Maren Kloppmann (German, b. 1962) is a Minnesota-based artist renowned for her architectonic porcelain wall sculptures that blur the boundaries between craft, design, and fine art. Both her large and small-scale installations are studies in the reconciliation of biomorphic and architectural structures, creating a visual dialog between their respective aesthetics. Drawing inspiration from modernist architecture and minimalism, Kloppmann describes her approach as “a visual confluence of serendipity and precision, where intuition and intention intersect.” Her attentiveness to the three-dimensional qualities of each installation creates a shifting perception of the given space it occupies. Organic and architectonic at once, her artworks are serene studies in line, shape, and negative space.
Kloppmann began producing abstract ceramic wall sculptures in 2013 following a 17-year career in functional ceramics. Noticing how her wall-mounted sculptures were affected by sunlight and the presence of shadows, she conceived the Shadow Wall Pillow series of porcelain wall installations formed through modular repetition. Employing techniques of slab building, Kloppmann meticulously constructs each wall element to imbue it with individual subtleties, while striving for precision. Her distinct palette of hand-mixed glazes allows for nuanced contrasts and soft tensions that enhance both line and contour.
Kloppmann received her journeyman degree in 1984 from the Bavarian Keramik Handwerkskammer. She arrived in the United States the same year to further her studies in ceramics. Following artist residencies in North Carolina and Michigan, she enrolled in the BFA program at the Kansas City Art Institute, later completing an MFA at the University of Minnesota. Kloppmann currently lives and works in Minneapolis, MN, where she has maintained a full-time studio practice since 1997. A three-time McKnight Fellowship recipient, her awards include a Jerome Fellowship and five Minnesota State Arts Board grants. Her work is represented in numerous private and museum collections including the Crocker Museum of Art, the Frederik R. Weisman Art Museum, the Herberger Museum of Art & Design, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
MAREN KLOPPMANN
b. 1962, Veerssen, Germany
EDUCATION
1996
Master of Fine Art. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
1993
Bachelor of Fine Art. Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO
1984
Journeyman Diploma. Keramik Handwerkskammer, Germany
AWARDS
2014
Minnesota State Arts Board Artists Initiative Grant
2009
McKnight Artist Fellowship administered by Northern Clay Center
Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant, St. Paul, MN
2005
McKnight Artist Fellowship administered by Northern Clay Center
Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant, St. Paul, MN
2002
McKnight Artist Fellowship administered by Northern Clay Center
Minnesota State Arts Board Career Opportunity Grant, St. Paul, MN
2001
Minnesota State Arts Board Fellowship, St. Paul, MN
1998
Jerome Artist Project Grant, administered by Northern Clay Center
1996
Zelda Berman Fliegel Memorial Scholarship, University of Minnesota
1994-96
Dayton Hudson Foundation Intern Fellowship, Minneapolis MN
1994
Brown/MacKenzie Art Scholarship, University of Minnesota
1993
Graduate School Fellowship, University of Minnesota
SOLO AND TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2019
Hostler Burrows Gallery, New York, NY
2013
Del Harrow & Maren Kloppmann, Harvey Meadows Gallery, Aspen, CO
2012
Maren Kloppmann & Ellen Richman, Circa Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2010
Rebecca Crowell & Maren Kloppmann, Circa Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2009
Maren Kloppmann & Nancy Selvin, Signature, Atlanta, GA
2008
In the Niche, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2007
Maren Kloppmann, Harvey Meadows Gallery, Aspen, CO
2006
Minimal Contrast, Trax Gallery, Berkeley, CA
Blueprints 01, University Gallery, La Crosse, WI
2005
Maren Kloppmann, LillStreet Art Center, Chicago, IL
2004
Spatial Containment, Akar Architecture & Design, Iowa City, IA
2003
Maren Kloppmann, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
Thresholds, Red Star Studios, Kansas City, MO
2002
Maren Kloppmann, Galerie b15, Munich, Germany
2001
Space and FormAkar Architecture & Design, Iowa City, IA
Yellow, Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025
