About Phardel
Tom Phardel is an artist and educator working in the Detroit since the late 70’s. He is a graduate of both Eastern Michigan University (BFA) and the University of Michigan MFA.
As an artist Tom Phardel is best known for his introspective non-functional ceramic vessel work. The work focuses on the interior space and form relationships; and he is equally known for his large scale mixed-media assembled sculptures: primary materials being ceramic, fabricated steel and glass. His interest with these works lie in the actual processes of making sculpture and the transformation that takes place when disparate materials come together both visually as well as psychologically.
Tom Phardel’s artistic career has been highlighted by numerous group and solo exhibitions and awards: most notable the Michigan Creative Arts Award: Exhibitions at both the D.I.A and the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum. Other highlights include being invited to the Shigoraki Ceramic Cultural Park Japan, the Times Square Station mural, for the Detroit People Mover system. He has been awarded more than a dozen times by the MCCA (Michigan Ceramic Arts Association). His work is in the permanent collections of the D.I.A. in Detroit, The Dennos Museum in Traverse City, and Crocker Museum, in Sacramento, California and included in numerous private collections throughout the U.S.
Since 1988 to the present he has been the Chairperson of Ceramics at the College for Creative Studies. As a dedicated educator Tom has as actively mentored several students at CCS who have since become nationally recognized artists in the ceramic field. He has curated numerous shows and actively works with many arts organizations throughout metro Detroit.
“ I want to make work you want to be with as well as look at.”
T. Phardel
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"Inner Core" 106" x 16" x 15"
"Twin Peeks" 9" x 22" Dia.
"Zig Zag Fabricated Steel, 96" x 12" x 14"
"Inuit Spirit" Fabricated Steel
8'10" x 15" x 12"
"Melt" 46" x 18" x 12"
CV
EDUCATION: 1977 M.F.A. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
1972 B.F.A. Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS:
1988 to Present Chairperson, Ceramics Department, College for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI
1987-88 Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI
1987 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
1982-86 Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI
1981 Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI
1978-80 Wayne State University, Detroit, Mi
EXHIBITIONS:
2014 Thomas Riley Studio “Group Show”, Naples, Florida
SOFA Chicago Navy Pier, Chicago, Represented by Next Step Studios, Ferndale, Mi
2013 “ Process as Art” Gallery Project: Ann Arbor, Mi.
MCAA Ceramic Exhibition, Birmingham/Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham, MI
“Ceramics at Wayne State” Kay Elrod Gallery, Detroit, Mi.
“Art Endures Thirty Years and Counting” Paint Creek Center for the Arts: Rochester, Mi.
“Actual Size” CAID Gallery, Detroit, Mi.
2012 “A Three-dimensional Perspective”, Tom Phardel / Sharon Que, Marshall Fredrick’s Art Museum, Saginaw, Mi / Catalog available
SOFA Chicago Navy Pier, Chicago, represented by Next Step Studios, Ferndale, MI.
2011 “Tom Phardel / Steve Heinemann” Santa Fe Clay Gallery, Santa Fe, N.M.
Tom Phardel Solo, Kay Yourst Gallery, Ann Arbor, mi.
“Forty at Forty” Lemberg Gallery, Ferndale, Mi.
SOFA Chicago Navy Pier, Chicago, represented by Next Step Studios, Ferndale, MI
2010 “Closing the Circle”, Solo Exhibition. Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI
SOFA Chicago, represented by Next Step Studios, Ferndale, MI
2009 Tom Phardel Solo Exhibition. Lemberg Gallery, Ferndale, MI
SOFA Chicago, represented by Next Step Studios, Ferndale, MI
“Shrines and Altars” Gallery Project: Ann Arbor, MI
“The Michigan-Ohio Game: Teaching Ceramics: Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI
" The Small Show”: The Detroit Artist Market, Detroit, MI
“ Actual size” CAID Gallery, Detroit, MI
2008 “Spirit” Gallery Project, Ann Arbor, Mi.
