Stephanie Arnot is an emerging Canadian ceramic artist originally from the west coast of Canada. She previously studied volcanology, before graduating from the Kootenay School of Art Ceramics program, and completing a BFA in Ceramics and Glass from Alberta University of the Arts.
She enjoys merging colour, material, and textures into fantastic objects, whether sculptural or functional. Her current focus is on dynamic geologic systems and the relationship between the earth and humans, using a visual vocabulary that explores natural formations and processes. Her ceramics often incorporate minerals and aggregates she has collected or created herself, bringing them to the forefront of how the viewer interacts with her work.
She notes:
“Working in clay is a natural extension of my abiding passion for the earth made tangible. Geologic deposits dug from the ground, formed by mind and hand, heated until they return to stone. All manner of mineral and human working together to form an enduring object of beauty and function.
As an artist, I’m driven to explore the boundaries of material expression, whether that be the line between stone, clay body and glaze, or our visual relationship with the landscape. I am driven to seek wisdom and experience through material, boundlessly infatuated by the possibilities that unfold before me as I learn from and collaborate with the world around me. I aspire to create long-lasting pieces that subvert understanding of material and celebrate this through fantastical well-crafted objects.”
Exhibitions
2024 – “Next Generation”, Gardiner Museum, Toronto ON (Curated)
“Northern Lights”, Glass Art Association of Canada, GAAC.ca (Curated)
“Grad Showcase”, Illingsworth Kerr Gallery, Calgary AB (Group)
2023 – “The Fina(l) Countdown”, AUArts, Calgary AB (Group)
“The EEAP! Show”, Winter AUArts Gallery Crawl, Calgary AB (Group)
“I Wonder…”, nvrlnd. Arts Foundation, Calgary AB (Group)
“Dirt & Sand & Heat & Sweat”, AUArts, Calgary AB (Group)
“The EEAP! Show”, Fall AUArts Gallery Crawl, Calgary AB (Group)
“Summer Residency Show”, AUArts, Calgary AB (Group)
“Sundae”, Luke Lindoe Library, Calgary AB (Solo)
“Annual Glass Show”, AUArts, Calgary AB (Curated)
2022 – “Because It’s Abundant: An Ode to Material”, AUArts, Calgary AB (Group)
“11th Annual President’s Art, Craft and Design Exhibition”, AUArts, Calgary AB (Juried)
“What the Cup”, Victoria Mud League, Victoria BC (Juried)
2021 – “What the Cup”, Victoria Mud League, Victoria BC (Curated)
2020 – “Showcase Exhibition”, City of Saanich, Saanich BC (Curated)
2019 – “Cirque”, City of Saanich, Saanich BC (Solo)
2015 – “TD Art Gallery Paint-In”, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria BC (Juried)
“Boobies and Wieners: Ménage a Trois”, Hot Art Wet City Gallery, Vancouver BC (Group)
“YouthSpace Fundraiser Gala”, Windrush Gallery, Metchosin BC (Curated)
“Summer Small Works”, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria BC, (Juried)
2014 – “TD Art Gallery Paint-In”, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria BC (Juried)
“Boobies and Wieners: Bigger and Longer”, Hot Art Wet City Gallery, Vancouver BC (Group)
“Christmas Small Works”, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria BC (Curated)
2003 – “Dragon Bones: When Dinosaurs Rules China”, Royal BC Museum, Victoria BC (Group)
“Art in Public Places”, Victoria Legislature and Ministry of Education, Victoria BC (Curated)
Awards/ Scholarships/ Grants
2024 – Silver Governor General Academic Medal, The Governor General of Canada
Board of Governors Graduating Student Award, Alberta University of the Arts
Illingsworth Kerr Travel/ Study Scholarship, Alberta University of the Arts
Haystack Mountain School of Craft Fellowship, Haystack/ AUArts
2023 – Louise McKinney Scholarship, Government of Alberta
Monika Smith Ceramics Award, Alberta University of the Arts
Barbara and John Poole Family Scholarship, Alberta University of the Arts
Summer Residency Grant, Alberta University of the Arts
2022 – Barbara and John Poole Family Scholarship, Alberta University of the Arts
Rondi Lee Johnson Memorial Ceramic Community Scholarship, AUArts
Illingworth Kerr Scholarship, Alberta University of the Arts
2020 – Marilynn Luscombe Scholarship, Selkirk College
Harry Golling Memorial Scholarship, Selkirk College
Sally Peebles Memorial Arts Scholarship, Selkirk College
Selkirk College Employee Scholarship, Selkirk College
2002 – Ina DeVries Trophy, Best in Show Ceramics, Shawnigan Cobble Hill Farmers and Agricultural Society
2001 – Ina DeVries Trophy, Best in Show Ceramics, Shawnigan Cobble Hill Farmers and Agricultural Society
Education
2024 – Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours in Ceramics, Minor in Glass, Alberta University of the Arts, Calgary AB
2020 – Studio Ceramics Certificate, Selkirk College, Nelson BC
2017 – Natural History Illustration, University of Newcastle, Australia
Commissions/Collections/ Charity
2024 – Alberta University of the Arts, Calgary AB
Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Calgary AB
“Mug-Out Fundraiser”, Alberta University of the Arts, Calgary AB
2023 – Various Private Collector, Calgary AB
“Mug-Out Fundraiser”, Alberta University of the Arts, Calgary AB
“Chili Bowl Fundraiser”, Alberta University of the Arts, Calgary AB
2021 – “Chili Bowl Fundraiser”, Kootenay School of the Arts, Nelson BC
2019 – “Souper Bowls of Hope”, Youth Empowerment Society fundraiser, Victoria BC
2015 – Various Private Collector, Vancouver/ Victoria BC
2014 – “Art Squared Fundraiser”, Coast Collective Gallery, Victoria BC
2014 – Various Private Collectors, Vancouver/ Victoria BC
2003 – Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontological Centre, Courtenay BC
Cowichan Secondary School, Duncan BC
Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children, Victoria BC
Profession Experience
2024 – Demonstrator, AUArts Gallery Crawl, Calgary AB
2023 – Lecture: “Dispossessed: Between Aura and Intimacy in Craft”, AUArts, Calgary AB
Coordinator, “I Wonder… Show”, nvrlnd. Arts Foundation, Calgary AB
Summer Residency, AUArts, Calgary AB
Summer Camp Facilitator, Ceramics & Painting, AUArts, Calgary AB
Assistant Curator, “The EEAP Show”
2021/22 – Ceramics Representative, AUArts Student Association, Calgary AB
2020 – Visiting Artist, Savory Elementary, Victoria BC
Volunteer Studio Technician, Kootenay School of the Arts, Nelson BC
2014 – Artist in Residence, Opulent Bazaar, Victoria BC
Media
2023 – Global News, November 5, Calgary AB
Featured Artist, Show + Sale Spring Market, Calgary AB
2022 – Big Kitty, October Edition, Calgary AB
2014 – Victoria News, July 23, 2014 Victoria BC
2003 – Times Colonist, May 28, 2003 Victoria BC
2003 – Cowichan Valley Citizen, January 26, 2003 Cowichan BC