Byron Ashley
Artist Statement
I make finely crafted still lifes that reenact the ordinary — consumer goods, cardboard boxes,
junk food, objects of amusement, rendered in porcelain. My work speaks to the fleeting nature
of desire, consumption, and the ambivalent pleasures of capitalism. My objects operate as
tableaux and catalogs: witnesses to celebrations already past. The narrative itself reveals fears,
joy, insecurities, and the small rituals that stitch ordinary life together. I often use humor as a tool
to approach weightier themes so the work can be both affectionate and critical. I am interested
in the tension between admiration and permanence: the act of choosing, consuming, and
appreciating a moment that is fleeting but here made permanent in ceramic and glaze. My
creative process requires careful considerations, printing saturated commercial colors
juxtaposed against pale glaze washes. By recreating familiar objects with care and slight
distortion, I invite viewers to recognize their own complicity, nostalgia, and longing, and to
consider how value is assigned, lived, and remembered.
Artist Biography:
Byron Ashley is a Ceramist from Topeka, KS. He graduated from Kansas State University with a
B.F.A. in studio art in 2019. In 2025, Byron completed his M.F.A. in studio art from Texas Tech
University. His work features ceramic objects of discarded products and screen-printed labeling.
Recently, Byron completed an artist residency with Chautauqua Institute, a short term residency
with Red Lodge Clay Center, and a residency with Taos Ceramics Center. Currently, he teaches
ceramics at Santa Fe Community College. His work has recently been featured in the
exhibitions 2026 Artaxis National Juried Exhibition, Going the Distance: Regional Excellence in
Ceramics and What Holds – Ceramic Boxes and the Language of Containment
Instagram @byronashleyart
4523 Camino Placitas
Santa Fe, NM, 87507
(785) 409-8120
Education
2025 MFA, Studio Art, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
2019 BFA, Studio Art, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Teaching Experience
Courses Taught
2027 Ceramics: Hand Building 2, (Instructor of Record ARTS 2322 Spring 2027), Santa FE
Community College, Santa Fe, NM
Intermediate-level sculpture class that builds upon existing hand-building skill sets, with an
emphasis on scaling-up work. Students worked on theme-specific assignments, focusing on
sequential development and conceptual considerations. Surface exploration through use of slips
and carving, sgraffito, terra sigilattas. Students learned how to make larger pieces by ensuring the
structural integrity of the work with armatures and supports.
Ceramics: Hand-Building 1, (Instructor of Record ARTS 1330 Spring 2027), Santa Fe
Community College, Santa Fe, NM
Instructed students on various modes of ceramic sculpture construction, including pinching,
coiling, soft and hard slab, and hollowing out solid forms. Students learned technical aspects of
construction, how to attach parts together via slip and score, and the various stages of dryness to
support the structural integrity of forms. Students learned how to transform the surface of clay
with mold and texture, applying underglaze and glazing.
2026 Ceramics: Glaze Formulation, (Instructor of Record ARTS 2312 Fall 2026), Santa Fe
Community College, Santa Fe, NM
Instructed students on developing glazes through formulation and adjusting existing glaze
formulas using the Stull Chart. Students learned to control glaze flow, surface, and overall
durability while following health and safety practices. Students learned how to test glazes and
approach glaze chemistry with trial and error.
Ceramics: Hand-Building 1, (Instructor of Record ARTS 1330 Fall 2026), Santa Fe
Community College, Santa Fe, NM
Instructed students on various modes of ceramic sculpture construction, including pinching,
coiling, soft and hard slab, and hollowing out solid forms. Students learned technical aspects of
construction, how to attach parts together via slip and score, and the various stages of dryness to
support the structural integrity of forms. Students learned how to transform the surface of clay
with mold and texture, applying underglaze and glazing.
2024-25 2-D Design, (Instructor of Record ART 1302, Spring 2024, Fall 2024 and Spring 2025),
Texas Tech School of Art, Lubbock, TX
Instructed students on the basic principles of 2-D design and compositions. Subjects include
value, shape, pattern, color and space. Through assignments, I introduced drawing/painting,
collage, photography, digital and printmaking. Taught students how to properly critique and form
a network/community amongst themselves.
