Adam Nelson-Ockenfels

Adam Nelson-Ockenfels was born in Iowa City, IA. Adam attended Iowa State University, majoring in History, minoring in Political Science, and earning his certificate to teach before graduating in 2019. Following graduation, Adam began teaching middle school history. He taught history at Jefferson Middle School in Dubuque, Iowa, for three years. During that time, he obtained his standard teaching license, navigated education during COVID, and witnessed political motives altering educational agendas firsthand. Those years of teaching greatly influenced his decision to go back to school and continue to influence the ceramic work he constructs today. Adam returned to school, attending the University of Iowa, where he gained his endorsement to teach art and began to seriously pursue ceramics. In addition to his endorsement to teach art at the high school level, Adam obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Ceramics emphasis and graduated with the highest academic honors. Prior to completing his BFA, Adam secured a long-term ceramics residency at the Iowa Ceramics Center & Glass Studio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. During that residency, he continued to develop his technical skills, glaze knowledge, and experience operating a fully fledged ceramic studio. His final residency show focused on showcasing cone 6 oxidation glaze experiments and continued to explore concepts inspired by his time teaching.