramics Competition MINO, Mino, Japan.
Artsfield 2014: South Carolina Arts Festival, Lake City, SC.
2014 NCECA National Juried Student Exhibition, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, Milwaukee, WI.
2013 701 CCA South Carolina Biennial 2013, 701 Center for Contemporary Art, Columbia, SC.
Awards/Honors:
2026 Adolf & Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant, Gottlieb Foundation
2025 ArtsAVL Region 17 Artist Support Grant
CERF+ Get Ready Grant
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts’ Full Scholarship, Summer Residency, Session V: Form & Function. August 3-15.
Crafting Resilience Grant Program, Mountain Bizworks.
WNC Craft Futures Cohort Grant, Center for Craft.
Trillium Arts Helene Emergency Artist Residence Grant, Mars Hill, NC
Marshall & Margherite McComb Foundation Fellowship, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont.
ArtsAVL Emergency Relief Grant.
WNC Emergency Relief Grant, Center for Craft.
CERF+ Artist Relief Grant
2024 Southern Highland Craft Guild New Member
2018 Point of View Curator, Asheville Area Arts Council, Asheville, NC.
2017 Best in Show, "Baltimore Fine Craft Show", Palm Beach Show Group, Baltimore, MD.
2014 Honorable Mention, The 10th International Ceramics Competition MINO, Japan.
Penland School of Crafts Summer Scholarship, Clemson University.
Work Experience:
2026 Forthcoming: Workshop instructor, John C. Campbell, “Cold Finishes on Ceramic Sculptures”, November 8-14.
2018 Pure Ritual, Self- Employed, Asheville, NC (Current)
2020 Ceramic Teacher, Marshall High Studios, Marshall (4 years: private classes)
2024 MFA Graduate Mentor, Clark University, Worcester, MA, Low-Residency Program, remote position.
2023 MFA Graduate Mentor, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA, Low-Residency Program, remote position.
2018 Pure Ritual, Self-Employed, Asheville, NC.
2017 Artist Assistant, Courtney Martin, Bakersville, NC.
2014 Graduate Teacher of Record, Beginning Ceramics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.
Artist Instructor, The ARTS Center, Clemson, SC.
2013 Ceramic Studio Technician, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.
Advanced Ceramics Teacher’s Assistant, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.
Bibliography:
2026 Blue Hour Podcast. “Shaping Spirit: Art, Ritual, and Resilience with Nina Kawar. January 20, 2026.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2258866/episodes/18537226- shaping-spirit-art-ritual-and-resilience-with-nina-kawar
2025 The Laurel of Asheville Magazine. “The Art of Rising: Nina Kawar: Trusting in the Flow of Life”, June 2025.
The Laurel of Asheville Magazine, “Trillium Arts Awards. Six Artists with Helene Emergency Artist Residencies. March 2025.
2024 VoyageRaleigh, "Daily Inspiration; Meet Nina Kawar." June 2024. Online and Print.
https://voyageraleigh.com/interview/daily-inspiration-meet-nina-kawar/
2023 CanvasRebel Magazine, “ Meet Nina Kawar.” December 2023. Online. <https://canvasrebel.com/meet-nina-kawar/>.
The Laurel Magazine, “Mars Landing Galleries: Elemental Energy”. August 2023. Print and online.
<https://thelaurelofasheville.com/arts/mars-landing-galleries-elemental-energy/>
Asheville Made. “Nina Kawar- Elemental Energy Exhibition”. August 2023, print.
WNC Business Magazine. “Made in WNC- Pure Ritual” July 11, 2023 Print and online.
<https://www.wncbusiness.com/2023/07/11/441051/made-in-wnc-pure-ritual.>
2022 Blue Ridge Public Radio, “Months into creating her latest work, sculptor Nina Kawar found she was marking her own journey”.
By Matt Peiken, Radio and online. <https://www.whqr.org/2022-09-21/months-into-creating-her-latest-work-sculptor-nina-
kawar-found-she-was-marking-her-own-journey>. Sept 21, 2022.
2021 Asheville Made, “Maybe the Heart is Really Made with Porcelain” May 2021. Pg 31 and online.
<https://ashevillemade.com/maybe-the-heart-really-is-made-of-porcelain/>.
2019 MUSE, “Nina Kawar: Healing Art”, UNC-TV, PBS series, Season 2, Episode 225,
<https://www.pbs.org/video/nina-kawar- healing-art-22tulm/>, May 13, 2019.
MUSE, “American Identities”, UNC-TV, PBS series, Season 2, Episode 207,
<https://www.pbs.org/video/muse-207-american-identities-xcmox6/, May 16, 2019.
The Laurel of Asheville, “Carve: Process of Reduction”, February 2019, pg 48.
2018 Clemson World Magazine, “My Clemson: Nina Kawar M ’14”, Fall 2018, pg 39.
Juxraprose Literary Magazine, “Cranium” Cover photo, Volume17, Fall 2018, <http://www.juxtaprosemagazine.org/volume-
17/>.
