Meet Travis Winters

Travis Winters is a ceramic artist and Programs Director at Touchstone Center for Crafts in southwestern Pennsylvania. Originally from Corning, NY, he found his fascination for working in clay at community college and later went on to receive BA from Buffalo State College and an MFA from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Working primarily with animals and figures, he creates figures based on mundane day-to-day life, past struggles and real people. Winters exhibits work nationally and has shown at Baltimore Clayworks in Baltimore, MD, The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, PA, The Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA, The Baton Rouge Gallery in Baton Rouge, LA, and the AMOCA Museum in Pomona, CA. Travis was the Lormina Salter Fellowship Artist at Baltimore Clayworks, long term Resident at Odyssey Clayworks in Asheville, NC, a Kiln God Summer Resident at Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in New Castle ME and a Short-Term Resident Artist at Red Lodge Clay Center in Red Lodge, MT.

A man wearing glasses, a green beanie, and a black plaid shirt is working on a pottery piece on a potter's wheel in a classroom. Behind him, a whiteboard has the message 'Welcome, Travis Winters' and some sketches of glasses and other objects. There are books, a large rock of clay, and a propane torch on the table.
A man wearing glasses, a green beanie, and a black plaid shirt is working on a pottery piece on a potter's wheel in a classroom. Behind him, a whiteboard has the message 'Welcome, Travis Winters' and some sketches of glasses and other objects. There are books, a large rock of clay, and a propane torch on the table.

Statement

With my work I am constructing characters, often humorous, each focused on its own individual narrative. These stories are based on mundane day-to-day life, past struggles, and real people. Throughout our lives we encounter many “characters” and create our own stories.  Some of these people and stories become part of our personal identity as we pass them on to those around us.  I feel compelled to narrate these stories derived from human nature, universal experiences, and my own personal understanding of the world around me. Drawing from these observations, I am able to manifest prevalent themes about life within our contemporary society. By creating comical figures, I am initiating a non-threatening conversation about a variety of topics prevalent within our culture.  Captivating the imagination of the viewer through open-ended stories, I invite the fabrication of personal narratives and encourage an intimate connection with the characters. This dialogue between viewer and figure encourages various interpretations, all while relating the narrative back to themes of everyday existence and experiences. With my work, I am modeling my figures with exaggerated folds and wrinkles in order to create a visceral encounter with each narrative.  Through sculpting in this stylized yet realistic way, the viewer gets hooked in as their curiosity leads them to closely examine each character.  
 

Travis Winters’ Resume

Download His CV
Download His CV

Education

2010-2013 Masters of Fine Arts-Ceramics, Edinboro University, Edinboro, PA

2007-2009 Bachelor’s of Arts-Ceramics, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, NY

2003-2006 Associates of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Corning Community College, Corning, NY

Experience

2017-Present Programs Director, Touchstone Center for Crafts, Farmington, PA

2025

  • Juror, The Figure in Craft, Touchstone Center for Crafts, Farmington, PA

  • Ecosystem Coordinator, ACRE Uniontown, Uniontown, PA

  • Juror, 2025 Youth Art Month Exhibition, Pennsylvania Art Educators Association, PA

2022 Juror, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh at Touchstone, Touchstone Center for Crafts, Farmington, PA

2020 Juror, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh at Touchstone, Touchstone Center for Crafts, Farmington, PA

2019 Juror, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh at Touchstone, Touchstone Center for Crafts, Farmington, PA

2017

  • Curator, “Ceramic Sculpture Culture”, James May Gallery, Algoma, WI

  • Curator, “Ceramic Sculpture Culture”, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

2016 Juror, Artscape 2016, Baltimore, MD

2014-2015 Materials Testing, Highwater Clays, Asheville, NC

2014 Curator, “A Collective Perspective”, Asheville Area Arts Council, Asheville, NC

2013 Studio Technician, Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts, Asheville, NC

2010-2012 Art History Graduate Assistant, Edinboro University, Edinboro, PA

2011-2013 Bruce Gallery Graduate Assistant, Lead Art Handler, Edinboro University, Edinboro, PA

