Past Resident

Ben Krupka
Resident 2003–2005, winter 2012

Ben Krupka is a studio artist and assistant professor of ceramics, sculpture and design at Bard College at Simon’s Rock in the Berkshire Mountains of southwestern Massachusetts. 

Following graduate school he was a resident artist at the Archie Bray Foundation from 2003–2005 where his work focused primarily on wood-fired functional pottery. Krupka has returned to the Bray this spring to spend some time working on his most recent body of work which departs from the vessel and explores ideas of strength, fragility, protection, communication and autobiographical narrative through the physical amalgamation of daily objects, religious and historical imagery and dreams.

Krupka received his MFA from Utah State University in 2002.   He has taught many workshops nationally and internationally, most recently at King Mongkut’s University of Technology and Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand where he was resident artist and visiting faculty. His work has been exhibited in over 140 exhibitions; at galleries, art centers, colleges and museums and is held in a number of public and private collections. He regularly exhibits at Ferrin Gallery (MA), Akar Gallery (IA), The Clay Studio of Philadelphia (PA) among others.  In his free time he can usually be found on his bike, the trail, or in the kitchen. 

"I’m currently straddling two visually different bodies of work which share overlapping themes. 

My pots remain part of an ongoing investigation rooted in aesthetic functionalism. My goal is to build pots that are a collaborative balance between my aesthetic ideals and the presentation of food while being both utilitarian and rich in content. 

My sculptural work departs from the vessel and explores ideas of strength, fragility, protection, communication and an autobiographical narrative through the physical amalgamation of daily objects, religious and historical imagery, and dreams."

To see more of Ben's work visit his website at www.benkrupka.com.

Lunch Plate, 2010
cone 10 wood-fired porcelain
8" x 8" x 3"

Teapot, 2010
cone 10 wood-fired porcelain
5" x 6" x 5"