Blue Ridge Public Radio, "From Skin to Bone. Marshall Sculptor Nina Kawar Speaks to the Heart and Spirit," by Matt Peiken,
February 8, 2018. On air and<http://bpr.org/post.skin-bone-marshall sculptor-nina-kawar-speaks-heart-and-spirit>.
Asheville Made, "Into the Blue: Artist Invitational", February 2018, pg 21.
2017 The Laurel of Asheville, "Gallery at Flat Rock: Two Exhibits", October 2017, pg81.
2016 GreenHill Center for NC Art Newsletter, "Curator Picks- Winter Show", December 2016.
Mountain Xpress: Craft Week Pull-out Guide, Vol. 23, No. 10, “Crafting Careers: American Craft Week and the AAAC
Showcase Emerging Artists”, by Steph Guinan, September 28-October 4, 2016, p 3.
2014 10th International Ceramics Competition Mino catalog, Mino International Ceramic Park, Mino, Japan.
The Chronicle Magazine, "Nina Kawar", Clemson University. April 3.
Musing about Mud , "Emerging Artist: Nina Kawar”, by Carole Epp, March 15,
<http://musingaboutmud.blogspot.com/2014/03/emerging-artist-nina-kawar.html>.
2013 701 Center for Contemporary Art in Columbia, “701 CCA South Carolina Biennial 2013 catalogue”, Columbia, SC.
Freetimes, "Second Installment of Biennial Overcomes Shortcomings" by Jeffrey Day, Nov 27, <http://www.free-
times.com/arts/112713-second-installment-of-biennial-overcomes-shortcomings>.
2014 Clemson University, Master of Fine Arts, Ceramics.
2011 University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Bachelor of Fine Arts, 3D Design.
2008 San Diego Mesa Community College, General Education
Exhibitions:
2026 Western North Carolina Art & Craft Showcase, NC Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC, May 23.
2025 WNC Craft Futures: From Here, Center for Craft. Bresler Family Gallery, Asheville, NC. April 1- August 30.
2023 Potters Market at the Mint, Mint Museum Randolph, Charlotte, NC Sept 23.
Elemental Energy, Solo Exhibition. Mars Landing Galleries, Mars Hill, NC. Aug 4-Sept 30.
2022 Journey Home, Solo Exhibition. Continuum Art Gallery, Hendersonville, NC. July 16-Oct 9.
2021 Finding Nature, Blue Spiral 1, Asheville, NC. Organized by Elaine Quave.
2020 Conscious Transitions. Uptown Gallery, Richmond, VA. Curated by Nina Kawar and Lisa Battle. NCECA 2020 Exhibition.
2019 Carve: Process of Reduction, Asheville Area Arts Council, Thom Robinson and Ray Griffin Gallery, Asheville, NC.
Curated by Nina Kawar.
2018 Into the Blue, Blue Spiral 1, Asheville, NC.
2017 Intro-Emerging Ceramicists in Western North Carolina, Asheville Area Arts Council, Thom Robinson and Ray Griffin . Gallery, Asheville, NC. Curated by Akira Satake.
Baltimore Fine Craft Show, Palm Beach Show Group, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD.
American Craft Council Show, Atlanta 2017, Cobb Galleria, Atlanta, GA.
2016 Best of WNC Emerging Craft Artists Showcase, Asheville Area Arts Council, The Refinery Creator Space, Asheville, NC.
2014 Liminal/Sustenance, MFA Thesis, Rudolph E. Lee Gallery, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.
The 10th International Ceramics Competition MINO, Mino, Japan.
Artsfield 2014: South Carolina Arts Festival, Lake City, SC.
2014 NCECA National Juried Student Exhibition, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, Milwaukee, WI.
2013 701 CCA South Carolina Biennial 2013, 701 Center for Contemporary Art, Columbia, SC.
Awards/Honors:
2026 Adolf & Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant, Gottlieb Foundation
2025 ArtsAVL Region 17 Artist Support Grant
CERF+ Get Ready Grant
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts’ Full Scholarship, Summer Residency, Session V: Form & Function. August 3-15.
Crafting Resilience Grant Program, Mountain Bizworks.
WNC Craft Futures Cohort Grant, Center for Craft.
Trillium Arts Helene Emergency Artist Residence Grant, Mars Hill, NC
Marshall & Margherite McComb Foundation Fellowship, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont.
ArtsAVL Emergency Relief Grant.
WNC Emergency Relief Grant, Center for Craft.
CERF+ Artist Relief Grant
2024 Southern Highland Craft Guild New Member
2018 Point of View Curator, Asheville Area Arts Council, Asheville, NC.
2017 Best in Show, "Baltimore Fine Craft Show", Palm Beach Show Group, Baltimore, MD.
2014 Honorable Mention, The 10th International Ceramics Competition MINO, Japan.
Penland School of Crafts Summer Scholarship, Clemson University.
