GACA Presents: Frank Zhu

Name: GACA Presents: Frank Zhu
Start: 2025-04-01T19:00:00-05:00
Location: Dougherty Arts Center

Schedule

Tue, 01 Apr, 2025 at 07:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Dougherty Arts Center | Austin, TX

Join us for our April 1st meeting with demonstrating artist, Frank Zhu, who will show us his process of transforming wheel-thrown ceramic forms into complex, textured, and sculptural vessels that blur the line between functionality and sculpture!
We will once again be meeting in the clay studio at Dougherty Arts Center at 1110 Barton Springs Road. The front parking lot will be blocked off as Dougherty (DAC) special event parking and that will be open to us. You will just need to get a free parking pass from the front desk when you arrive. The rest of the parking lot around the building and in Butler Park is open and free after 5pm, no parking pass required. More info on DAC parking can be found here: https://www.austintexas.gov/page/about-dougherty-arts-center

Everyone is also welcome to join us for dinner with Frank before the demo. We will be meeting at ABGB at 1305 W Oltorf Street at 5:30pm. ABGB has open seating and everyone can order and pay for themselves at the counter as they arrive.
https://www.virtuceramics.com
https://www.instagram.com/frankzhuceramicist/
Frank’s Bio
Frank Zhu has been working with clay in Austin, Texas, for over 14 years, cultivating a deep connection to the material and its possibilities. As both a dedicated ceramic artist and an educator, he balances his personal studio practice with a passion for sharing the art of ceramics with others. Frank’s work explores the intersection of functionality and sculptural expression, using wheel-thrown forms as a foundation for innovative alterations, textures, and additions. His pieces challenge traditional notions of vessel-making, inviting viewers to engage with ceramics as both art and object.
In addition to his artistic practice, Frank is committed to fostering creativity and skill in others through teaching. He believes in the transformative power of clay as a medium for self-expression and discovery, and he strives to inspire his students to push boundaries while honoring the rich history of ceramics. Frank’s work reflects his dedication to craftsmanship, experimentation, and the endless potential of clay as a medium for storytelling and connection.
Frank’s Artist Statement
My work in ceramics is a dialogue between form and function, where the boundaries of traditional vessel-making are stretched to embrace sculptural expression. For over 14 years, I have been exploring the transformative potential of clay, using the wheel-thrown vessel as a starting point for creative experimentation. By altering, texturing, and adding to these forms, I create pieces that exist in the liminal space between utility and art.
The functional vessel provides a structure—a set of rules and constraints—that grounds my process. Yet, within these boundaries, I find endless possibilities for innovation. Cutting, reshaping, and attaching additional elements allow me to play with balance, movement, and three-dimensional composition. Textures and surface treatments further enhance the tactile and visual experience, inviting the viewer to engage with the piece on multiple levels.
My work is deeply rooted in the physicality of clay, a material that demands both precision and spontaneity. Each piece is a record of my hands’ interaction with the material, a testament to the tension between control and surrender. Through this process, I aim to create objects that are not only functional but also evocative, challenging the viewer to reconsider the role of ceramics in contemporary art and everyday life.
In my practice, I am guided by a belief that the vessel—a form as ancient as human civilization—can still surprise and inspire. By pushing its limits, I seek to honor its history while reimagining its future.