CATHERINE WHITE has lived and worked in Warrenton, Virginia since 1988. Her claywork is intertwined with a daily practice of drawing and painting. White has been in more than one hundred exhibitions, most often exhibiting in Washington, DC and New York City. She has had commissions for state gifts from President Obama and Michelle Obama. Represented in both the Renwick and Sackler Galleries of the Smithsonian, she taught at Washington, DC's Corcoran College of Art + Design 2002-2015; a ceramics instructor at Penland School of Crafts, 2005, 2012, 2019; has taught ceramic workshops in Virginia, Maryland, District of Columbia, and Massachusetts. Was an invited artist to the Acadia Summer Arts Program, 2012 and 2014. For over 35 years she has had commissions from Omen-Azen, a Japanese restaurant in New York City. Catherine grew up in New York City, studied painting in Aix-en-Provence, France and has an MFA from Antioch University.
STATEMENT: Seeking a poetic language of material, shape and surface, White’s plates, bowls, cups and vases abstractly refer to the landscape through the raw materials she collects and transforms by considered manipulations of clay bodies and firing effects. Each piece has markings and irregularities that intentionally reveal the touch of the artist’s hand. One recent focus on multiple series of landscape plates reveals a painterly transformation of shadow and contour—specific layerings of atmosphere, terrain and light. Clay processes are also intertwined with extensive drawing, painting, and collaging on paper.
Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA, Re-Sisters, invited artist.
LibertyTown Arts Workshop, Fredericksburg, VA, LibertyTown Presents: Pottery on the Hill, invited artist.
Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, Longwood College, Farmville, VA, Woodfire, invited artist.
Lora Robins Gallery of Design from Nature, University of Richmond Museum,
Continuum: Contemporary Ceramics in Historical Context, invited artist.
Hill Center, Washington, DC, Pottery on the Hill, invited artist.
Gay Street Gallery, Washington, VA, Winter Exhibit, exhibit with Warren Frederick.
Signature Gallery, Atlanta, GA, Handbuilt, invited artist.
Hill Center, Washington, DC, Pottery on the Hill, invited artist.
Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, Helena, MT,
Cultural Confluence Workshop and Symposium, invited artist (participant, presenter, exhibitor).
Japanese Information & Cultural Center, DC and District Clay Gallery, DC,
Floating Islands: Contemporary Ceramic Ikebana Vessels, curated by Akira Satake, invited artist.
Rivers Studio & Gallery, The Soul-Full Cup, Harpers Ferry, WV, invited artist.
Hill Center, Washington, DC, Pottery on the Hill, invited artist.
STARworks, Star, NC, Confluence: a Woodfire Invitational,
curated by David Stuempfle, invited work from international conference presenters.
Blue Spiral 1 Gallery, Asheville, NC, Connected by Fire, curated by Josh Copus, invited artist.
Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD, Top Soil, invited artist.
Cedar Crest College Center for Visual Research, Allentown, PA, Parallel Play: Catherine White
+ Warren Frederick, retrospective gallery exhibition.
Fall Studio Tour, 16 Hands, Floyd, VA, invited guest artist.
Hill Center, Washington, DC, Pottery on the Hill, invited artist.
Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove. IL, Waubonsee Wood Fire Invitational Exhibition, invited artist.
Steven Harvey Fine Art Projects, NY, NY, Free Play: Part 2, invited artist.
Whitaker Gallery, Hood College, Frederick, MD, It’s in the Atmosphere, invited artist.
Cross-McKenzie Gallery, Washington, DC, In the Kitchen, solo invited artist.
Hill Center, Washington, DC, Pottery on the Hill, invited artist.
Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, Portsmouth, VA, Virginia Earth, invited artist.
Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery, Washington, DC, Alchemical Vessels, 2015, invited artist.
Jeonju Traditional Wine Museum, Jeonju, Korea, invited artist (workshop and exhibit).
Douglas Dawson Gallery, Chicago, IL, Elemental: Woodfired Ceramics by Catherine White
+ Warren Frederick, joint exhibition.
