RECENT SHOWS (Partial Listing) 15th Annual Loveland Sculpture Juried Exhibition Loveland, CO - 1998 Colorado Clay 98 Foothills Art Center Work by 30 leading Colorado ceramists Golden, CO - 1998 Expressions in Color Two Person Show Downtown Studio Pikes Peak Community College Colorado Springs, CO - 1997 Colorado Clay 96 Foothills Art Center Work by 25 leading Colorado ceramists Golden, CO - 1996 Art Today University Gallery Emporia Kansas State University Emporia, KS - 1995 NEO GEO Gallery of Contemporary Art University of Colorado, the Springs Colorado Springs, CO - 1995 KTSC-TV Annual Art Auction Guest Artists Pueblo, CO - 1995 Emerging Traditions A Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Crafts Fine Art Center Colorado Springs, CO - 1995 Raku Exhibition Japanese Cultural Center Honolulu, Hawaii - 1994 Raku Ho'olaule'a Juror's Choice Award Honolulu, Hawaii - 1994 The Complete Tea Scene Juror's Choice Aware Commonwheel Artists' Co-Op Manitou Springs, CO - 1994

Richard Pankratz decided by age ten that he wanted to be an artist and then spent the next eleven years achieving that goal. Having grown up in the Flint Hills in rural Kansas, attending the Kansas City Art Institute in a major metropolitan area was an adventure. Faced with the reality of making a living, he decided to get his teaching credentials, and continued his education at Emporia State University where he earned a bachelors and masters degree. After teaching art for twelve years and making pottery in the evenings and weekends, Richard took a sabbatical to concentrate on making pottery. He has been potting full time for the last 20 years. ARTIST'S STATEMENT "I am fascinated with the idea of functionality and make pieces that people feel good about using. Pottery is usable art, rather than just food for the soul. Art can be functional and it is up to the artist to put art into each functional piece. It becomes the artist's job to create something that will enrich and fit into the public's life. I try to create an expression of my artistic vision within the confines of making objects for use. Even so, some days I am compelled to make things whose function is just to be. It is a delicate balance, trying to juggle and ultimately fuse opposing forces. Yet, there is a certain completeness that comes from remaining true to your individual artistic vision while creating something that becomes a cherished part of someone's life." CAREER Full Time Artists 1976 to Present Gallery Owner 1982 to Present Art Instructor Public Schools 1965 to 1976 Colorado & Kansas EDUCATION University of Northern Colorado Emporia Kansas State University Master's Degree - Art Instructor Bachelor of Science in Art Education, Kansas City Art Institute