Work Experience:
2026 Forthcoming: Workshop instructor, John C. Campbell, “Cold Finishes on Ceramic Sculptures”, November 8-14.
2018 Pure Ritual, Self- Employed, Asheville, NC (Current)
2020 Ceramic Teacher, Marshall High Studios, Marshall (4 years: private classes)
2024 MFA Graduate Mentor, Clark University, Worcester, MA, Low-Residency Program, remote position.
2023 MFA Graduate Mentor, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA, Low-Residency Program, remote position.
2018 Pure Ritual, Self-Employed, Asheville, NC.
2017 Artist Assistant, Courtney Martin, Bakersville, NC.
2014 Graduate Teacher of Record, Beginning Ceramics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.
Artist Instructor, The ARTS Center, Clemson, SC.
2013 Ceramic Studio Technician, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.
Advanced Ceramics Teacher’s Assistant, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.
Bibliography:
2026 Blue Hour Podcast. “Shaping Spirit: Art, Ritual, and Resilience with Nina Kawar. January 20, 2026.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2258866/episodes/18537226- shaping-spirit-art-ritual-and-resilience-with-nina-kawar
2025 The Laurel of Asheville Magazine. “The Art of Rising: Nina Kawar: Trusting in the Flow of Life”, June 2025.
The Laurel of Asheville Magazine, “Trillium Arts Awards. Six Artists with Helene Emergency Artist Residencies. March 2025.
2024 VoyageRaleigh, "Daily Inspiration; Meet Nina Kawar." June 2024. Online and Print.
https://voyageraleigh.com/interview/daily-inspiration-meet-nina-kawar/
2023 CanvasRebel Magazine, “ Meet Nina Kawar.” December 2023. Online. <https://canvasrebel.com/meet-nina-kawar/>.
The Laurel Magazine, “Mars Landing Galleries: Elemental Energy”. August 2023. Print and online.
<https://thelaurelofasheville.com/arts/mars-landing-galleries-elemental-energy/>
Asheville Made. “Nina Kawar- Elemental Energy Exhibition”. August 2023, print.
WNC Business Magazine. “Made in WNC- Pure Ritual” July 11, 2023 Print and online.
<https://www.wncbusiness.com/2023/07/11/441051/made-in-wnc-pure-ritual.>
2022 Blue Ridge Public Radio, “Months into creating her latest work, sculptor Nina Kawar found she was marking her own journey”.
By Matt Peiken, Radio and online. <https://www.whqr.org/2022-09-21/months-into-creating-her-latest-work-sculptor-nina-
kawar-found-she-was-marking-her-own-journey>. Sept 21, 2022.
2021 Asheville Made, “Maybe the Heart is Really Made with Porcelain” May 2021. Pg 31 and online.
<https://ashevillemade.com/maybe-the-heart-really-is-made-of-porcelain/>.
2019 MUSE, “Nina Kawar: Healing Art”, UNC-TV, PBS series, Season 2, Episode 225,
<https://www.pbs.org/video/nina-kawar- healing-art-22tulm/>, May 13, 2019.
MUSE, “American Identities”, UNC-TV, PBS series, Season 2, Episode 207,
<https://www.pbs.org/video/muse-207-american-identities-xcmox6/, May 16, 2019.
The Laurel of Asheville, “Carve: Process of Reduction”, February 2019, pg 48.
2018 Clemson World Magazine, “My Clemson: Nina Kawar M ’14”, Fall 2018, pg 39.
Juxraprose Literary Magazine, “Cranium” Cover photo, Volume17, Fall 2018, <http://www.juxtaprosemagazine.org/volume-
17/>.
Blue Ridge Public Radio, "From Skin to Bone. Marshall Sculptor Nina Kawar Speaks to the Heart and Spirit," by Matt Peiken,
February 8, 2018. On air and<http://bpr.org/post.skin-bone-marshall sculptor-nina-kawar-speaks-heart-and-spirit>.
Asheville Made, "Into the Blue: Artist Invitational", February 2018, pg 21.
2017 The Laurel of Asheville, "Gallery at Flat Rock: Two Exhibits", October 2017, pg81.
2016 GreenHill Center for NC Art Newsletter, "Curator Picks- Winter Show", December 2016.
Mountain Xpress: Craft Week Pull-out Guide, Vol. 23, No. 10, “Crafting Careers: American Craft Week and the AAAC
Showcase Emerging Artists”, by Steph Guinan, September 28-October 4, 2016, p 3.
2014 10th International Ceramics Competition Mino catalog, Mino International Ceramic Park, Mino, Japan.
The Chronicle Magazine, "Nina Kawar", Clemson University. April 3.
Musing about Mud , "Emerging Artist: Nina Kawar”, by Carole Epp, March 15,
<http://musingaboutmud.blogspot.com/2014/03/emerging-artist-nina-kawar.html>.
2013 701 Center for Contemporary Art in Columbia, “701 CCA South Carolina Biennial 2013 catalogue”, Columbia, SC.
Freetimes, "Second Installment of Biennial Overcomes Shortcomings" by Jeffrey Day, Nov 27, <http://www.free-
times.com/arts/112713-second-installment-of-biennial-overcomes-shortcomings>.