Zimra Beiner’s ceramic sculptures appear knotted, elaborate, and almost molten in their playful rough-hewn forms. The latticework arabesques in stoneware clay—often utilizing cut-outs to reveal a secondary, internal wall—are modeled on the form of household plant stands. These ordinary, domestic structures which elsewhere are used for gardening and to wick away water become the core model for Beiner’s elaborations of design, care, and the artifice of nature. By emphasizing the stand over its counterpart, Beiner inverts the classical genre of still life to emphasize the supporting characters underpinning the scene. His sculptures exhibited at the gallery’s Los Angeles location transform this simple, repeated form into visions of organic architecture: knotted root clusters, vines crowding a trellis, or the sandy grit and colorful textural shape of artificial pebbles and other ground cover. A gifted colorist, Beiner’s glazes cascade and eddy in muddy infusions of earth tones, yellows, and soft greens. Through tactile impressions left on their surfaces and in the looseness of their fired forms, many of his ceramic stands recall the clay’s liquid state and the act of transformation that working with clay entails.
As Beiner states, “I examine the intersection between reality and fiction from the obscure to the generic. I use my own language of line, volume, and composition to make sense of the overlaps which occur in the studio (my reality), the home (everyone’s reality), and the gallery (the reality of art).”
Beiner received a BFA from NSCAD University and an MFA from Alfred University in 2012. His work has been exhibited internationally, including solo exhibitions at Hostler Burrows, Cross Mackenzie Gallery, Craft Ontario, and group exhibitions at the Gardiner Museum, Art Gallery of Alberta, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, and the Katzen Museum at American University. He has attended residencies at the Berlin Ceramics Centre, Private Studio Jingdezhen, China, and the Center for Contemporary Ceramics at California State University Long Beach. He has been the recipient of the the Winnifred Shantz Award and the NCECA Emerging Artist Award and received grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. He has taught at numerous institutions, including as an Assistant Professor at the Alberta University of the Arts, Lecturer at Princeton University, Bowling Green State University, and as an Adjunct Faculty at New York University and Millersville University.
EDUCATION
2012 MFA, New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred University, Alfred, NY
2009 BFA, Ceramics Major, NSCAD University, Halifax, Canada
2008 Crafts and Design Diploma, Sheridan College, Oakville, Canada
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023If It Holds It Grows, Hostler Burrows, Los Angeles, CA
2022Moving in Circles, Craft Ontario, Toronto, Canada
2017The Weight of Things, Gallery 371, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Canada
2015Tools For No Purpose, Cross Mackenzie Gallery, Washington, DC
Zimra Beiner, New Work, Sykes Gallery, Millersville University, Millersville, PA
2014Sitting Still, Harrisburg Area Community College Art Space, Lancaster, PA
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026More Clay!: The Power of Repetition, Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA
Inaugural Exhibition, Glenbow at the JR Shaw Centre for Arts and Culture, Calgary, Canada
2025Excellence in Clay: 25 Years of the Winifred Shantz Award, The Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, Waterloo, Canada
More Clay!: The Power of Repetition, Academy Art Museum, Easton, MD
2024Bill and Jack and Other Friends, Alfred Ceramic Art Museum, Alfred, NY
Design TO, Project Space, Organized by Jennifer Poirier, Toronto, Canada
Fahrenheit, American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA
2023Between Things: Alberta Ceramics, Alberta Gallery of Art, Edmonton, Canada
The Aesthetics of Everyday Objects: The Cup, Curated by Jenny Hata Blumenfield ATLA, Los Angeles, CA
2022More Clay: The Power of Repetition, AU Museum, Katzen Arts Center, American University, Curated by Rebecca Cross, Washington, DC
