Julie Pitzen
Email: juliepitzen@yahoo.com
Website: http://ancientfragments.com
I graduated with a degree in anthropology and fine arts from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, in 1986. My art background and experience include: founder and developer of the children’s art clay program, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (from 2007); consultant to the National Arts Council of Mongolia (voluntary, from 2007); member of the editorial board for World Art magazine, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (from 2007); consultant/developer for the ceramic art program at Orchlon School, Mongolia (2006-2008); member of the US-Mongol Ceramic Arts Collaboration, bringing together ceramic artists in Mongolia to develop their art, organize exhibitions, and build a ceramic art guild (from 2005); member of the Board of Directors, Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago, 2002-2003; workshop instructor, Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago, 2001-2004; education instructor and consultant, Field Museum, Chicago; and curator for Ancient Fragments in A New Light, Woman Made Gallery, 1997.
Gallery / Exhibitions
Xanadu Gallery, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, May 2008
Soyol Gallery, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 2008
International Women’s Day 3-Woman Show, Mongolian National Art Gallery, 2007
Woman Made Gallery Invitational, Chicago, 2006
Beyond Boundaries, Illinois Artisans Gallery, Chicago, 2006
Mongol-American Ceramic Art Exhibition, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 2006
Masks”, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, 2006
108 Taras, Midwest Women’s Buddhist Conference, Chicago, 2006
Illinois Artisans Gallery, Chicago, 2002
Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, 1994
Personal Studio shows, Chicago, 2004 to 2006
Ravenswood Art Walk, Chicago, 2003 to 2005
Blue Sun Gallery of Contemporary Art, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 2005
Ceres Gallery, New York, 2004
Gross Park Sculpture Invitational, Chicago, 2002, 2003
Lillstreet Group Studio, Chicago, 2001-2003
Northern Indiana Arts Association Invitational, Indiana, 1997, 1998
Photo display on Tibetan Culture, Daley Center, Chicago, 1993
Artists at the Field, Field Museum, Chicago, 1989
Collections
Deloitte Touche, Chicago Corporate collection, USA
People to People Headquarters, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Interview
Julie Pitzen has been an ArtStyle Contributing Blogger since 2008. Her ArtStyle Blog interview by Amy Rudberg was published in March, 2008.
Artist's Statement
Clay is a wonderful medium that connects all peoples in all times because it is found everywhere in the world. It has been a constant in my life since I was first introduced to this medium as a young girl. Since then, I have not only worked in clay as an artist, but as a former archaeologist, I researched its forms in other cultures, particularly North America and Asia. I have also had the opportunity to learn from other artists and scholars from around the world. Through clay I like to express my ideas, sometimes stories that are derived from my life experiences and travels. For the past few years, this has been Mongolia and Central Asia. Some ideas come from ancient methods, folklore, religion, history, symbolism and surrealism. I enjoy building things by hand and pushing the clay to its limits, and experimenting with textures, surface treatments and firing techniques, bringing out the character of the clay and adding character to each piece. – Julie Pitzen, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 2007