50th Michigan Ceramics Exhibition, “Merit Award” Grand Rapids Art
Museum Grand Rapids, Mi. & The Community Arts Gallery, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
“Abstraction” Santa Fe Clay: Santa Fe, New Mexico
“SOFA” Chicago Navy Pier, Chicago, Ill.
Michigan Ceramics Art Exhibition : Merit Award: Grand Rapids Art Museum: Grand Rapids, MI / Arts Gallery: Detroit, MI
“ Risk Takers and Innovators” A Tribute to John Stephenson: The Clay Gallery: Ann Arbor, MI
“Actual Size” CAID Gallery: Detroit, MI
“Constructed” Tom Phardel / Sharon Que: Gallery One, Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, MI
2007 “Unadorned”, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
“Ceramic Market”, Detroit Artist Market, Detroit, MI
“National Clay Invitational” McNesse Art Gallery, McNesse State University, St. Charles, I
Awards:
1993 "Fourth Annual Michigan Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition", First Prize, Southfield Civic Center, Southfield, MI
1992 Detroit Institute of Arts Purchase Award, “Vessel”, Permanent Collection, Detroit, MI
Michigan Ceramics Exhibition, "Best of Show", Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI
1991 Invited to: The Shigoraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Shiga Pref. Japan
"Ongoing Michigan Artist Program (O.M.A.P.) - Graham Marks/Tom Phardel", Two Person Exhibition, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI
1988 Michigan Ceramics Exhibition, “Best of Show”, Michigan Potters Association Detroit Artists Market, Detroit, MI
1987 Michigan Council Creative Arts Grant
1986 Michigan Ceramics Exhibition, "Best of Show", Michigan Potters Association, Artists Market Detroit , MI
1985 Ann Arbor Art Association, "Annual Best of Show”
1984 Michigan Ceramics Exhibition, “Best of Show”, Detroit Artists Market, Detroit, MI
1983 Chicago Vicinity III, Purchase Prize, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
1978 NCEA Grant, Summer Residency at Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Montana
"Mid-Michigan Annual Exhibition", Midland Center for the Arts, Kathryn Rave Award
1977 8th Michigan Artist-Craftsmen, First Prize
1976 "Objects '76", Rovin Award for Clay
1975 Ned Dybvig Award, School of Art, University of Michigan
MAJOR COMMISSIONS
1987 Detroit People Mover Ceramic Murals. City of Detroit Transit System: Times Square Station. Two murals 55'x22' and 10'x10' through Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI
1980 Henry Ford Community College, Community Arts Building, Ceramic Sculpture
MUSEUM COLLECTIONS:
1992 Dennos Museum, Traverse City, MI
Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, Michigan
PUBLICATIONS: 2008 “The Spirit of Ceramic Design: Cultivating Creativity With Clay” by Robert Piepenburg
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
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2003 “21st Century Ceramics in the United States and Canada”, Canzani Center Gallery, Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus, OH
“ Functional Sculpture”, Detroit Contemporary, Detroit, MI
Works for Young Collectors, Lemberg Gallery, Ferndale, MI
“Views” Michigan Guild Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI
Pewabic Invitational, Scrab Club, Detroit, MI
2002 “Found Objects and Mixed Media”, Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI
“Actual Size”, Detroit Contemporary, Detroit, MI
" Biennial 2002”, Detroit Artists Market, Detroit, MI
“Inner Core”, Solo exhibition, Krazel Art Center, St. Joseph, Mi.