2021Blues, Cross Mackenzie Gallery, Hillsboro, VA
Two Models, Tiny Pedestal Dream Clinic Project Space, Columbus, OH
2020Good Earth: The Pots and Passion of Walter Ostrom, The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Canada
The Mushroom at the End of the World, by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing, u’s Gallery, Black Diamond, Canada
2019Cultivate Instigate, The Alberta Craft Council, Edmonton, AB and The Alberta Craft Council, Calgary, Canada
Nurikabe, Tetsuo’s Garage, organized by Anne Eastman and Tam Ochiai, Nikko, Japan
Reliant Objects, Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Calgary, Canada
The Form Will Find Its Way: Contemporary Ceramic Sculptural Abstraction, Katharine E. Nash Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Thing to Wear, Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Calgary, Canada
2018A Better Understanding, with Martina Lantin, Yuill Family Gallery, Medicine Hat, Canada
Clay Today, The Hole, New York, NY
Form Demands Place, with Martina Lantin, Panza Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
Reliant Objects, Hoffman Gallery, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR
Winnifred Shantz Award Winners, The Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, Waterloo, Canada
2017Beyond the Brickyard, Archie Bray Foundation, juried by Josh DeWeese, Helena, MT
Method Accumulation: Studies in Materiality and Existence, curated by Andrew Casto, Pacific Northwest College of the Arts, Portland, OR
We Are Neighbors, Private Studios, Jingdezhen, China
2016A Round About, Present Company, New York, NY
Goggle Works’ 10th Annual Juried Exhibition, juried by Lydia Panas, Goggle Works, Reading, PA
Homebodies, pop-up exhibition curated by Alex Ferrante, Lancaster, PA
Sindikit Project #3, Zimra Beiner and Carolyn Case, Sindikit, Baltimore, MD
Small Victories, School 33 Art Center, Curator: Jose Ruiz, Baltimore, MD
2015Constructed, curated by Peter Johnson, Nightingale Gallery, Eastern Oregon University, LaGrande, OR
Fabricated Fictions, with Nathan Prouty, Curator: James Barker, The Sculpture Center, Cleveland, OH
Millersville Faculty Exhibition, The Ware Center, Lancaster, PA
Nceca Biennial Exhibition, Jurors: Anders Ruhwald, Linda Christianson, Jo-Ann Conklin, David Winton Bell Gallery at Brown University, Providence, RI
Small Favors, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2014Aisthesis, Clay National IX, juried by Del Harrow, Sanam Emami, Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
Best of 2014, juried by Namita Gupta Wiggers, Nicole Nathan, Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH
Beyond the Brickyard, Juror: Tony Marsh, The Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, MT
Materialize, Craft Ontario, Toronto, Canada
Nceca Emerging Artists Exhibition, Milwaukee, WI
RBC Emerging Artists Exhibition, nominated by Dianne Charbonneau, Gardiner Museum, Toronto, Canada
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition Award Winners, First Canadian Place Gallery, Toronto, Canada
12 Trees: 30 Under 30 Ceramic Auction, Gardiner Museum, Toronto, Canada
57th Chautauqua Annual Exhibition of Contemporary Art, juried by Jerry Saltz, Strohl Art Gallery, Chautauqua, NY
2013Artomatic, The Arts Commission, Toledo, OH
Emerging Sculptors Exhibition, Sculpture X, Broad Street Gallery, CCAD, Columbus, OH
Faculty Exhibition, Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery, BGSU, Bowling Green, OH
Hot Mud, juried by Rachel Gotlieb, Art Gallery of Burlington, Burlington, Canada
Inspired! Young Ohio Artists, Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH
Medalta Cup Show, Medalta, Medicine Hat, Canada
Serve It Up, Victor Keen Gallery, Las Vegas, NV
2012MFA Thesis Exhibition, Fosdick Nelson Gallery, Alfred, NY
Overture, LeSo Gallery, Toledo, OH
Small Favors Invitational, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2011Zimra Beiner, Wellsville Creative Arts Center, Wellsville, NY
2010Mayor’s Office Invitational Exhibition, Halifax, Canada
2009Below Bridges, BFA Exhibition, Anna LeonOwens Gallery, Halifax, Canada