Academy of Fine Arts, Lynchburg, VA, Wood, Salt and Soda, invited artist.
Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, MD, Pyro Protagonists: A Generation of Ceramic Artists, invited artist.
Hill Center, Washington, DC, Pottery on the Hill, invited artist.
Ogoya Gallery, Shigaraki, Japan, Shigaraki Kokusai Makigama Workshop, (and exhibit).
Steven Harvey Fine Art Projects, New York, NY, Selected Ceramics.
Omen Azen, New York, NY, whiteness to nothingness, exhibit with Warren Frederick.
Hill Center, Washington, DC, Pottery on the Hill, invited artist.
Penland Gallery, Penland, NC, Artist Plate, invited artist.
Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD, Daily Companions Cup Exhibit, invited artist.
Washington Project for the Arts, Washington, DC, WPA Selects, curated artist.
POTS Gallery, Seattle, WA, 100 Wood Fired Cups Show, invited artist.
Warner Gallery, St Andrew’s School, Middletown, DE, Catherine White, solo exhibition.
Hickock Cole Art Night 2010, Washington, DC, benefit exhibition.
Chroma Projects Art Laboratory, Charlottesville, VA, Rare Earth, invitational exhibit.
Palomar, Washington, DC, Dress for Success, benefit exhibit.
Warrenton, VA, Small Contours, one-person exhibit.
Zigzag Gallery, The Plains, VA, material thoughts, exhibit with Warren Frederick.
VisArts, Rockville, MD, Sculpting Time, invitational.
Gallery Schlesinger, New York, NY, Rough Lines, one-person exhibit.
American University Museum, Katzen Arts Center, Washington DC, Washington Project for
the Arts Auction Exhibit, invited tabletop sculpture artist.
Standard Ceramic, NCECA, Pittsburgh, Myth of Permanence, curated with Margaret Boozer.
Art School at Old Church, Demarest, NJ, 33rd Annual Show.
Simon’s Rock Gallery, Great Barrington, MA, 40th Anniversary Alumni Art Exhibition.
Quirk Gallery, Richmond, VA, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wood, invitational.
The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, 2D/3D, five-person exhibit, collages and pottery.
Zigzag Gallery, The Plains, VA, Shades of Clay, one-person exhibit.
Lawrence Gallery, Portland, OR, Wood Fire, Form and Surface, invitational.
Red Dirt Studio, Mt. Rainier, MD, Diverging Distillations.
Southwest School of Art & Craft, San Antonio, Texas, The Visceral Vessel, invitational.
Resurgam Gallery, Baltimore, MD, Geologic Personality, exhibit with Margaret Boozer.
Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD, Alternative Porcelain, curator.
City Gallery, Baltimore, MD, The Poetry of Pottery, invitational exhibit.
Stancills, Perryville, MD, Coming Home: A Journey in Clay, invitational exhibit.
Rockville Arts Place, Gaithersburg, MD, Metro Clay, invitational exhibit, curator Ken Trapp.
Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, MA, Pottery Invitational, curator Karen Karnes.
Coe College, The Naked Truth, at the 2004 International Woodfire Conference, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, pre-conference, exhibit and panelist participant.
Blue Spiral 1, Asheville, NC, Quiet Voices, invitational exhibit.
Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin FL, The Power of Pottery, invitational exhibit.
Troyer Gallery, Washington DC, Evolving Forms, two-person exhibit with Warren Frederick.
The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA, Tea for Two/Table for Two, invitational exhibit.
White Lotus Gallery, Eugene, OR, Influences, Interpretations, and Traditions from Asian Ceramics, invitational curated by Dan Schmitt.
Blue Spiral 1, Asheville, NC, Spotlight 2003, American Craft Council, juried exhibit.
East Fine Arts Gallery, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX, Women Playing With Fire, invitational exhibit.
Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI, Less is More: Ceramics with a Minimal Aesthetic.