Michigan Ceramics Exhibition, Michigan Potters Association Center Galleries, Center for Creative Studies
2000 “Actual Size”, Detroit Contemporary, Detroit, MI
“ Parallel Tracks”, Albion College, Bobbitt Visual Arts Center
1999 “3d@dc”, Detroit Contemporary, Detroit, MI
1996 “Patrimonio” Legacy of Italian Art in Michigan, Wayne State University Community Gallery, Detroit, MI
Teachers + Students, Central Michigan University Gallery, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI
Sofa ‘96, Shaw Guido Gallery, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
"Inner Core" Solo Exhibition, Shaw Guido Gallery, Pontiac, MI
1995 "Interventions an Exhibition", Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI
"25 Years Retro-Winners", Group Show, Tampa Art Museum, Tampa, FL
1994 "Sculpture", Group Show, Habitat/Shaw Gallery, Farmington Hills, MI
Archie Bray Artists Exhibition, NECEA Conference, Gallery I/O, New Orleans, LA
"SOFA Exposition '94", Habitat/Shaw Gallery, Chicago, IL
1993 "Fourth Annual Michigan Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition", Southfield, MI, (First Prize Award)
"Willing Disbelief", Detroit Artist Market, Detroit, MI
Two Person Show, Habitat/Shaw Gallery, Farmington Hills, MI
"Honor the Earth Exhibition", Willis Gallery, Detroit, MI
"Glass Element II", Scarab Club, Detroit, MI
1992 Michigan Ceramics "Best of Show", Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI
"New Art Forms" through Habitat-Shaw Gallery at Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
1991 "Ongoing Michigan Artist Program (O.M.A.P.) - Graham Marks/Tom Phardel", Two Person Exhibition, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI
"New Art Forms" through Habitat-Shaw Gallery at Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
"Four Sculptors", Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI
"Subtle Reminders", Buckham Art Center, Flint, MI
Two Person Show, Habitat Galleries, Farmington Hills, MI
1990 "Ongoing Michigan Artist Program (O.M.A.P.)", Detroit Institut of Arts, Detroit, MI
Three Person Show, Habitat Galleries, Farmington Hills, MI
"Art for Life", Galleria, Southfield, MI
1989 Solo Exhibition, Mott College, Flint, MI
"Clay 10" Group Show, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
"Low Fire", Dimension Gallery, Boca Raton, FL
"Beyond the Garden Gate", Broumer Museum, University of Iowa, Des Moines, IA
1989 "After Ten Years", Detroit Focus Gallery, Detroit, MI
"Crossroads", NCECA '89, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO
"Earthenware V", Michigan Gallery, Detroit, MI
"New Art Forms" through Joan Robey Gallery, Denver, CO
1988 "Earthenware IV", Michigan Gallery, Detroit, Mi
1987 "Earthenware III", Michigan Gallery, Detroit, MI
"Medium Message Mythology Exhibition", Joan Robey Gallery, Denver, CO
"Clay 10 Exhibition", Ann Arbor Art Association, Ann Arbor, MI
Solo Exhibit, Willis Gallery, Detroit, MI
"Major Concepts: Clay", Robert Kidd Gallery, Birmingham, MI
"Michigan Council for the Arts", developed and exhibited a series of large-scale works in clay incorporating bronze (award)
1986 Two Person Exhibition, Tampa Art Museum, Tampa, FL
"Contemporary Michigan Ceramics", Saginaw Art Museum, Saginaw, MI
"West/Mid-West Art Exhibition", Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL (award)
"Michigan Ceramics '86 Best of Show", Detroit Artists Market, Detroit, MI (Best Of Award)
1985 NECEA Invitational, St. Louis, MO
Two Person Show, Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI
"Michigan Ceramics '85", Selo Shevel Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI (award)
1984 Two Person Show, Willis Gallery, Detroit, MI
"Michigan Ceramics '84", Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI (award)
"Best of Show", Gasparilla Gallery, Tampa, FL
1983 "Chicago Vicinity III", Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, IL (Purchase Prize)
Solo Exhibit, Joan Robey Gallery, Denver, CO
1980 "Michigan Ceramics '80", Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI (award)
Two Person Show, Robert Kidd Gallery, Birmingham, MI
"Eastern Michigan University Invitational", Ypsilanti, MI
1979 "Mid-Michigan Annual Exhibition", Midland Center for the Arts, Midland, MI (award)
1978 "Michigan Ceramics '78 Best of Show", Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI
Solo Exhibit, Oakland Community College, Rochester, MI
"Marietta Crafts National '78", Marietta, OH
1977 "Eighth Michigan Artists-Craftsmen Exhibition" Best of Show, Lansing, MI (award)
"Eastern Michigan University Invitational", Ypsilanti, M
1976 "7 for 76" (Seven State Show), Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL
1975 "Central Michigan University Invitational", Mt. Pleasant, MI