FOG Design + Art with Hostler Burrows, San Francisco, CA
2020
FOG Design + Art with Hostler Burrows, San Francisco, CA
2019
Design Miami/ with Hostler Burrows, Miami, FL
The Salon Art + Design with Hostler Burrows, New York, NY
2018
Design Miami/ Basel, Hostler Burrows, Basel, Switzerland
FOG Design + Art, Hostler Burrows, San Francisco, CA
2017
Design Miami/, Hostler Burrows, Miami, FL
The SALON Art + Design, Hostler Burrows, New York, NY
Design Miami/ Basel, Hostler Burrows, Basel, Switzerland
TEFAF New York Spring, Hostler Burrows, New York, NY
2016
Design Miami/, Hostler Burrows, Miami, FL
The SALON Art + Design, Hostler Burrows, New York, NY
Expo Chicago, Hostler Burrows, Chicago, IL
Design Miami / Basel, Hostler Burrows, Basel, Switzerland
Winter Antiques Show, Hostler Burrows, New York, NY
2015
Design Miami/, Hostler Burrows, Miami, FL
The SALON Art + Design, Hostler Burrows, New York, NY
Expo Chicago, Hostler Burrows, Chicago, IL
Design Miami/ Basel, Hostler Burrows, Basel, Switzerland
FOG Design + Art, Hostler Burrows, San Francisco, CA
2014
Design Miami, Hostler Burrows, Miami, FL
The SALON Art + Design, Hostler Burrows, New York, NY
Six Women, Hostler Burrows, New York, NY
FOG Design + Art, Hostler Burrows, San Francisco, CA
2013
New Century Modern, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
New Century Modern II, NCECA, Fine Arts Museum, Houston, TX
The Sum of its Parts, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
Winter 2012-2013, Weinstein Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2012
Culinary Cultures, Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX
3 Artists: New Work, Harvey Meadows Gallery, Aspen, CO
National Biennial Ceramics Invitational, Parkland Art Gallery, Champaign, IL
Small Favors VII, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Artist Plates, Penland Gallery, Penland, NC
Minnesota Artists, Minnetonka Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
2011
Many Paths: A Legacy of Karen Karnes, Penland Gallery, Penland, NC
Minnesota Nice, LillStreet Art Center, Chicago, IL
Small Favors VI, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
McKnight Traveling Exhibition, Arts Center of Saint Peter, St. Peter, MN
McKnight Traveling Exhibition, Owatanna Art Center, Owatanna, MN
McKnight Traveling Exhibition, Paradise Center for the Arts, St. Faribault, MN
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Clay Art Center, Port Chester, NY
35th Anniversary Show, LillStreet Art Center, Chicago, IL
The Vase And Beyond, Crocker Museum of Art, Sacramento, CA
2010
5 Utilitarian Voices, Harvey Meadows Gallery, Aspen, CO
Snow White, Cross MacKenzie Ceramic Arts, Washington, DC
Bricks & Mortar, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
Vases of Spring, Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, MA
Small Favors V, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
H&R Block Art Space (Re)Form, Kansas City Art Institute, MO
6 McKnight Artists, Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Encore!, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
Midwest Potters, Mashiko Municipal Ceramic Museum, Mashiko, Japan
Our Cups Runneth Over, The Society of Arts & Crafts, Boston, MA
Joy of Bowls, Worcester Center for Crafts, MA
Basins, Baskets and Bowls, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, MN
Creating & Collecting, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO
Ceramics Then / Ceramics Now, Minnesota Museum of American Art, St. Paul, MN
MacKenzie & Midwest Potters, Gallery Gen, New York, NY
2009
Summer Group Show, Circa Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Collect, The Nevica Project, An Online Exhibition
Art & Objects, Weinstein Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Abstraction, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
Hand-built National, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA
Small Favors IV, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Summer of Love, Dow Studio, Deer Isle, ME
Northern Exposure, Promega Corporation, Madison, WI
2008
Functional Variations, Freehand Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Our Cups Runneth Over, The Society of Arts & Crafts, Boston, MA
The Art of Dining, Worcester Center for Crafts, MA
Double Chamber: from the kilns of MN and WI, Trax, Berkeley, CA
Distinctive Line, Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago, IL