GRACE Gallery, Reston, VA, To Hold and to Have-Cups & Mugs, group exhibit.
Omen and Felissimo, New York City, traveling in Japan, Twining Grape Vine, (drawing) in PeaceArt by 100 Artists.
Anton Gallery, Washington, DC and Barbara Crawford Art Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, A Remembrance Alphabet, (collages in accordion books) included in 9.11.01
Renwick Gallery (Smithsonian American Art Museum), Washington, DC, USA Clay; Curated by Kenneth Trapp, Curator-in-Charge, from the Renwick Collection.
Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, PA, A View of Contemporary Ceramics, juried exhibit, The Connie Fraley Award.
Blue Pony Gallery, Charlotte, NC, To Have and To Hold, invitational exhibit.
Cort/Lefferts, Washington, DC, Pottery, exhibit with Warren Frederick.
Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, PA, Impressions in Clay, juried exhibit.
Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI, Plates and Platters, invitational exhibit.
Blue Ridge Windows, Warrenton, VA, Glimpses of Making Art: An Installation of Artistic Process. Solo exhibit.
Salve Regina Gallery, Catholic University, Washington, DC, Warren Frederick and Catherine White.
Omen, New York, NY, Plates, exhibit with Warren Frederick.
University of Iowa Museum of Art, Iowa City, Iowa, Different Stokes, invitational international wood-fired ceramics exhibit.
Astra Design, Richmond, VA, To Have and To Hold, Invitational exhibit.
Cort/Lefferts, Washington, DC, Pottery, exhibit with Warren Frederick.
Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, PA, Working with Function, juried exhibit.
Elaine Benson Gallery, Bridgehampton, NY, Invitational exhibit.
Cort/Lefferts, Washington, DC, Pottery, Exhibit with Warren Frederick.
Blue Spiral 1, Asheville, NC, Hot Ice II: A Tea Ceremony, Invitational exhibit.
Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI, Plates: Salon Style, Invitational exhibit.
Omen, New York, NY, Plates, exhibit with Warren Frederick.
Blue Spiral 1, Asheville, NC, Wood-Fired Clay: Ancient Techniques, Modern Interpretations, invitational exhibit.
Longwood Center For the Visual Arts, Farmville, VA, Virginia Clay, invitational exhibit.
Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MI, 4th Annual Teapot Exhibition, invitational exhibit.
Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, PA, Hero Pots, invitational exhibit curated by Jack Troy.
Craft Alliance, St. Louis. MO, Third Annual Teapot Exhibit.
Anton Gallery, Washington, DC, Pottery Is Pure Art, three-person exhibit.
San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, TX, Ninth Annual San Angelo National Ceramic Competition.
Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL, Seventh Annual Great Lakes National.
Watkins Gallery, American University, Washington, DC, Faculty Exhibition.
Pewabic, Detroit, MI, A Gentle Touch, five-person exhibit.
Tenri Gallery, New York, NY, Modern American Potters, five-person exhibit.
Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington, WV, Exhibition 280: Works Off Walls.
The Works Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, The Art of Tea.
Arrowmont, Gatlinburg, TN, Utilitarian Clay: Celebrate The Object. In Invited Clay Artists Exhibition.
Pro-Art, St. Louis, MO, Recent Work. Solo exhibit, May 16 - June 30.
University Museum at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, Clay Cup IV. Juried competition and traveling exhibition. Winner of The President Award.
Hand Workshop, Richmond, VA, Function and Metaphor: Dinnerware by Artists.
San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, TX, Sixth Annual Monarch Tile National Ceramic Competition; also selected as part of smaller exhibit traveling to the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, Florence, AL
Pro-Art, St. Louis, MO, New Faces, Solo exhibit.
Pro-Art, St. Louis, MO, SIUE Award Winners, exhibition.
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, SIUE Clay National. Purchase Award.
Renwick Gallery, Sales Exhibition of Award Winners, Creative Craft Council Biennial Exhibitions Since 1980. [1982 Biennial, Honorable Mention Award.]