Distill Cup Show, Distill Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2008Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, Canada
Fifteen, Ontario Craft Council, Toronto, Canada
Forte, Crafts and Design Group Exhibition, Lennox Contemporary, Toronto, Canada
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2023–24 Director, School of Craft and Emerging Media, Alberta University of the Arts, Calgary, AB
2016–24 Assistant Professor, Alberta University of the Arts, Calgary, Canada
2014–16 Ceramics Instructor, Millersville University, Millersville, PA
2012–14 Ceramics Instructor, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
2011–12 Teaching Assistant to Wayne Higby, Matt Kelleher, Giselle Hicks, Alfred University, Alfred, NY
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2023 Artist Lecture, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
2022 Resident Artist, The Center for Contemporary Ceramics, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
2019
Resident Artist, Troedssen Villa, Nikko, Japan
Resident Artist, The Center for Contemporary Ceramics, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
2018
Artist Lecture, Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, Waterloo, Canada
Visiting Artist, NSCAD University, Halifax, Canada
2017
Artist Lecture, The Pottery Workshop, Jingdezhen, China
Resident Artist and Instructor, Private Studio Jingdezhen, Jingdezhen, China
2016
Visiting Artist Lecture and Student Critiques, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA
Visiting Artist Lecture and Student Critiques, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
2015
Visiting Artist Lecture and Student Critiques, Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, MO
Visiting Artist Lecture, Montana State University, Billings, MT
2014
Visiting Artist, Student Critiques, MICA, Baltimore, MD
Artist in Residence, Berlin Ceramics Center, Berlin, Germany
Visiting Artist and Student Critiques, Sheridan College, Oakville, Canada
Visiting Artist, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
Visiting Artist and Student Critiques, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Visiting Artist and Student Critiques, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen, MI
Participant in Artist Panel Round Table, RBC Emerging Artists Symposium, Gardiner Museum, Toronto, Canada
2012–14 Ceramics Studio Technician, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
2011
Resident Artist, Bruce Cochrane Invitational Short-term Summer Resident Artist, Medalta, Medicine Hat, Canada
Demonstrator and Artist Lecture – Alfred University Summer School Program, Alfred, NY
2009–10 Studio Assistant, Neil Forrest, Halifax, Canada
2009 Studio Assistant, Joan Bruneau, Lunenburg, Canada
2007–08 Studio Assistant, Fawn Ceramics and Tile, Toronto, Canada
2004–08 Studio Assistant, Ken Gangbar Studio, Toronto, Canada
AWARDS AND GRANTS
2022 Alberta Foundation for the Arts – Project Grant
2021 Canada Council for the Arts – Visual Arts Project Grant
2018 Winnifred Shantz Award for Ceramics
2017 Canada Council for the Arts – Visual Arts Project Grant
2015
Ceramics Monthly Emerging Artist Award
Art Kudos Best of Show Award, Juror: Charles Long
Zanesville Prize for Contemporary Ceramics, Zanesville Museum of Art, Zanesville, OH
2014
Nceca Emerging Artist Award, Jurors: Sam Chung, Jeanne Quinn, Josh DeWeese
Craft Ontario, Pottery Supply House Award
2013 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Best of Show Award, Jurors: Micah Lexier, Tom Dean
2008
William and Mary Corcoran Award, Sheridan College
Shirley Clifford Ceramic Award, Sheridan College
2007 Joan Bennett Award, Sheridan College
COLLECTIONS
Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Edmonton, Canada
Alfred Ceramic Art Museum, Alfred, NY
Art Gallery of Burlington, Burlington, Canada
Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, Waterloo, Canada
Charles Rebello Private Collection, Montreal, Canada
Halifax Mayor’s Office Collection, Halifax, Canada
Jacques Isrealievitch Private Collection, Toronto, Canada
Robert Pfannebecker Collection, Lancaster, PA
University of Toronto Political Science Department Collection, Toronto, Canada
