Katy Schimert
Katy Schimert received her BA from the Philadelphia College of Art (now University of the Arts) in 1985 and her MFA in Sculpture from Yale University in 1989. She began making ceramic sculpture in 1992 at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she taught sculpture, drawing and photography.
Schimert has been the focus of solo exhibitions at the University Museum of Contemporary Art at UMass Amherst (2014), David Zwirner, New York (2006), The Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (1999) and the Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago (1997). Her work has been included in significant group exhibitions at BAM Brooklyn Academy of Art (2010), Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich (2007), Aspen Art Museum (2007), the 1997 Whitney Biennial and the 1996 Sao Paulo Biennial.
Before joining the staff at RISD, Schimert was a lecturer at Yale University and UCSB, and adjunct professor and sculpture department coordinator at New York University and visiting professor of sculpture at both Harvard University and New York University. In spring 2011 she taught drawing in RISD’s Experimental and Foundation Studies division.
Courses
Fall 2024 Courses
CER 410G-01
FIRST YEAR GRADUATE STUDIO CERAMICS
SECTION DESCRIPTION
In the first semester, graduate students begin their investigation and produce clay works that allow the faculty to assess their approach and capabilities. Students are available and pursue active contact with the faculty. Students also attend supplemental department presentations.
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Ceramics Students.
Major Requirement | MFA Ceramics
CER 4116-01
SENIOR TUTORIAL STUDIO
SECTION DESCRIPTION
In the beginning of your fourth year you work independently with a ceramic faculty tutor to develop your individual degree project. Your project is expected to be a body of ceramic work that is unified in direction, significant in its degree of growth, innovative in its resolution, and personal in its expression.
Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Senior Ceramics Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Ceramics
CER 412G-01
SECOND YR.GRAD STUDIO CERAMICS
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Continued exploration begun during the first year leads to the presentation of a thesis project. Students work during class hours to ensure daily contact with faculty.
Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Ceramics Students.
Major Requirement | MFA Ceramics
CER 4117-01
DRAWING TAKES FORM
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Drawing is explored through ceramic techniques. This class serves to enhance the artist's perceptions relative to what drawing can become through the exploration of surface becoming form, and form mediated by surface. Drawing can be premeditation and drawing can be realization.
Elective
CER 413G-01 / GRAD 413G-01
SEMINAR: SOURCE PRESENTATION
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This course helps the Ceramics Graduate Student develop a vocabulary of concepts concerning their works in clay. A slide presentation is made by each student concerning the relationship between an artist's resources, historical precedent and works in clay for class discussion.
Offered as CER-413G and GRAD-413G.
Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Ceramics Students.
Major Requirement | MFA Ceramics
CER 4197-01
SEMINAR: SOURCE PRESENTATION
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This class helps you to develop the vocabulary of concepts relating your work to your sources. A number of exercises are undertaken culminating in a presentation of your ideas.
Please contact the department for permission to register. Preference is given to Senior Ceramics Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Ceramics
CER 413G-01 / GRAD 413G-01
SEMINAR: SOURCE PRESENTATION
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This course helps the Ceramics Graduate Student develop a vocabulary of concepts concerning their works in clay. A slide presentation is made by each student concerning the relationship between an artist's resources, historical precedent and works in clay for class discussion.
Offered as CER-413G and GRAD-413G.
Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Ceramics Students.
Major Requirement | MFA Ceramics
Spring 2025 Courses
CER 4129-01
CERAMIC SCULPTURE
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Ceramic Sculpture will cover a range of concepts, traditions and techniques that are specific to the disciplines of both ceramics and sculpture. Projects will revolve around the topics of space, structure and form and the development of ideas. Techniques and processes including hand building, surface treatment and glazes will be covered. Clay is a subtle material allowing an exchange between the medium and the self. Through making, your skills and confidence will develop giving you more control over the objects you wish to realize. Students will approach these dynamics through installation, large construction and small-scale object making. Designed for students at an advanced level, using clay as a primary material and involving a variety of processes and forming methods.
Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Junior Ceramics Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Ceramics