Making in Between: Queer Clay – Exhibition Overview

Making in Between: Queer Clay is the second major exhibition in the American Museum of Ceramic Art’s Making in Between series. The series brings together works by artists doing intersectional work and exploring common themes of identity, culture, and community. In 2020, Making in Between: Contemporary Chinese American Ceramics featured works by six first- and second-generation artists who shared themes of cultural heritage, identity, language, politics, migration, and displacement.

As MIB: Queer Clay shifts the lens of the Making in Between series from national heritage to explore broader influences on identity, it centers queerness as an unapologetic presence. Mounting an exhibition that focuses solely on work by queer artists, AMOCA brings less familiar narratives to the forefront of ceramics. MIB: Queer Clay features works by historical artists, whose identities have remained largely unseen until recently, alongside contemporary makers.

Exhibiting artists are Sascha Brastoff (1918-1993), Howard Kottler (1930-1989), Mark Burns (b. 1950), Grayson Perry (b. 1960), Ramekon O’Arwisters (b.1960), Larry Buller (b. 1961), Julia Kunin (b.1961), Vick Quezada (b. 1979), Nicki Green (b. 1986), Alex Anderson (b. 1990), Karla Ekatherine Canseco (b. 1995), and Tamara Santibañez (b. 1987). Presented together for the first time, these works exemplify the compelling contributions of LGBTQ+ artists to the western art canon.

Making in Between: Queer Clay is co-curated by Beth Ann Gerstein and Pam Aliaga.

The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog designed by SAALT Press, featuring full-color images and new essays by Matthew Limb, Alexis Salas, Richard May, Steve Conti, Beth Ann Gerstein, and Pam Aliaga.

Pictured below: exhibition view of Making in Between: Queer Clay, on view at AMOCA through December 30, 2023.

AMOCA Membership

Memberships support AMOCA’s mission to champion the art, history, creation, and technology of ceramics through exhibitions, collections, outreach, and studio programming.

To learn more about museum membership, and to join or renew today visit https://www.amoca.org/membership/.

Queer Clay Members tour

Join us for an exclusive members tour of AMOCA's exhibition "Making in Between: Queer Clay" with the exhibition curator.