Renwick Gallery; Sackler Gallery of Asian Art (both in Washington, DC)
Charles Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, Wisconsin
US State Department, Inauguration Text Plates, State Gift presented by President Obama to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, June 2010.
US State Department, Tea Canisters, State Gifts presented by First Lady Michele Obama to United Nations spouses for the opening of the 65th General Assembly of the United Nations at Stone Barns Center For Food and Agriculture, Pocantico Hills, NY, September 2010.
"Exposure-Catherine White at Cross MacKenzie Gallery,” Ceramics Monthly, February 2016, page 20.
"Interpreting Nature,” Greg Huddleston, The Piedmont Virginian, Winter 2011, pp. 78-89.
"Catherine White,” ceramics used in, Kansha: Celebrating Japan’s Vegan & Vegetarian Traditions, Elizabeth Andoh, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA, 2010, pp. cover, 58, 86, 118, 145, 236.
"Rough Ideas,” Sally Pfoutz, Elan, September 2009, pp. 54-57.
"Catherine White Furrowed Platter,” Slab-built Ceramics, Coll Minogue, The Crowood Press, 2008, p.99.
"Review: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wood?,” Howard Risatti, Ceramics Monthly, December 2006, pp. 22-24.
"Catherine White,” ceramics used in, Washoku: Recipes from the Japanese Home Kitchen, Elizabeth Andoh, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA, 2005, pp. 31, 65.
"Catherine White, Cocoon Vase,” in The Naked Truth: 2004 International Invitational Wood Fire Exhibition, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, page 58.
"Catherine White, Single Stem Platter,” in Kevin Hluch, “The Power of Pottery,” Ceramics Monthly, Jan 2004.
"Catherine White, Cocoon Vase,” in Warren Frederick, “Spokes of Tradition,” Ceramics Monthly, October 2002.
"Catherine White,” The Art of Contemporary American Pottery, Kevin Hluch, Krause Pub, Iola, WI, 2001.
"Catherine White, Vase with Ridges,” Different Stokes: International Woodfire Exhibition, University of Iowa Museum of Art, Iowa City, Iowa, 1999, page 84.
"Gallery: Catherine White, Jar ” American Craft, February/March 1999, page 111.
"Catherine White,” The Best of Pottery 2, Angela Fina and Christopher Gustin, Rockport Publishers, Rockport, MA, 1998, page 102.
"Catherine White, Black Bottle,” The Best of Pottery, Jonathan Fairbanks and Angela Fina, Rockport Publishers, Rockport, MA, 1996, page 99.
"Portfolio: Catherine White,” American Craft, February/March 1994, page 59.
"Everything Old [Review of OMEN],” Jeff Weinstein, The Village Voice, 11/9/93, page 48.
"Catherine White,” Samantha Krukowski, American Ceramics, Winter 1993, 10/3, page 51.
"Artistic feast: Dinnerware to devour,” Ann Holiday, The Richmond News Leader, 1/10/92.
Elemental: Woodfired Ceramics by Catherine White + Warren Frederick, Douglas Dawson Gallery & Sketchbook Press, 2014.
Catherine White Bricolage, Sketchbook Press, Warrenton, VA, 2014.
Phrases of the Brush, Sketchbook Press, Warrenton, VA, 2002.
Mary Bowron Tribute, The Log Book, #75, 2018, pp. 28-33, (with Warren Frederick).
The Certainty of Variability, The Log Book, #62, 2015, pp. 14-22, (with Warren Frederick).
Instructions for Failure, Studio Potter, Summer/Fall 2011, 39(2), pp. 6-11.
The Tool of Drawing, Studio Potter, Summer 2008, 36(2), pp. 70-73.
The Dance of Material,, Studio Potter, June 2006, 34(2), pp. 16-17.
Spiralling Choices, The Log Book, #20, 2005, pp. 3-9.
Table Settings, Ceramics Monthly, May 1992, 40(5), page 34.