top of page

HEATHER  NAMETH  BREN

 

Address: Twin Cities, MN 55113

E-mail: heathernamethbren@gmail.com

Tel: 952-484-6651

Professional info

 

I am a visual artist with specialty areas in ceramics and drawing.  I maintain a studio in NE Minneapolis. In addition to my teaching and mentoring responsibilities, I also serve on the board at Northern Clay Center.      

Work experience

 

Associate Professor of Art & Design | Ceramics
University of Northwestern - St. Paul, MN

2007 - Present

 

Faculty Mentor | Ceramics
Minnesota New Institute for Ceramic Education (MN NICE) Northern Clay Center - Minneapolis MN

2014 - Present

 

Caricature Artist
Independent Contractor

1997- Present

 
Adjunct Faculty | Sculpture & Art Appreciation
Bethel University - St. Paul. MN

2004 - 2006

 
Adjunct Faculty | Ceramics
Washburn University - Topeka, KS

2003

Awards

 

Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiate Project Grant, 2013

Minnesota State Arts Board, St. Paul, MN

                                    Faculty/Student Collaboration Grant, 2012

University of Northwestern – St. Paul, MN

                               McKnight Fellowship Artists Project Grant, 2009-2010

McKnight Foundation, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN

           

National Council for the Education of Ceramic Art Purchase Prize Award, 2009

NCECA 2009 Clay National Biennial, Phoenix, AZ

         

Faculty Development Grant: Travel Grant, 2008

University of Northwestern – St. Paul, MN

               

Faculty Development Grant: Project Grant, 2007

University of Northwestern – St. Paul, MN

         

Jerome Foundation Clay Artists Project Grant, 2004

Jerome Foundation, Northern Clay Center, MN

 

Ceramics Monthly Emerging Artists, 2004

Ceramics Monthly Magazine

         

Courses
Taught|UNWSP

 

ART1004|Principles of Art

 

ART1007UP|Art Appreciation (online)

 

ART1011|Drawing I

 

ART1035|Design Concepts

 

ART1825|Honors Art Appreciation

 

ART2141|Introduction to Ceramics

 

ART2045|Wheel Thrown Ceramics

 

ART2046|Industrial Ceramics

 

ART2047|Hand Building and Alternative Firing

 

ART2048|Ceramic Basics

 

ART3245|Ceramic Surface 

 

ART4242|Advanced Ceramics

 

DMA2105|Figure in Motion

 

DMA3105|Figure Drawing

 

DMA3305|Character Design

 

2010 - present

2010 - present

Education

 

2001-2003     Master of Fine Arts: Ceramics

              University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

 

          2002     International Exchange

              Staffordshire University, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, UK

 

1999-2000     Continued Education

              Inver Hills Community College, Inver Grove Heights, MN

 

1995-1999     Bachelor of Science: Graphic Design, Studio Art

              University of Northwestern – St. Paul, MN

 

 

 

 
 
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

                 

2016
American Pottery Festival
Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
ArtAxis.org
Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
2014  
Verschlimmbesserung: Recent work by Heather Nameth Bren & Rick Love

Denler Gallery, University of Northwestern – St. Paul, MN

 

Red River Reciprocity: Contemporary Ceramics in Minnesota and North Dakota

Plains Museum, Fargo, ND

 

 

2013  
Flora & Fetishism, MODE Biennial 

Wispelwey Gallery and Studio, Arnhem, Netherlands

 

Print Profs: Recent Works By MN Faculty

Highpoint Center for Printmaking, Minneapolis, MN

 

 

2012   
Dissolving the Shark and Other Acts of Self-Preservation

solo, Conkling Gallery, Minnesota State University- Mankato, Mankato, MN

 

Material Matters

The UNION for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE

 

Small Favors VII

The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

 

FRESH FIGURINE: A New Look at a Historical Art Form

Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA

 

 

2011   
Oracle: Kjellgren Alkire, Heather Nameth Bren, and Rick Love

Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, MN

 

No Artist on Duty

Kopplins, St. Paul, MN

 

Six McKnight Artists

Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN

 

Ceramics: Four Perspectives, Heather Nameth Bren, Sandra Jean Ceas, Kyoung Hwa Oh and S.C. Rolf  

Olson Gallery, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN

          

 

2010 
More Than / Less Than

F3331 Gallery, Arden Hills, MN

 

Material Mastery

Nelson-Stricker Gallery, Manhattan, KS

 

Minnesota Ceramic Educators Exhibition

Anoka Ramsey Community College, Great Rivers Gallery, Anoka, MN

 

 

2009
Northern Exposure: A Survey of Contemporary Ceramics

Curated by Peter Held, Promega Corporation, MADISON, WI

 

NCECA 2009 Clay National Biennial Exhibition

Ceramic research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

 

Raised in Craftivity

Wignall Museum at Chaffey College, Rancho Cucamonga, CA

 

College Bowl I/09: Multi-Generational Ceramics Exhibition

Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
 

 

2008  
Not Not Clay: Really Contemporary Works

Gallery 13, Minneapolis, MN

 

 

2007
Jerome Retrospective

Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN

 

Shelf Life: Heather Rae Nameth & Cheryle Melander

9th Street Entry Gallery, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN

 

Raised in Craftivity

Greenleese Gallery, Kansas City, MO

 

 

2006    
Ultimate Landscape

Gallery 13, Northeast Minneapolis, MN

 

From Our Perspective: A National Women’s Art Exhibition

Oakland Community College, Womencenter, Farmington Hills, MI

 

 

2005  
The Three Jerome Artists

Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN

 

From Our Perspective: A National Women’s Art Exhibition

Oakland Community College, Womencenter, Farmington Hills, MI

 

