Ashton Keen and Dean Leeper Artist Talks

June 17, 5:30pm

Artist talks are free and open to all ages. Coffees, smoothies, beer, wine, snacks and sandwiches are available in the STARworks Café and Taproom. Open Mic Night in the café & taproom following artist talks.

Ashton Keen

Ashton Keen is a ceramic artist. Raised in Louisiana, she had the ability to attend a performing arts high school which is where she first fell in love with clay. She holds a BFA in ceramics from the University of Mississippi. She has shown work in exhibitions across the United States and received the NCECA Undergraduate Award for Excellence, 2nd place 2019. Ashton has completed residency at Arrowmont, and Advanced Student Project Network residency at Red Lodge Clay Center and a residency at Shigaraki Ceramic Culture Park in Japan.

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Dean Leeper

Dean Leeper is a ceramic artist from Madison, Wisconsin. Much of his childhood was spent traveling and living overseas in Europe and Africa, which has impacted his current art and his interest in questioning the idea of place. Dean got his start in ceramics in seventh grade and has been involved with clay ever since. He is an active member of the clay community. He has been an intern at Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, an assistant at Haystack in Deer Isle, Maine, has taught workshops around Wisconsin and has teaching experience at the University of Montana as a graduate student. Dean’s work has been in solo and group shows around the country. He has work in the Montana Museum of Art and Culture’s permanent collection in Missoula, Montana. Dean received his BA from Berea College in Berea, Kentucky, completed a post-baccalaureate in ceramics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received his Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana in 2019.