Jacob Grant's Biography
Born and raised in rural, central Illinois, I found my love for ceramics while attending Eastern Illinois University during my undergraduate studies. I have made and sold pottery since 2000, and started The Potter’s House in 2003. In 2005, I moved to Peoria to pursue the Master of Fine Arts degree at Bradley University. I started working at The Peoria Art Guild as the Education Assistant and taught classes until 2010.
After graduating from Bradley in the spring of 2008, I set up a studio in downtown Peoria at the Murray Center for the Arts and began working as a full-time artist/potter. Working with designers, my work has been sold and displayed in significant locations such as Disney World and The Four Seasons Hotel in Washington D.C. Selling my work at street art festivals and fairs, I received attention from a national publication and was the featured cover artist for Sunshine Artist Magazine in January of 2010.
I am currently an Associate Professor of Art at Illinois Central College. I still continue to work part-time making ceramic art and pottery at the Murray Center for the Arts, displaying and selling both in galleries and art festivals. In Peoria, my work is on display to sell at Picture This in Peoria Heights. As a member of the Illinois Artisans Program since 2006, I have work in their shops at Rend Lake, Illinois and Chicago, Illinois. Kruger Pottery in St. Louis, MO also has my work on display in their consignment gallery.
In 2010 a fellow potter, Susi Mathews, and myself set up Wheel Art Studios in the Murray Center. This is a cooperative pottery studio that offers space to work for individuals who have experience in the medium. Classes and workshops are offered here, as well. For more information on this, you can visit our facebook site at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wheel-Art-Pottery-Studios/101287019921614
Most recently, I have been taking part in First Fridays with the CIAO (Central Illinois Artists Organization) in Peoria, IL. Every First Friday of the month, around the downtown area of Peoria, artists studios and galleries have their doors open to the public from 5-9pm. It is a family-friendly event and I usually have live music and pottery demonstrations happening at my studio. Come visit if you have the chance!
For more information on CIAO visit http://ciaopeoria.com/
Created by Gabe Grant
Last update September 2011