Clay on the Wall

Texas Tech University School of Art, Lubbok, TX

 

NCECA 2005 Clay National Biennial Exhibition

The Center for Arts and Visual Culture, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD

 

 

2004
Transformation: Contemporary works in Ceramics, Elizabeth R. Raphael Founder’s Prize Exhibition

Society for Contemporary Craft, Philadelphia, PN

Alcazar Gallery, Baltimore School for the Arts, Baltimore, MD

 

 

 

Curatorial Work
 
2010-PRESENT 

Northern Clay Center Exhibition Committee

Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN

Curated Exhibitions & Catalog Essays:

 
The Tipping Point: Technology in Ceramics 2016 

this exhibition explores the impact of innovation in the use of emerging technology in the expanding field of ceramics

 
Mythology Meets Archetype 2014

addressed the intersection of the ancient narrative of mythology as a vehicle to understanding the human psyche and reoccurring archetypes in psychological constructs

 

Functional REdesign 2012

an exhibition that included four artists that are a result of the intersection of the studio pottery movement and industrial processes

 

2008
Not Not Clay: Midwest Contemporary Ceramics

Gallery 13, Minneapolis, MN

 
 
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
2017
Team NCECA 2019 

2019 Minneapolis NCECA Planning Committee | Exhibitions Liaison |Fundraising Committee
 

2015- Present
Board Member

Executive Committee Member | Board Secretary | Building Committee | Exhibition Committee | Strategic Planning Committee | Volunteer

Northern Clay Center, Minneapilos, MN

 

 

2012
Artist-in-Residence

Ceramics Department, Minnesota State University - Mankato, Mankato, MN

 

Guest Lecturer

Department of Art & Design, Winona State University, Winona, MN

 

 
2011
Lecturer & Demonstrator

Alexandria Area Arts Association, Alexandria, MN

 

McKnight Fellowship Artists’ Workshop

Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN

 

Guest Lecturer

Senior Seminar, Art Department, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN

 

Visiting Artist & Demonstrator

Minnesota Women’s Ceramic Association, Redwing, MN

 

Juror, Uptown Art Fair

Uptown Arts Association, Minneapolis, MN

 

2010 
Guest Lecturer

Foundations Seminar

Art Department, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

 

Judge

Annual Wisconsin High School Art Competition

Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI

        

 

2009  
Discussion Group Leader

NCECA Philadelphia, Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA

 

        

2008
Visiting Artist

Art Department, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN

 

        

2007
Visiting Artist

Art Department, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN

 

 

2006  
Guest Critic

Post-baccalaureate, Art Dept., Bethel University, St. Paul, MN        

        

 

2005
Art Educator Workshop Instructor

Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN 

  

Artist-in-Residence

Art Department, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN 

             

Guest Lecturer

Art Department, Senior Seminar, Bethel University, Saint Paul, MN

PROFESSIONALMEMBERSHIPS

 

National Council on the Education for Ceramic Arts

member, 2006-present

ATTENDED ANNUAL CONFERENCES 2004, 2006-PRESENT

 

Northern Clay Center

Minneapolis, MN 

member, 2010-present

 

Minnesota Women Ceramic Artists; member, 2013

 

ArtAxis.org

Member since 2009

 

AccessCeramics.org

Member since 2009

 

 

 

 

 

Skills

 

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe InDesign

Moodle & Blackboard

Google Sketchup

Technical drawing

Prototyping

Mold making

Slip Casting

Resin Casting

Ceramic Screen Printing

Ceramic image transfer

Ceramic mono printing

Glaze Formulation

Surface Decoration

Glaze troubleshooting

Wheel throwing

Figurative sculpture

Airbrush 

Woodworking

Kiln Firing

 

 

 

UNIVERSITY SERVICE

 

Academic Technology Roundtable Committee 

UNWSP 

Fall 2015 - 2016

 

Vice President of Faculty Senate

UNWSP

Fall 2014 - 2016

 

Center for Teaching and Learning Planning Committee

UNWSP

Fall 2014 – present

 

Director of Office for Online Learning Search Committee

UNWSP

Fall 2014

 

Faculty Personnel Committee

UNWSP

Fall 2011- Spring 2014

 

Alpha Committee

UNWSP

Fall 2008-2013

 

 

 

 

 

CHARITABLE & VOLUNTEER PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT

 

2012  

Empty Bowls, Northwestern College, Site Project Organizer

Union Gospel Mission, St. Paul, MN

 

NCECA Student Critique Professional/Instructor, NCECA Conference, Seattle, WA

 

NCECA Philadelphia 2012 Annual Cup Fundraiser, Donating Artist, Seattle, WA

 

2011  

Empty Bowls, Northwestern College, Site Project Organizer

Union Gospel Mission, St. Paul, MN

 

2010  

Empty Bowls, Northwestern College, Site Project Organizer

Union Gospel Mission, St. Paul, MN

 

Cosmos in Chaos: a Charitable Art Auction for Haiti Relief, Donating Artist 

Minneapolis, MN

 

NCECA Philadelphia 2010 Annual Cup Fundraiser, Donating Artist,

Philadelphia, PA

 

2009  

Empty Bowls, Northwestern College, Site Project Organizer

Union Gospel Mission, St. Paul, MN

 

Monster Drawing Rally, Midway Contemporary Art Center, Artist

Minneapolis, MN

 

NCECA Phoenix 2009 Annual Cup Fundraiser, Donating Artist

Phoenix, AZ

 

2008  

Monster Drawing Rally, Midway Contemporary Art Center, Artist

Minneapolis, MN

 

2007   

Holiday Exhibition and Sale, Volunteer, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN

 

bottom of page