Ceramic Invitational 2008, Cervini Haas, Scottsdale, AZ
Exquisite Pots, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Small Favors III, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
La Mesa, Santa Fe Clay at NCECA, Pittsburgh, PA
Potpouri: Pots that Pour, Clay Art Center, Port Chester, NY
10th Anniversary Show, Red Star Studio, Kansas City, MO
2007
Gifted, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
From the Studio, Lacoste Gallery, Concord, MA
Teapot Invitational 2007, Cervini Haas Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Annual Clay National, Dowstudio, Deer Isle, ME
Eat With Your Eyes, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Winterfest 2007, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
Hand Held Drinking Vessels, Main Street Art Gallery, Edwardsville, IL
Table Tops, Long Beach Island Foundation, NJ
Made in Clay, Greenwich House Pottery, New York, NY
Unadorned, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
Small Favors II, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Contrast: Explorations in Black & White, Ball State University, Muncie, IN
37th Annual Ceramics Exhibition, Crossman Gallery, Whitewater, WI
Yunomi Invitational, Akar Architecture & Design, Iowa City, IA
Flower Power: Vessels of Containment, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Cups Coming Together, Clay Art Center, Port Chester, NY
La Mesa, Santa Fe Clay at NCECA, Louisvillle, KY
Women Who Work In Porcelain, Goodall Gallery, Louisville, KY
2006
Warren MacKenzie and the Midwest Five, Gallery Gen, New York, NY
McKnight Exhibition, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
30/30, Lilll Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
Pots in Portland: 15 Approaches, Japanese Garden Gallery, Portland, OR
Minimal/ist, Archer Gallery, Clark College, Vancouver, WA
For the Table, Santa Fe Clay at NCECA, Baltimore, MD
Sitting Pretty, Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, MA
Less is more / more or less, Weinstein Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
30 x 5, Akar Architecture & Design, Iowa City, IA
2005
30 x 5, Akar Architecture & Design, Iowa City, IA
For the Table, Santa Fe Clay at NCECA, Baltimore, MD
The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
The Box. White. American Master., Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
Minimal, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
4 Minnesota Potters, Trax Gallery, Berkeley, CA, (Juror’s Award)
Pots: Objects of Virtue, Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA
The Contemporary Cup, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
2004
Clay Modern Masters Exhibition, Cudgegong Gallery, Gulgong, Australia
Soda Fired, Blue Dome Gallery, Silver City, NM
Faszination Porzellan, Galerie Handwerk, Munich, Germany
Working Potters: Mentors and Colleagues, Birke Art Gallery, Huntington, WV
For the Table, Santa Fe Clay at NCECA, Baltimore, MD
Thinking outside the Box, Earth And Fire, Vienna, VA
Small Treasures, LillStreet Art Center, Chicago, IL
2003
Studio Pottery Invitational, Ferrin Gallery, Lenox, MA
McKnight Exhibition, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Container - Content, The Fuller Museum of Art, Brockton, MA
Kuenstler der Galerie, galerie b 15, Munich, Germany
Women in Clay: Pots for Daily Use, Odyssey Gallery, Asheville, NC
Soda Fired Porcelain, Wood Fired Stoneware, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
Architectural Allusions, Red Star Studios, Kansas City, MO
Dinner is Served, Worcester Center for Crafts, MA
2002
Peter Beasecker/Maren Kloppmann, LillStreet Art Center, Chicago, IL
Functional Foursight, The Signature Shop & Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Centering: Clay & the Midwest, Freehand, Los Angeles, CA
Thirteen Minnesota Artists, Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Minnetonka, MN
Porcelain: Another Touch, Red Star Studio, Kansas City, MO
American Pottery Festival, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Uncanny Visions, Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI
Fresh American Perspectives, Augustana College Art Gallery, Rock Island, IL
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2013
CSA Juror, MNArtists.org, Minneapolis, MN
2010
Art Grants Panel, MN Regional Arts Council, St. Paul, MN
E-Commerce Panel, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
