Nancy Yturriaga Adams

A native San Franciscan, Nancy Yturriaga-Adams spent one year studying ceramic technique at City College of San Francisco. After receiving an Associate of Arts Degree in 1969, she went to work, perfecting her craft in various studio spaces, including Ruby O'Burke's workshop in San Francisco. Now living on Sweetwater Ranch in southern Oregon, she combines her art with riding the hills on horseback and organic gardening.

Her work reflects a deep and life long involvement with the natural environment. “Over many years I’ve sought to integrate my daily life with nature, offering homage to the animals and plants---celebrating their symbolism as well a their fragility in the face of the encroaching corporate world and the mind-set that goes with it”-Nancy.

Technically, she has perfected an unusual and unique manner of surface treatment. Each piece is wheel-thrown porcelain, hand-carved and modeled with flora and fauna motifs. Multiple coats of matt glazes airbrushed onto the ware before then fired to maturity in an oxidation kiln. She likes to push the envelope of conventional pottery, stretching out to incorporate the sculptural into bowls, vases and tea sets. “It’s the making that I love and the interaction with those who appreciate my work. In the studio, time means nothing, the work is everything”-Nancy. 

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SELECTED MUSEUM SHOWS:

2022  “24th San Angelo National Ceramic Exhibition” San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, Texas    http://www.samfa.org April 8. 2022-June26, 2022. 

“Precedents: Past Meets Present in Contemporary Glass and Clay” Racine Museum of Art Permanent    Collection (Cathy/Jack Stranghellini, contributors)  Vase, circa, 1985 February 9-September 24, 2022  

2020-2021 “Someone’s Cup of Tea: Contemporary Teapots” Racine Museum of Art Permanent collection of    the museum, Racine, Wisconsin Spirit Fish Teaset, 1992 (Lucy G, Feller, contributor). August 7, 2020---   July 24, 2021

2018   “Beasts: Wild Animals in RAM’s Collection” February 18-June 10, 2018  Racine Art Museum Racine,    Wisconsin

2007   “Teapots: From Craft to Art” Invitational Grants Pass Museum of Art, Grants Pass, Oregon

2005 “Particles and Passion: The Art of Clay”, invitational, Academy Art Museum, Easton, Maryland

“For the Love of Flowers”, invitational, Kentucky Museum of Arts and Design, Louisville, Kentucky

2004 “Bottled Spirits”, invitational, Kentucky Museum of Arts and Design, Louisville, Kentucky

2003 “Planting, Potting and Pruning: Artists and the Cultivated Landscape” invitational, Charles A. Wustum    Museum of Fine  Arts, Racine, WI.

“Ohio Arts and Crafts: Tradition and Legacy” invitational, Ohio Crafts Museum, Columbus, Ohio

“Great Pots! Contemporary Ceramics, From Function to Fantasy” from the museum permanent     collection, Newark Museum of Art, Newark, New Jersey.

2001 Once Upon A Time: Artists Examine Fairy Tales, Legends and Myth, invitational, Charles A. Wustum    Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI

1997-98  “L'Chaim: A Kiddush Cup Invitational, ” San Francisco Jewish Museum, San Francisco, CA    (catalogue available)

“Lake Michigan: From Placid Pool to Raging Flood," invitational, Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine    Arts, Racine, WI

1995 “A Madcap Teapot Party at the Renwick, ” invitational, Renwick Gallery, Washington, DC

“Let's Play House: Artists and the Domestic Environment," invitational, Charles A. Wustum Museum of    Fine Arts, Racine, WI

1994 “Masters of Contemporary Ceramics, ” Private Collection Showing, Newark Museum of Art, Newark, NJ

1987-1988 "27th Ceramic National Exhibition Now”, April June 1987, Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse,    NY. An international traveling exhibition.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:

2019  SydEntel Gallery, Safety Harbor, Flordia Teapot Show Invitational February 15-March 15, 2019

2013-2015 “Hot Tea” Del Mano Gallery , Los Angles, California www.delmano.com

2014  Cedar Creek Gallery National teapot Show 1X Invitational, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, North    Carolina

2013  “Teapots 7” Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, invitational, Pittsburg, PA.

2012  “Small Treasures”, invitational, Jacobs Gallery, Eugene, Oregon

2010  “Teapots”,invitational,Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, Pittsburg, PA.

2008 “Hot Tea, 2008”, Del Mano Gallery, Los Angles, CA.

2007  “Hot Tea, 2007”, Del Mano Gallery, Los Angles, CA.

2006 “Craftforms 2006, 12th Annual International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Wayne Art Center,    Wayne, PA.

“Teapots: Universal Adoration” invitational, Pewabic Pottery Main Galleries, Detroit, Michigan

“Man Hatter’s Tea”, Oregon Potter’s Association, Skutt Ceramic Products Building, Portland, Oregon

2005  “Hot Tea! 2005 ”, invitational, del Mano Gallery, Los Angles, CA.

2004 “Tea and Fantasy”, invitational, Alianza Gallery, Boston, MA.