2009 Ceramic Studio Assistant, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, NY

Teaching / Visiting Artist / Demonstrations

2022-2025

  • Adjunct Professor of Art, Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA

2026

  • Visiting Artist, HACC, Harrisburg, PA

  • Demonstrating Artist, Ceramics Take Over Wheeling Conference, Wheeling, WV

  • Instructor, Expressive Ceramics: From Form to Sculpture, Appalachian Center For Craft, Smithville, TN (Upcoming)

2025

  • Instructor, Animal Forms in Clay, Snow Farm, Williamsburg, MA

  • Visiting Artist, Concord University, Athens, WV

2024

  • Instructor, The Narrative Bust, Touchstone Center for Crafts, Farmington, PA

  • Visiting Artist, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

2023

  • Visiting Artist, Penn West-Edinboro University, Edinboro, PA

2022

  • Instructor, “Bright and Bold Low-Fire Ceramic Surfaces” Virtual Workshop, Pocosin Arts, Columbia, NC

2021

  • Instructor, “Bright and Bold Low-Fire Ceramic Surfaces” Virtual Workshop, Pocosin Arts, Columbia, NC

  • Instructor, “Handbuilding Expressive Cups” Virtual Workshop, Touchstone Center for Crafts, Farmington, PA 2020 Demonstrating Artist, NOC, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH

  • Visiting Artist, Baldwin Wallace University, Berea, OH

  • Instructor, “Animal Forms”, Reitz Ranch, Clarkdale, AZ

  • Demonstrating Artist, AMACO NCECA Gallery Expo, Richmond, VA

2019

  • Visiting Artist, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, NY

  • Instructor, “Making Faces”, Touchstone Center for Crafts, Pittsburgh PA

2018

  • Presenter, "Collectively Coming Together", NCECA 2018, Pittsburgh, PA

  • Instructor, “Dynamic Expressions”, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, PA

  • Visiting Artist, College of Southern Maryland, La Plata, MD

2017

  • Instructor, “Dynamic Expressions” Workshop, Touchstone Center for Crafts, Farmington, PA

  • Adjunct Professor, Arts 508: Ceramic Sculpture, Hood College, Frederick, MD

  • Visiting Artist, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

  • Demonstrating Artist, AMACO NCECA Gallery Expo, Portland, OR

  • Visiting Artist, Corning Community College, Corning, NY

  • Visiting Artist, Ceramic Sculpture Culture Workshop, Towson University, Towson, MD

  • Presenter, A Conversation with the Founders of Ceramic Sculpture Culture, Towson University, Towson, MD

  • Upper and Lower School Ceramics, Bryn Mawr, Baltimore, MD

2016

  • Adjunct Professor, Arts 508: Ceramic Sculpture, Hood College, Frederick, MD

  • Instructor, “Narrative Expressions” Workshop, Johns Creek Art Center, Johns Creek, GA

2015-2017

  • Instructor, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

2014

  • Assistant, Janis Mars Wunderlich, “Imaginative Figures in Clay” Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM

2013-2014

  • Instructor, Odyssey Clayworks, Asheville, NC

Residencies / Fellowships

2025 Penland Winter Residency Fellowship, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC

2019 Pentaculum, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN

2018 Artist-Invite-Artist Residency, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT

2016-2017 Artist in Residence, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

2016 Artist-Invite-Artist Residency, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, New Castle, ME

2015-2016 Lormina Salter Fellowship, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

2015 Short Term Resident, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT

2013-2015 Artist in Residence, Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts, Asheville, NC

2012 Kiln God Summer Residency, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, New Castle, ME

Solo Exhibitions

2026 Travis Winters: Ceramic Sculpture, Rose Lehrman Art Gallery, HACC, Harrisburg, PA

2025

  • Untitled, Alexander Fine Arts Center, Concord University, Athens, WV

  • It’s Not That Serious, Kipp Gallery-Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA

2021 So There I was…, Box Heart Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA

2019

  • HUH?, ARC Contemporary, Cottonwood, AZ

  • Character and Narrative, Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO

2018 Really?, Touchstone Center for Crafts, Farmington, PA

2017 Bathhouse, Corning Community College, Corning, NY

2016 Folks, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore MD,

2013 Man’s Best Friend, Bates Gallery, Edinboro, PA

2010 Sculpture & Illustration, Homegrown, Ithaca, NY

Group Exhibitions

2026

  • Glazed and Confused, La Luz De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

  • Rambling Round NCECA Pop Up, Detroit Shipping Company, Detroit, MI

  • Tangled Webs, Fairmont State University, Fairmont, WV

  • Last Call XI, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN

  • Earth and Fire, Stifel Fine Arts Center-Oglebay Institute, Wheeling, WV, Juror: Holly Goring

  • Keystone Kiln Wars, Ceramics Take Over Wheeling, Oglebay Institute, Wheeling, WV

  • Keystone Kiln Wars, Eberle Gallery, Homestead, PA

2025

  • Bookends, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

  • Material Mugs X, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TNReflections, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore MD

  • Figuratively Speaking IV, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN

  • Earth and Fire, Stifel Fine Arts Center-Oglebay Institute, Wheeling, WV, Juror: Rebecca Harvey/Sunshine Cobb

2024

  • Gifted, Lux Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE

  • Crafting Collections, LaGrange College, LaGrange, GA

  • Material Mugs IX, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN

  • Instructors of Touchstone, Bea Campbell Gallery, Touchstone Center for Crafts, Farmington, PA

  • Fahrenheit 2024, AMOCA Museum, Pomona, CA, Juror: Kathy King

  • Best Friends, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL

  • Figuratively Speaking, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN

  • Earth and Fire, Stifel Fine Arts Center-Oglebay Institute, Wheeling, WV, Juror: Shoji Sataka

2023

  • From the Earth, Rowe Gallery, Greensburg, PA, Juror: Yoko Sekino-Bove

  • Material Mugs VIII, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN

  • 2022 Bridging the Gap, Clay Place at Standard, Pittsburgh, PA

  • Thinking with Animals, Canton Museum of Art, Canton, OH

  • Beauty in the Beast, Blue Spiral Gallery, Asheville, NC

  • Surreal Salon 14, Baton Rouge Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA, Juror: Carrie Ann Baade

  • 2021 Cup the Intimate Object XVII, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL

  • Small Favors, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

  • Last Call VI, Companion Gallery, Humboldt, TN

  • Past, Present, and Future, NCECA Virtual Exhibition, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

  • Laughing in Clay, NCECA Virtual Exhibition

2020

  • Touchstone Center for Crafts, Saville Gallery, Cumberland, MD

  • Past, Present, and Future, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

2019

  • The Emotional Animal, Clay Art Center, Port Chester NY , Juror: Crystal Morey

  • Thinking Outside the Jar, AMACO NCECA, Minneapolis, MN

  • Material Impulse: A Confluence of Clay Artists (NCECA), Corner Store Gallery, NE, Minneapolis, MN

  • Touchstone at Pittsburgh International, Pittsburgh International Airport: Art in the Airport, Pittsburgh, PA

  • Ceramic Sculpture Collective, Morean Center for Clay, St. Petersburg, FL

  • Uniting the Figure, Heftler Gallery; Endicott College, Beverly MA

2018

  • 18 Cubed, International Ceramics Exhibition, Aqua Art Fair, Miami Beach, FL

  • A Maker’s Mark: Touchstone’s Innovative Expression, Clay Place at Standard Clays, Pittsburgh, PA

  • Ceramics Sculpture Culture, Flora Kirsch Beck Gallery, Alma, MI

  • Cup: The Intimate Object XIV, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL

  • Sight Lines, The Gym, Pittsburgh, PA

  • OUTLAWS, Lexington Art League, Lexington, KY

  • Gist Street International, NCECA, Pittsburgh, PA

  • Ceramic Sculpture Culture: Unifying the Narrative Figure, NCECA, Pittsburgh, PA

  • Clay in the Keystone, Brockway Center for Arts and Technology, Brockway, PA

  • Tall Tales: Ceramic Sculpture Culture College of Southern Maryland, La Plata, MD

  • Taste of Touchstone, Saville Gallery, Cumberland, MD

  • Stand{ing} Together, Baltimore School for the Arts, Baltimore, MD

  • Surreal Salon 10, Baton Rouge Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA, Juror: Ron English

  • Me, Myself, and I, Clay Art Center, Port Chester, NY , Juror: Kathy King

  • Fahrenheit 2018, AMOCA Museum, Pomona, CA, Juror: Patty Warishina

2017

  • Rust Belt Invitational, Clayspace at Standard, Pittsburgh, PA

  • Annual Alumni Art Show, Corning Community College, 60th Corning, NY

  • Heads Up!, ARC Contemporary @The Manheim Gallery, Cottonwood, AZ

  • Annual Ceramic Show: Containers, Three Wheel Studios, Providence, RI

  • Ceramic Sculpture Culture, James May Gallery, Algoma, WI

  • 2017 Fellows, Assistants, and Technicians Exhibition, Touchstone Center for Crafts, Farmington, PA,Juried National 4, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, MT, Juror: Sunshine Cobb

  • Abstract Subtract, RHouse, Baltimore, MD

  • Beyond The Brickyard, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT, Juror: Josh Deweese

  • Ceramic Sculpture Culture, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

2016

  • Clay from The Class Room, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

  • Workhouse Clay National, Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA

  • Clay Connections, Gallery CA, Baltimore, MD

2015

  • Winter Show, Green Hill, Greensboro, NC

  • Annual Ceramic Show: Tea Pots, Three Wheel Studios, Providence, RI

  • Winter Fest, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

  • Clay from the Classroom, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

  • 35th Anniversary Show, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

  • Extraordinary Forms IV, Kenan Center, Lockport, NY ,

  • Nu Contemporary, Martha Gault Art Gallery, Slippery Rock, PA

2014

  • Odyssey Clayworks: A Collective Perspective, Asheville Area Arts Council, Asheville, NC

  • Biennial Cup Show, Morean Center for Clay, St. Petersburg, FL

  • History in the Making XIII, Fire House Gallery, Rochester, NY

  • Looking at Ourselves: A Contemporary Figure Exhibition, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD

  • Any Way You Wanna Shake It, The ARTS Center of Clemson, Clemson, SC

  • Workhouse Clay National, Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA

  • Push Gallery, Our Favorite Toy, Asheville, NC

  • Playdate The Ceramics Center, Cedar Rapids, IA

  • Clay? V, Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, WA

  • Southern Hospitality, Baltimore Clayworks Gallery, Baltimore, MD

2013

  • Edinboro MFA-Ceramics, Bliss Hall Gallery, Youngstown, OH

  • 2013 Annual Student Show, Bruce Gallery, Edinboro, PA

  • 90th Annual Spring Show, Erie Art Museum, Erie PA

  • Interchange, Kipp Annex Gallery, Indiana PA

  • NCECA Energy of the Future, Heritage Plaza Gallery, Houston, TX

2012

  • Chimera 7, Erie Art Museum, Erie, PA

  • Super Flutie’s, Bates Gallery, Edinboro, PA

  • Un-wedged, Pottery Northwest, Seattle, WA

  • October Evenings, Heeschen Gallery, Meadville, PA

  • Clay Club Show, Bates Gallery, Edinboro, PA

  • The Ninth Annual Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Student Exhibition, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

