Jonathan Cross

Jonathan Cross is an American ceramicist, with both an eponymous studio in Los Angeles and a wood kiln in the desert community of Twentynine Palms, CA. Known for his use of ancient wood-firing technique - his singular, imposing work spans sculptures, furniture and vessels.
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After receiving his BFA from the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas, Cross relocated to Los Angeles where he worked at the prestigious Gemini G.E.L. print shop. Here, he refined his graphic sensibility while working with many important contemporary artists, including Richard Serra, Joel Shapiro, and Ann Hamilton. His first foray into clay were handmade planters for his own unusual cacti and succulents. After working with acclaimed ceramic artist Don Rietz, Cross decided to pursue an MFA in ceramics at Arizona State University.

Cross was immediately drawn to the ancient process of wood-firing, which gives each piece a patina that evokes ancient artifacts, old stone structures or discarded post-apocalyptic future relics. His vessels suggest simple minimalist, evoking geology, science fiction and modern art. His sculptural pieces, bold and primitive in their forms, combine a modern sensibility with textural materiality. His printmaking background also remains evident in his pieces, which favor strong silhouettes, hard edge lines and repetitive leitmotif.

His work has been exhibited in galleries throughout the Southwest from Los Angeles to Dallas. Private collections with Cross pieces include the Las Cruces Museum of Art, New Mexico and the National Bonsai Museum in Washington D.C.
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C.V.

Education

2011-2014  MFA, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.
2009-2011  Post B.A. portfolio student, ceramics. University of Dallas, Irving, TX.
2007-2009  Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles, CA.
2000-2003  B.A. Printmaking- University of Dallas, Irving, TX.
1999-2000  Northlake College, Irving, TX.

Solo Exhibitions

2018   Vestige. BKB Designs, Palm Springs, CA.
2018   Earth, Ash, Fire. Bentley Gallery, Phoenix, AZ.
2014   Substantial Forms. Night Gallery, Tempe, AZ.
2013   Origin. Touching Stone Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
2013   Elemental. Barry Whistler Gallery, Dallas, TX.
2011   Plane Forms. Barry Whistler Gallery, Dallas, TX.
2011   Formation. Curated by Lucia Simek. Bows and Arrows Gallery, Dallas, TX.
2010   Jonathan Cross New Works. University of Dallas, Blakeley Annex, Irving, TX.

Selected Exhibitions

2017   It’s Only Black and White… But I like It. Barry Whistler Gallery, Dallas, TX.
2017   Close to Nature. Ren Brown Collection, Bodega Bay, CA.
2017   New California Craft. The ROW, Los Angeles, CA.
2017   The Immaculate Object. The Future Perfect, New York, NY.
2016   30 Years. Barry Whistler Gallery, Dallas, TX.
2016   Wild. Maison Objet, Curated by Francios Bernard, Paris, France.
2014   Materials: Hard and Soft, Greater Denton Arts Council, Denton, TX.
2013   From the Ground Up XXVI, Las Cruces Art Museum, NM.
2013   Roaming with Abandon, Modified Arts, Phoenix, AZ.
2013   From the Sidelines, Night Gallery, Tempe, AZ.
2013   UD Clay “EARTH/ENERGY” (traveling exhibition), Houston, TX, Wichita Falls, TX, Irving, TX.
2013   34th Annual Contemporary Crafts, Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, Mesa,     AZ.
2013   Juried National II, Juror: Dan Anderson, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT.
2012   6th Annual Emerging Artist Show, CAMEO, Houston, TX.
2012   Flash Point, International Wood-fire exhibition, Juror-John Balistreri, Denver, CO.
2012   Rinse and Repeat, Braggs Pie Factory. Phoenix, AZ.
2011   University of Dallas Regional Juried Ceramic Competition, Beatrice M. Haggerty Gallery, Juror: Cynthia Bringle.
2011   Atmospheric Fired 2011, Carbondale Clay Center. CO. Juror: Lorna Meaden.
2011   Wichita National All Media Craft Exhibition 2011, Wichita Center for the Arts, Juror: Chris Statley.
2011   Strictly Functional Pottery National 2011, Market House Craft Center, Juried Exhibition, Juror: Marry Barringer.
2011   New Graduate Exhibition, Harry Wood Gallery, ASU.
2011   Unidentified Fired Object, Harry Wood Annex, ASU. Tempe, AZ.
2010   INFLUX University of Dallas Ceramics, MOKAH Art Gallery, Dallas, TX.