“Hot Tea”, invitational, Del Mano Gallery, Los Angles, CA

1997-98 “Hitachi Data Systems Tea Show”, invitational private corporate exhibit, Hitachi Corp. Headquarters,    Santa Clara, CA

1996 "Celestial Seasonings, A Loose Interpretation," Invitational Teapot Exhibit, Boulder, CO

"Contemporary Teapots at SOFA Miami," an invitational, presented by the Ferrin Gallery, Miami, FL

1993  “Chicago New Art Forms, Chicago Navy Pier, Ferrin Gallery, Chicago, IL

“Tea Party”, Ferrin Gallery, Northampton, MA

1987  “Tea for 200” Incorporated Gallery, New York, NY

1985 “Teapots”, the Stanford M. Besser Collection of Contemporary Teapots, Arkansas Art Center, Decorative    Arts Museum

“Teapot Exhibit: From Craft to Art” Oakland Museum Collectors Gallery, Oakland, CA.

1981 Richmond Designer & Craftsman Show, Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA.

SELECTED CRAFT SHOWS:

Salem Arts Festival, Salem, Oregon, 2011-2012

Association of Clay and Glass Artists, Palo Alto Cultural Center, Palo Alto, CA., 2000-2010, 2013-2019 2022

Local Clay, Annual Show, Eugene, OR., 2002-2023

Clayfolk, Annual Show, Medford Armory, Medford, OR., 2003-2019 2023

Bellevue Arts Museum Arts Fair, Bellevue, Washington, 2007-2010

Contemporary Crafts Market, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA. 2006-2012

American Craft Exposition, Evanston, IL, 1994, 1996, 1997,2000-2

Art in the Pearl, Portland, Oregon, 2002-4, 2008, 2010,2012, 2016

Crafts at the Castle, Boston, MA, 1996,1999

Philadelphia Craft Show, Philadelphia, PA, 1990 – 1995,2001

Washington Craft Show, Smithsonian, Washington, DC, 1990

Winter Craft Market, Baltimore, 1987 – 2001

American Craft Council, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA, 1981, 1983-2018

Sausalito Art Festival, Sausalito, CA, 1978  1982, 1986, 1989  1994, 1996  2000

Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, Old Mill Park, Mill Valley, CA, 1979  1994, 1997

Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Marin County, CA 1970-1972

SELECTED AWARDS/COMMISSIONS/HONORS:

2007  Curator, Grants Pass Museum of Art, Teapots, From Craft to Art

2006  Portland Arts Festival, Sculpture Award

2003  Best of Show, Clayfest, Eugene, Oregon

2002 Juror, by invitation, American Craft Exposition, Evanston, IL.

2003   Best of Show, Art in the Pearl,2003, Portland, Oregon

1999 Sausalito Art Festival, Best in Ceramics, Cash Award

1998 Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, Sculptural Ceramics, Cash Award

1997 Juror, by invitation, Sausalito Art Festival

1996 Blue Ribbon in Ceramics, Sausalito Art Festival, Cash Award

1993 Elected media juror for Ceramics, American Craft Enterprises

1994  Benefactors Gift, "Woodland Votive" a limited special edition, commissioned by the Women's     Committee for the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA

1992  Juror, by invitation, for the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival

1992  Invitation to the White House, Washington, DC, to contribute a piece to the permanent collection

1992 NICHE Award

1991  Smith & Hawken Award of Excellence, Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival

1991  Tuttleman Award of Excellence in Ceramics, Philadelphia Craft Show

1990  Individual Grant for Excellence in Crafts, Marin Arts Council

1990  Juror, by invitation, for the Sausalito Arts Festival

1990 Best of Show, Sausalito Art Festival, Cash Award

1989 Best of Show, Sausalito Art Festival, Cash Award

PUBLIC & PRIVATE COLLECTIONS:

American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, California, 

Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, California  “Bluebird on Peach Box”, permanent collection

Newark Museum of Art, Ceramic Collection, Newark, NJ

Saks Fifth Avenue, Private Corporate Collection, Chicago and Denver

Corporate Teapot Collection of Celestial Seasonings, Inc., "Tension Tamer Tea," Boulder, CO

Racine Art Museum, Permanent Collection, Racine, Wisconsin

The Stanford M Besser Collection, Arkansas

Private collection of Fleur Bresler, Rockville, MD

Mike & Carol Mendelson, Washington Depot, CT

Mr. & Mrs. Sheldon Margolis

Ms. Jane Korman

Mr. & Mrs. Norman Cohn

Mrs. Robert McNeil, Jr.

Ms Jennifer Taggart 

Mr. Takeo Yamaki Diibiru

SELECTED MEDIA:

Ceramics Today, Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, PA.. 2009

Association of Clay and Glass Artists,2011

Grants Pass Daily Courier, Video/www.thedailycourier.com, February4, 2010

Distinctly Northwest, Sophisticated Living, Signature Style, Renowned Artist travel The Applegate Trail 2007

500 Teapots, Lark Books, 2002

Santa Rosa Press Democrat, "Spinning on Nature's Intuition," interview by Andrew Jowers, January 3, 1996

American Craft Magazine, "Portfolio," August September, 1989

Ceramics Monthly, "Trial & Error Success," February 1989

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

Association of California Clay and Glass Artists (Emeritus member/25 plus years)

Oregon Potters Association

American Craft Council, exhibiting member

Local Clay, Eugene, Oregon

Clayfolk, Medford, Oregon

Art Presence, Jacksonville, Oregon

ART on FIRST, A Gallery of Beautiful Things. Ashland, OR