Local Artist’s Work Recently Displayed at the Taft Museum of Art: Meet Terri Kern

By Mary Casey-Sturk

Terri Kern is a storyteller. Through her experiences, she finds inspiration and documents these experiences and the world around her in the art she makes. Sculptural forms and vessels come alive in her hands, and her work is in many public and private collections. 

As a ceramic artist, she’s been awarded multiple Individual Artist Grants and awards. She’s also participated in five international art collaborations with artists from Germany, France, Cuba and China. Kern and her fellow collaborators from Cincinnati, Munich and Liuzhou received an “Innovation Award” for an international drawing collaborative, from the Sister Cities International Conference in Belfast, Ireland. Recently, Kern was one of 20 women artists featured at the 30^th Annual Studio Collection Sale in November at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center. 

Building Community Through Art

Kern strongly believes in the importance of building community through the practice of art and has served on the board of the Clay Alliance of Greater Cincinnati. The Clay Alliance held its fundraiser, Empty Bowls, in November at Arnold’s Bar and Grill in downtown Cincinnati. 

She noted, “The event benefits the Kids Cafe of the Freestore Foodbank. There are over 15 Kids Café locations in greater Cincinnati where children receive a nourishing meal.” 

Empty Bowls started 24 years ago and has raised over $375,000. Kids Café provides free, nutritious hot meals each week to 13 after-school sites in Hamilton County and Kenton County. The meals served there are prepared by adult students from the Freestore’s Cincinnati COOKS! Culinary job training program. 

“More than 82,000 children living in the 20 counties served by Freestore Foodbank are at risk of hunger. Research shows that hungry children are more likely to be vulnerable to illness, lack focus and energy, and score lower on achievement tests. These children are more likely to suffer from poverty as adults,” shared the Freestore Foodbank.

The Clay Alliance was founded in 1998 and is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to raise the profile of clay and clay artists in the Greater Cincinnati area. They hope to achieve their goals through programs and projects that involve educating the public and members, building community awareness of member’s skills and reaching out to the larger community. Empty Bowls started 24 years ago and has raised over $375,000. 

At the Taft Museum of Art

“Right now, my work can be found at the Taft Museum of Art. My solo exhibition runs through February 16, 2025. It is on display in the Sinton Gallery and the Taft Historic House in a large display case in the Duncanson Foyer,” said Kern. 

The exhibition, entitled Resilience: New Ceramic Works by Terri Kern, opened in October and includes multiple colorful pieces. Kern explores the theme of resilience in these recent works that are inspired by the natural world, telling stories of love, loss, triumph and hardship. She also found inspiration from the museum’s collection.

A visit to the museum will allow you to view these whimsical, yet thought-provoking pieces. Dragons, birds, trees and more seem to spring to life and court you from their vessels. An octopus vessel is so engaging that it is nearly impossible not to hear the Beatles singing, “I’d like to be under the sea. In an octopus’s garden with you.” 

Studio Tours and Classes

Kern’s studio is at the Pendleton Art Center (1310 Pendleton Street). 

“On the Final Friday of each month, from 5-9 p.m., the building is open to the public for studio tours,” she said. “My studio, 511, is on the fifth floor of the warehouse building.” 

For more details, visit PendletonArtCenter.com. Kern also instructs and inspires others with various classes. 

“I offer six on-demand ceramics classes, which can be found on my teaching website, terrikernclasses.com. The classes include Class 1: Hand Building Stylized Birds; Class 2: Embellishing Birds with Underglaze; Class 3: Designing Serenity: Underglaze Painted Wall pieces; Class 4: Getting Creative with Simple Slab Jewelry; Class 5: Decorative Underglaze Surfaces for Slab Jewelry; Class 6: Wet Color Sgraffito on Tile. They are for people of all art levels from beginner to professional and include a class recording and multiple short videos which cover all the aspects of the class,” she added. At the Taft Museum of Art, in the studio, or helping at Empty Bowls, Kern knows that art can build community.

Top (L to R) Artist Terri Kern in her studio. Photo provided. An octopus is represented in this colorful piece in “Resilience New Ceramic Works by Terri Kern.” Whimsical pieces displayed at the Taft Museum of Art in the recent exhibition “Resilience New Ceramic Works by Terri Kern.” Photos by Mary Casey-Sturk.