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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EXHIBITIONS

Jonathan Cross Exhibition

Jonathan Cross

Jonathan Cross
Los Angeles, Nov 2020 - Dec 2020
Casa Perfect Los Angeles 3.0 Exhibition

Casa Perfect Los Angeles 3.0

Los Angeles, Feb 2020 - May 2020
Bonsai at Casa Perfect Exhibition

Bonsai at Casa Perfect

Jonathan Cross & Ryan Neil
Los Angeles, May 2018

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

Exhibitions

2020  “Jonathan Cross” – The Future Perfect, Los Angeles, CA

2020  “Casa Perfect Los Angeles 3.0” – The Future Perfect, Los Angeles, CA

2018  “Bonsai” – The Future Perfect, Los Angeles, CA

2018  “Vestige” – BKB Designs, Palm Springs, CA

2018  “Earth, Ash, Fire” – Bentley Gallery, Phoenix, AZ

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

2014  “Substantial Forms” – Night Gallery, Tempe, AZ

2013  “Origin” – Touching Stone Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

2013  “Elemental” – Barry Whistler Gallery, Dallas, 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’” – Houston, Wichita Falls, 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” – Plinth Gallery, 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, Dallas, TX

2011  “Atmospheric Fired 2011” – Carbondale Clay Center, Juror: Lorna Meaden, Carbondale, CO

2011  “Wichita National All Media Craft Exhibition 2011” – Wichita Center for the Arts, Juror: Chris Statley, Wichita, KS

2011  “Strictly Functional Pottery National 2011” – Market House Craft Center,  Juror: Marry Barringer, Petersburg, PA

2011  “New Graduate Exhibition” – Harry Wood Gallery, ASU, Tempe, AZ

2011  “Unidentified Fired Object” – Harry Wood Annex, ASU, Tempe, AZ

2011  “Plane Forms” – Barry Whistler Gallery, Dallas, TX

2011  “Formation” – Bows and Arrows Gallery, Curated by Lucia Simek, Dallas, TX

2010  “Jonathan Cross New Works” – University of Dallas, Blakeley Annex, Irving, TX

2010  “INFLUX University of Dallas Ceramics” – MOKAH Art Gallery, Dallas, TX