2023 Beginning Printmaking, (Instructor of Record ART 3308, Fall 2023), Texas Tech School of
Art, Lubbock, TX
Instructed students on the printmaking processes of Intaglio, Relief, Monoprint and
Screenprinting. Aided students in developing conceptual attributes of art. Formulated strategies
to best take advantage of printmaking medium. Demonstrated technical processes of
printmaking. Ensured safety and health of students operating equipment and hazardous
materials.
Courses Assisted
2024-25 Teaching Assistant, ART 1309 Global Arts and Visual Culture (Professor Kate Peaslee),
Texas Tech School of Art, Lubbock, TX
Assisted for 2 semesters. Assisted Kate Peaslee with grading and attendance. Gave feedback on
assignments to help students better understand the basic formal elements of art and the roles of
artists in society. Gave artist talk in Spring of 2025.
2024 Teaching Assistant, ART 3328 Intermediate Printmaking (Professor Sangmi Yoo), Texas
Tech School of Art, Lubbock, TX
Assisted Professor Sangmi Yoo with supplemental instruction to students. Aided with screenprint
projects, taking analog drawings and converting them into bitmap files. Expanded knowledge of
digital processes in CMYK screen printing, Duotone Laser Woodblock printing.
2023 Teaching Assistant, ART 1302 2D Design (Professor Travis Neel) Texas Tech School of Art,
Lubbock, TX
Provided supplemental instruction to students, and assisted with evaluating student
performance. Kept track of attendance and overall academic progress. Developed curriculum.
Demonstrating the principles of 2-D design and how to apply various design elements.
2022 Teaching Assistant, ART 3308 Beginning Print (Professor Sangmi Yoo) Texas Tech School
of Art, Lubbock, TX
Provided supplemental instruction to students, assisted with evaluating student performance.
Kept track of attendance and overall academic progress. Developing ideas with students and
assisted with technical demonstrations in regards to the print topics covered in class (Screenprint,
Drypoint, Woodblock and Monoprint)
Relevant Professional Experience
Workshops and Demonstrations
2026 Screenprint glaze workshop (2 day), Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe, NM
Gave Artist talk, demonstrated various techniques of image transfer including newsprint
transfers, gelli plate transfer, waterslide decals, direct printing onto clay slabs. Participants made
designs digitally or with drawing fluid on screens, utilized exposure lamps to burn images onto
silkscreens and EZ Screens. Participants printed images onto clay and newsprint transfers.
Slab building and Screenprint Underglaze Class, Winter, Spring, Summer Session, Taos
Ceramics Center (8 week courses)
Instructed students on slab building, and screenprinting underglaze through transfers and direct
printing onto clay slabs. Hand building techniques covered are slab construction, pinching,
coiling, sprig mold making, press mold making, sgraffito and slip trailing.
Speedball Ceramics Screenprint Demo NCECA 2026
Demonstrated direct underglaze screenprinting onto clay slabs at Speedball’s booth at NCECA
2026 on Wednesday March 25
Amaco Instagram Takeover
Collaborated with Amaco from April 24-26 using their underglazes inks to screenprint designs and
layers of underglaze onto ceramic artwork.
2025 Speedball Ceramics Instagram Takeover
Collaborated with Speedball Ceramics from May 12-16 and Dec 8-13 using their underglazes and
silkscreens to screenprint designs and layers of underglaze onto ceramic artwork.
2024 Research Presenter, MAPC 2024, Manhattan, KS
Presented research into non-toxic methods of etching using Gac 200, aluminum plates and
copper sulfate at MAPC (Mid American Print Council) in October of 2024.
Internships
2021 Fall Intern, Flatbed Press, Austin, TX
Assisted with the editioning of projects for Lance Letscher. Inked up plates for etchings Therapy
Bird and The Third D. Additionally I maintain the cleanliness of the community and pro shops,
help in the office with preparatory tasks for exhibitions, shipping, show striking and hanging
Summer Intern, Island Press, Saint Louis, MO
Assisted with the development of print projects for Michael Joo, Erika Blumenfeld and BARBER.
For the Joo project I inked up plexiglass relief plates, mixed screen Ink and washed out
silkscreens. For Blumenfeld I cut down paper, and applied gold leaf to her prints. For the BARBER
project I mixed up etching Ink, rolled flats for Chine-Colle and cut up said Chine-Colle.
