Curatorial Statement
Featured work posted online: Monday, November 9, 2026 at 10 am MT
For our Holiday Featured Artist spot, Kristen will created a series of one of a kind, hand-made ornaments that Kristen’s work delves into the emotional intricacies of home, family, and intimate relationships. Perfect for your tree, or to decorate your home all year round.
Kristen Cliffel is a distinguished ceramic sculptor based in Cleveland, Ohio, celebrated for her imaginative and deeply personal works that explore the complexities of domestic life. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1990.
Her work is included in numerous public and private collections, including the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Akron Art Museum, the Yellowstone Art Museum, Canton Museum of Art, The San Angelo Museum of Fine Art, The Weismann Museum and the John Michael Kohler Arts Center.
In recognition of her artistic excellence, Kristen has received several Individual Artist Fellowships from the Ohio Arts Council and was awarded a Creative Workforce Fellowship from the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture in 2013. In 2016, she was honored with the Cleveland Arts Prize for mid-career artist in visual arts.
Beyond her studio practice, Kristen is dedicated to arts education, teaching sculpture and ceramics workshops to both children and adults. She has shared her expertise at institutions such as the Penland School of Crafts, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, The Cleveland Institute of Art and the Anderson Ranch Arts Center.
She has also participated in artist residencies at The Banff Centre in Canada and the John Michael Kohler Arts Center’s Arts/Industry program in Wisconsin.
With a career spanning over three decades, Kristen Cliffel continues to captivate audiences with her insightful explorations of love, identity, and the beauty found in everyday moments.