CJ Niehaus

1964 Born Cincinnati, Ohio

EDUCATION

1988 BA Art Therapy, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio

2013 MFA Ceramics, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois

APPRENCICESHIPS AND RESIDENCIES

2016 The Lillian Thomas Fellowship for Ceramic Arts, Hambridge Center for Creative Arts and Science, Rabun Gap, Georgia

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

1989-2009 Owner and operator of Clay Works, Elgin, Illinois

2015 Instructor, McHenry Community College, Crystal Lake, Illinois

2015 Instructor, Elgin Community College, Elgin, Illinois

2014 Ceramics Faculty, Fine Line Arts Center, St. Charles, Illinois

BIOGRAPHY 

C. J. Niehaus works with mid-range porcelain to construct her functional wares. Most are thrown although she occasionally hand builds parts or pieces. The surfaces are a combination of underglaze pencil and underglaze washes with the addition of areas of glaze.

She mixes her own glazes using her own recipes. Niehaus’ functional wares are fully decorated, frequently interior and exterior, with washes of color and surfaces illustrated with themes from nature and imagination. The final piece is fired to cone 6 in an oxidation atmosphere.