2006-10
Exhibition Committee, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
2004
Juror for “Box Exhibition," Akar Architecture & Design, Iowa City, IA
2004
Panel: Collector’s Forum, Regis Center of Art, University of Minnesota
2003
Jerome Grant Juror, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
1996-99
Exhibition Coordinator, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
1988-89
Artist-in-Residence, Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2002–04
Minneapolis College of Art & Design. (Mentor in MFA Visual Arts Program)
1999–02
University of Wisconsin, River Falls, WI. Adjunct Faculty (Introduction to Art)
1999
University of Wisconsin, River Falls, WI. Adjunct Faculty (Beginning Ceramics)
1998
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Adjunct Faculty (Interm. Ceramics)
WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, PANELS
2013
ArtMob Artist Lecture, Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN
2012
Panel Discussion, University of Minnesota Extension Program, St. Paul, MN
2011
Bethel University, Arden Hills, MN
2010
Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO
2009
Panelist at Northern Exposure, Promega Corporation, Madison, WI
2007
State University of New York at New Paltz, NY
Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Minnetonka, MN
University of Minnesota, Winona, MN
2006
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
Mankato State University, Mankato, MN
2005
Iowa State University, Cedar Falls, IA
Carleton College, Northfield, MN
2004
Clay Modern, International Conference, Gulgong, Australia
Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
2003
University of Illinois, Edwardsville, IL
Red Star Studios, Kansas City, MO
Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
2002
University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, WI
University of Wisconsin, Pigeon Lake, WI
2001
University of Wisconsin, Pigeon Lake, WI
Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Minnetonka, MN
Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
2000
Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC
1998
University of Wisconsin, River Falls, WI
Edina Art Center, Edina, MN
1997
University of Wisconsin, River Falls, WI
Winona State University, Winona, MN
1996
University of Wisconsin, River Falls, WI
PUBLICATIONS
2013
Online Publication, Contemporary American Pottery.
2012
Star Tribune, Collecting Minnesota by Mary Abbe, April 29.
2011
Modern Magazine, Contemporary Clay, p. 125.
2010
Crocker Art Museum, Catalog of the Swidler Collection, p. 252.
McKnight Exhibition Catalog, Essay by Robert Silberman.
Surfaces, Glazes & Firing by Angelica Pozo.
Ceramics Monthly, December Issue, Up-front Feature.
2009
Ceramics Monthly, Summer Issue, Focus: Working Potters.
MPLS/STP Magazine, October Issue; Lifestyle/Eye on Design.
2006
Ceramics Monthly, May Issue, Up-Front Feature.
McKnight Exhibition Catalog, Essay by Robert Silberman.
2004
Ceramics: Art and Perception, Issue 55, by Robert Silberman.
Electric Kiln Ceramics, 3rd Edition, by Richard Zakin.
2003
Ceramics Monthly, February ‘03, Space and Form.
McKnight Exhibition Catalog, Essay by Robert Silberman.
2002
Ceramics: Art and Perception, Issue 48, by Patricia Briggs
2001
The Art of Contemporary American Pottery, by Kevin A. Hluch
Ceramics Mastering the Craft, 2nd Edition, by Richard Zakin
Ceramics Monthly, February ‘01, Up-Front, p.26
2000
Ceramics Monthly, December ‘00, Up-Front, p.20
1999
Ceramics Monthly, September ‘99, Up-Front, p.12-14
American Craft, Feb/Mar ‘99, Portfolio, p.92
Contact/Ceramics: A Canadian Perspective, Spring ‘99 no. 116, p. 47
1998
Ceramics Monthly, April/98, Minnesota Invitational, p.47
Clay Times, Sept/Oct 98, Vessels That Pour, p.14
1996
The Best of Pottery, by Angela Fina and Jonathan Fairbanks, p. 69
1991
Mastering the Craft, by Richard Zakin, p. 198 Fig. 12-43
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR
Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, Minneapolis, MN
Herberger Museum of Art & Design, Tempe, AZ
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN
Minnesota Museum of American Art, St. Paul, MN
Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, MN
Mudgee Art Council, New South Wales, Australia
Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO
Owatonna Arts Center, Owatonna, MN
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, MN