  • 2012 College Clay Collective, Fire House Gallery, Rochester, NY

  • 2012 Annual Student Exhibition, Bruce Gallery, Edinboro, PA

  • Smaller Than a Bread Box, Baron Forness Library, Edinboro, PA

  • 2011 Visual Narrative Bates Gallery, Edinboro. PA

  • 13th Annual Mug Exhibition, Clarion Arts Council, Clarion, PA

  • Second Installment, Basement Transmissions, Erie, PA

  • Chimera 6, Erie Art Museum, Erie, PA

  • October Evenings, Heeschen Gallery, Meadville, PA

  • Clay Club, Bates Gallery, Edinboro PA

  • Freedom Through Surface, Art Continuum Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN

  • Critical State: First Year, Bates Gallery, Edinboro, PA

2010 Figure and the Body, Bates Gallery, Edinboro, PA

  • In Transit, The Northern Illinois University Annex Art Gallery, Dekalb, IL

2009

  • The 2009 College Clay Collective, The Firehouse Gallery, Rochester, NY

Publications

2025 Ceramics Monthly, Exposure, October 2025

2019 American Craft, Tales from the Kiln, February/March 2019

2018 American Craft, December 2018

2017 Ceramics Monthly, Emerging Artist, May 2017

2016 Ceramics Monthly, Exposure, July 2016

2015 Baltimore Style, August 2015

2013 Chimera, Spring 2013, Juried Book

2012 Chimera, Spring 2012, Juried Book

2011 500 Raku Ceramics, Lark Books, Spring 2011, National Juried Book

2009 Ceramics Monthly, Undergraduate Showcase 2009, September 2009

Awards

2026 Best in Show, Keystone Kiln Wars, Oglebay Institute

2023 Best in Show, From the Earth, Rowe Gallery

2022 Honorable Mention, Surreal Salon 14, Baton Rouge Gallery

2015 Lormina Salter Fellowship, Baltimore Clayworks

2013 Best in Show, NCECA Energy of the Future

2012 Watershed’s Kiln God Scholarship

2009 Hyatt’s Award of Excellence in Ceramics

Follow on Instagram!

@traviswintersceramics

Life lately…over the past few months I’ve been working on a lot of different projects with a bunch of things happening all at once. This has been really exciting and feels refreshing to have a bunch of projects happening and setting a wh
I’m super thrilled to be showing @laluzdejesus alongside so many other amazing artists for the Glazed and Confused exhibition. If you’re in LA be sure to check it out with the reception happening tonight from 7-11pm. #ceramics #narrative
Just wrapped up this lil feller! Ever since I started working in ceramics, I’ve always loved a good lidded jar and I’ve been having a ton of fun making these. I definitely plan on making some more and look forward to see where they go!
I’m super thrilled and honored to have my piece voted Best in Show at the Keystone Kiln Wars show that was up at Oglebay and now on view at @eberle_studios. This past weekend I got to go check out the show in Pittsburgh as well as get a tour of
Wrapped this fella up a bit ago, but just got around to photographing him over the past month or so. This is possibly one of the biggest works I’ve made to date, standing right around 38”-40” tall. I really enjoy working at a bit l
Wrapped up this fun lil piece that will be a part of a larger project that I’m working on. It’s always refreshing and challenging to step outside of my normal processes to create something a bit different. I’m really looking forward
Been working on getting a few works photographed and fully wrapped up. Although I am no professional photographer, I feel one of the most crucial steps in my practice is getting good images of the pieces. I’ve been fortunate enough to work wi
A few little surface gems from my latest glaze firing! I’ve always thrilled by all the subtle details that glazes and ceramic surfaces offer. It’s often these sections on pieces that I tend to gravitate towards and get really excited abou
This past weekend I the good fortune to attend and do a surface demonstration during the Ceramics Take Over Wheeling event in Wheeling WV, and dang was it a good time! It was so refreshing to see so much great work in one place and to spend some time

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