Kelly Berning

Artist Statement

This ceramic sculpture explores the fragmented nature of memories and the journey of rediscovery. The head, sliced into pieces, represents broken memories, while the boat symbolizes the journey through time. Water is a symbol of change, as it continuously flows and transforms, much like the passage of time or the shifting nature of memories and the waves can represent the constant motion and change within life’s journey. The clouds reflect a dreamlike state and the unconscious mind.

Kelly received her BFA in ceramics from California State University, Chico, and her MFA in ceramics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. For the past five years, she worked as the education director at Jane's Art Center in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where she taught hand-building, wheel-throwing, and specialized classes, as well as oversaw the ceramics department. She has 16 years of experience teaching college-level ceramics at various schools throughout the country. She currently works as a full-time artist and is a year-round resident of Florida.