Kevin W. Hughes
Kevin W. Hughes was born and raised in the “Bootheel” area of Southeast Missouri. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, Missouri and a Mater of Fine Arts in Ceramics from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. Mr. Hughes has exhibited his creative work in over one hundred and fifty international, national, and regional exhibitions. His work is held in international and national collections including the Standard Ceramic Supply Company, Pittsburgh, PA, Taipei County Yingko Ceramics Museum, Taipei County, Taiwan, R.O.C. and the Arkansas Art Center Foundation Collection, Little Rock, Arkansas.
For Kevin W. Hughes, the dual concepts of relationships and toys are the basic impetus for the sculptures that he makes. By combining bought, found, and press-molded ceramic geometric and organic objects into pull-toy compositions, he explores various facets of relationships. "I began exploring the concepts of relationships by looking at how humankind related to society." remarks Hughes. The body of work that emerged concerns sexuality and his view of how American society, through its Anglo-Protestant heritage, regards sex as a “Taboo,” to be enjoyed on a plethora of different levels, through a variety of acts, but not to be openly embraced, enjoyed, or regarded as being a part of a healthy relationship.
Keith Ekstam
Keith Ekstam is a Professor of Art and Design at Missouri State University in Springfield. He received his MFA degree in ceramics and drawing from The University of Michigan School of Art in 1987. He has exhibited his artwork in more than two hundred international, national and regional juried and invitational exhibitions. His artwork can be found in numerous public and private collections including the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, The Great China Ceramic Art Museum in Jingdezhen, China, and the Taipei County Yingge Ceramics Museum in Taiwan.
For the past several years Keith's sculpture has incorporated imagery that points to a diverse range of items. These are as far reaching as children’s toys, weapons, architectural elements, everyday mundane objects, landscapes and other geologic references. The resulting pieces are assemblages of associative and metaphoric elements, a building of formal relationships between seemingly unrelated parts and the meaning that I have imposed upon them. Although made primarily from hand-built clay, He also uses wheel thrown and simple press molded parts at times.
Check out our Exhibition Schedule to view all upcoming exhibitions.
From December 2, 2014 - January 16, 2015 the Batesville Area Arts Council hosted the exhibition Mudwork: Ceramic Sculpture by Kevin Hughes and Keith Ekstam.