2019 Summer Intern, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Front Desk, Aspen, CO
Performed office and retail duties. As the front desk receptionist I was to greet guests as they
come in, take and transfer calls, run errands for the office and facilitate the administrative needs
of the ranch. Aside from administration and receptionist I also handled retail and cashiering at
our fine art gallery/art supply store.
Residencies
2026 Taos Ceramics Center, Taos, NM
2025 Chautauqua Institute, June-August, Chautauqua, NY
Red Lodge Clay Center Short Term Residency, Sept-December, Red Lodge, MT
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions:
2026
Moments. A State of Being, Taos Ceramics Center, Taos, NM
2025
Failed Expectations MFA Thesis Exhibition, Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the
Arts (LHUCA), Lubbock, TX,
Group Exhibitions:
2026
2026 Artaxis National Juried Exhibition, Mulvane Art Museum, Topeka, KS, curated by
Tyler Quintin, Kyla Strid and Dr. Sara Stepp
Chroma, Trish Martindale Gallery at Queen City Clay, Norwood, OH, curated by Ling
Chun and Cori Crumine
Going the Distance: Regional Excellence in Ceramics, Erman B. White Gallery, Butler, KS
curated by Kevin Kelly and Rachel Curtis
IAIA/SFCC Faculty and Staff Exhibition, Balzer Contemporary Edge Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
The Mudflap Cup Show, Mudflat Studio, Somerville, MA, curated by Chandra DeBuse
2025 What Holds – Ceramic Boxes and the Language of Containment, Vessels and Sticks,
Toronto, ON, Curated by Jennifer Kerbel Poirier
Wichita National All Craft Media Exhibition, Gladys & Karl T. Wiedemann Gallery, Mark
Arts, Wichita, KS, Curated by Catherine Futter
CVA Six Week Residency Exhibition, CVA School of Art Gallery, Chautauqua, NY, Curated
by Erika Hess
CraftTexas 2025, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, TX, Curated by
Abraham Thomas
Marfa Invitational, Saint George Hall, Marfa, TX, curated by Sonia Borrell, Lester Marks,
and Michael Phelan
Printmaking As Placemaking, Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts (LHUCA),
Lubbock, TX, Curated by Sam Van Strien
Clay: A Southern Census, Clay Center of New Orleans, Curated by C.A Traen
Florida Printmakers Biennial, Miami Dade College Kendall Campus, Miami, FL
Paper and Clay, Tippetts & Eccles Galleries, Logan, UT, Curated by Sage Perrott
University Juried Art Exhibition, Runnels Gallery, Portales, NM Curated by Chris Rabb
2024 Pots-n-Prints, Nancy Fyfe Cardozier Gallery, Odessa, TX, Curated by Alex Gregory
MESH, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, Hyattsville, MD
Paper and Clay, Tippetts & Eccles Galleries, Logan, UT, Curated by Brooks Oliver
2023 October Open Exhibit, The Art League Gallery, Alexandria, VA, Curated by Robert Tillman
2021 Paper West, Gittins Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT, curated by Sam Vernon
2019 Interim, Patton-Malott Gallery, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass, CO
BFA Exhibition, Chapman Gallery, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Grants/Awards
2024 TTU Richard and Sybil Dickey Art Scholarship ($1000), Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
2023 TTU Roberts Regents Art Scholarship (500$), Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
TTU E Malouf Art Scholarship (500$), Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
2022 Distinguished Graduate Student Assistantship (13,000$), Texas Tech University, Lubbock,
TX
Geneva Griffin - Regents Endowed Scholarship (1,000$), Texas Tech University, Lubbock,
TX
2021 Artist INC Topeka Fellowship, Arts Topeka, Topeka, KS
2019 National Endowment for the Arts Undergrad Research Scholarship (1,000$), Kansas State
University, Manhattan KS
Memberships
2026 Art Axis
2024 National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA)
Mid America Print Council (MAPC)
Press:
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Suboart Magazine Interview Issue No.64
Technical Skills
Ceramic: Hard and soft slab building, pinching and coiling, hollowing out solid forms, wheel throwing,
slip casting, glazing, screenprinting underglaze, underglaze transfer decals, overglaze screenprinted
decals.
Printmaking: Paper Marbling, Book Binding and Making, Electrochemical etching, Photo Lithography,
Monotype printing, Chine-Colle, Relief and Multi Color Woodblock, Intaglio, Aquatint, Sugarlift, Screen
Printing, RISO,
