Resilience: New Ceramic Works by Terri Kern

Inspired by the natural world, her symbolic works of art tell stories of love, loss, triumph, and hardship: tiny portraits dangle from the mouths of dragons; birds cautiously perch upon spools of thread; cages enclose empty swings. For the pieces in this exhibition, Kern also sought inspiration from a variety of objects in the Taft Museum of Art’s collection, including Chinese porcelains, Italian maiolica, and European portrait miniatures.

Using wheel throwing and hand building techniques, Kern decorates her intimate narrative works, made from white earthenware, with layers of colors, creating vibrant glazed surfaces. Her award-winning ceramics have been featured in numerous publications and are held in public and private collections throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Kern’s works have also been exhibited internationally, including shows in China, Japan, and Germany.