Red Lodge Clay Center – Short-Term Resident (AIA) 2025
Eric Mullis (he/they) earned his B.F.A (Ceramics) from The University of Montana and his M.F.A (Interdisciplinary) from Boise State University. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Art at College of Western Idaho, where he teaches 3D art courses. Prior to teaching at CWI, Eric was Head Foundations at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, and taught art and design courses at Boise State University, College of Idaho, and through the City of Boise’s Art Program.
Eric makes a range of works from collaborative sculpture and multimedia Installation to functional pottery. Eric has exhibited his work nationally and internationally at The Evans School (Redline Satellite), Yardwork pop-up exhibition, the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis), Bradley University, The University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, Blue Line Arts, Clay Art Center, NCECA, Pottery Northwest, and Galerie Aqui Siam Ben in Vallauris, France.
Our work is a poem of forms in space, a puzzle of symbols that ask questions with no solution, translating complex thoughts and emotions to form through touch. An idea can have more dimension when it is described from two different perspectives like how having two eyes gives us the ability to see depth.
We begin with intense observation – examining the objects we use, the built environment, flora and fauna, and media spectacle, examining both their functional and symbolic value. Sculpting our observations into objects that mediate and describe the emotions and hierarchies at play within our experiences and relationships. We present work as a theater of recognizable parts in order to show the symbolism behind the literal, to create an absurd reason of interconnectivity that reflects the dissonance between seeing, feeling, knowing, wondering, needing and being. Our work comes from a place of love, confusion and a desire for peace in the face of persistent violence.