M.F.A. in Ceramics
Program Overview
The Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A) degree in Ceramics is a concentrated three-year program built around advanced studio practice, graduate seminars, art history, and elective coursework. Designed for artists seeking rigorous growth, the curriculum emphasizes diversity, conceptual investigation, and engagement with contemporary critical discourse. Students are encouraged to challenge established norms, refine their creative direction, and produce compelling work. Through individualized research, they strengthen technical skills, expand material understanding, and cultivate a distinct artistic perspective that supports a sustainable professional practice.
Program Highlights
- Morean Spring Residency: Each spring, graduates participate in a funded, short-term residency through the Morean Workshop Space (MWS) in St. Petersburg, Florida. While at the MWS, students interact with visiting artists and curators and engage with the vibrant St. Petersburg-Tampa art scene through professional learning and exhibition opportunities. As part of the residency, students also travel to Miami, FL, for a 2-day trip filled with museum tours and gallery visits. The Morean Spring Residency typically includes three trips to Florida: 1.) January: Florida Heat Woodfiring Workshop (16 days), 2.) February: 1-2 Visiting Instructor(s) Workshop (5 days) and 3.) April:1-2 Visiting Instructor(s) Workshop (5 days).
- Morean Ceramics Research Center Summer Workshop Series: Each summer, graduate students participate in an intensive on-campus workshop series, working alongside and connecting with visiting artists, designers, and curators.
- Funding: Each graduate student receives the Audrey Morean Petersen Graduate Fellowship. Graduate Fellowship awards include full or partial tuition coverage, a generous material budget, and a stipend. Once enrolled, Frostic School of Art and the Graduate College offer a variety of additional funding opportunities for travel and research.
- Paid teaching opportunities that provide valuable classroom experience.
- 170 sq ft private studio space.
Faculty
Technician
Current Graduate Students
Visiting Artists
The mission of the Frostic School of Art's Visiting Artist program is to give students direct, meaningful contact with working artists, established and emerging, and to build community among students, faculty, and staff across WMU's College of Fine Arts and the wider community.
Ceramics graduate students engage with 8-10 visiting artists each year through the Morean Spring Residency and the Morean Ceramics Research Center Summer Workshop. Students have direct input on programming and are encouraged to recommend artists, designers, and curators they'd like to work with.
Recent visiting artists, scholars, and workshop presenters who have enriched the ceramics curriculum include: Patty Chalmers, Christina A. West, Dr. Andrew Wasserman, Amy Santoferraro, Paul S. Briggs, Rain Harris, Paul Donnelly, Michelle Summers, Tom Jaszczak, Matt Long, John Balistreri, Brad Schweiger, George Rodriguez, Alex Zablocki, Peter Pincus, Mark Errol, Sam Chumley, Julie Moon, Trey Hill, Nathan Prouty, Raven Halfmoon, Stuart Gair, Kyle Johns, Chandra DeBuse, Jamie Bates Slone, Lars Zoltz, Gustav Hamilton, Kristen Cliffel, Michael Lorsung, Jenn Cole, Akeylah Imani Wellington, Savanna LaBauve, & Eric Zohn.
Facilities
The over 8,000 sq. ft. studio, supervised by a full-time technician, includes wheel-throwing and hand-building areas, a well-stocked glaze lab with a spray booth, and a dedicated plaster lab. The Ceramics Area also includes a 5,300 sq. ft. outdoor kiln pad with enclosed material storage and atmospheric kilns.
Tools and Equipment
30 electric pottery wheels, 2 Heated Plaster Drying Cabinets, 2 Brent Slab Rollers, Laguna Spray Booth, Soldner, Bluebird and Peter Pugger Clay Mixers, Bluebird and Shimpo Pugmills, and a Shimpo Ballmill.
Kilns
- 8 computer-controlled electric kilns
- 32ft³ gas downdraft kiln
- 90ft³ gas downdraft car kiln
- 180ft³ gas downdraft car kiln
- 40ft³ gas downdraft kiln
- 5ft³ gas downdraft test kiln
- 300ft³ wood-fired anagama kiln
- 50ft³ gas crossdraft soda kiln
- 6ft³ gas drum raku kiln
- 18ft³ fast-fire wood kiln
Career Opportunities
Graduates have several avenues for employment across multiple industries including:
- Professional Artist or Designer
- University or Secondary Educator
- Entrepreneur
- Fabricator or Studio Assistant
- Art Handler or Preparator
- Artist-in-Residence
- Arts Administration, Museum and/or Non-Profit Positions
- Gallery Manager, Owner, Curator, Exhibition Designer
- Art Writer, Librarian, or Consultant
About Kalamazoo, MI:
Kalamazoo, Michigan, is a metropolitan community of 150,000 residents located in Southwest Michigan, a little over two hours from Chicago, IL, and Detroit, MI. Home to nationally recognized Western Michigan University (WMU) and Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo is a city filled with energy and innovation. A vibrant downtown features quality dining, unique shops, galleries, and live entertainment. In Kalamazoo, you’re never far from a number of lakes and other outdoor recreation or one of over 20 breweries, wineries, and distilleries. Kalamazoo averages $750- $ 950 in monthly rent for 2-bedroom apartments, with minimal campus commutes and an average cost of living. Our students enjoy easy access to a wide range of art-making materials and several grocery options, from Trader Joe’s to Costco.