Biography
I grew up in Connecticut where my father was a painter and illustrator who supported his family of four with his work. My mother was the handiest woman I ever met. I loved watching my father work and art was the only thing I ever got praise for in high school so I ended up at the Kansas City Art Institute where I fell under the spell of ceramics and Ken Ferguson. I went on to study with Wayne Higby and got a graduate degree from RISD.
I then moved, with my husband/potter Richard Hensley, to rural Floyd, VA in the Blue Ridge Mountains to set up our studio, where we have always lived and worked and raised a family. I have always been a studio potter and sculptress with more than the occasional teaching experiences thrown in. I have taught at most of the craft/art schools over the years such as Penland, Anderson Ranch, Banff Center, Arrowmont.
I have taught summer programs at several colleges such as University of Michigan and Alfred University. I have been an artist in residence in Turkey, Jingdezhen, China, and the Archie Bray Foundation. I live every summer now in a remote village in Liguria, Italy and teach in Tuscany at La Meridiana School for Ceramics. I have been honored by the NEA with 2 artists fellowships and received a Virginia Museum artists grant. I am the Founding Director of “Women Working With Clay” - an annual symposium at Hollins University.
Education
Rhode Island School of Design - MAT - 1974
Kansas City Art Institute - BFA - 1972
Grants
National Endowment of the Arts Visual Arts Fellowship - 1986
Virginia Museum Artists Fellowship - 1984
National Endowment of the Arts Craftsman Fellowship - 1978
Teaching
Huntington Museum of Art, WV - Walter Gropius Master Artist Workshop Series - March 2023
Anderson Ranch Arts Center - 2021 - Decorative Surfaces at Mid-Range
La Meridiana School of Ceramics - Certaldo, Italy Summer 2007 - 2019
Haystack Mountain School of Crafts - Open Door - Deer Isle, ME October 9-12 2015
The Bascom - "Essence of the Figure" - Highlands, NC - October 2012
China-Jingdezhen Institute of Ceramics - November-December 2012
Appalachian Center of Crafts - Smithville, TN 2008
Anderson Ranch Art Center, Snowmass, CO - Summer 2006
Penland School of Crafts, North Carolina - June/July-2005
Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, China - in conjunction with University of West Virginia - Fall 2004
Hollins University, Roanoke, VA - part time faculty 2004-2020
Long Beach Island Foundation, New Jersey - Summer 2003
Portland School of Art, Oregon - Summer 1987
Brookline College, Texas - Summer 1986
Rochester Institute of Technology - Summer 1985
Memphis Academy of Art - Winter Session 1984
Ohio State University - Summer 1983
Arrowmont School of Crafts, Tennessee - Spring 1982
University of Michigan - Summer 1981
Alfred University, New York - Summer 1977
Permanent Collections
American Museum of Ceramic Art - Pomona, CA
Joan Mannheimer Collection - Iowa
Federal Reserve Bank - Virginia
R.J.Reynolds Co. - North Carolina
St.Louis Museum of Art - Missouri
Kansas City Art Institute - Missouri
Silber Collection - California
Allen Chasanoff Collection - Mint Museum, NC
Roanoke College - Virginia
Art Museum of Western Virginia - Virginia
Mint Museum of Contemporary Crafts - Chalotte, NC
Bibliography
List Gallery - "Embodied Form" catalogue from List Gallery Exhibition with essays by Andrea Packard and Wayne Higby - February 27-April 8, 2018
Ceramics Monthly "Following a Thread" Matte Glazes at Mid Range - November 2015 (1MB)
Studio Potter - Vol.42,No.1 - "A Different Language" by Donna Polseno - 2013
"Potter's Space & the Earthbound Goddess" by Wayne Higby, Ceramics Art and Perception, issue 66
Studio Potter "A Different Language”
"Concreta" Sculture Ceramiche, 2008 catalogue-essay by Franco Bertoni-curator, International Museum of Ceramics, Florence, Italy
Ceramics Monthly - Pots with a View - March 2005
Clay Times -”16 Hands Studio Tour”- Sept/Oct. 2003
21st Century Ceramics in the United States & Canada - The American Ceramics Society - 2003
Ceramics Monthly - ”Crafts in the Castle” - March 2002
The Art of American Contemporary Pottery - Kevin Hluch - Krause Publications - 2001
Mold Making & Slip Casting - Andrew Martin-Magus Art Publications - 2000
Art and Perception #37 - ”The Container as Metaphor-Figurative Work by Donna Polseno”- Fall 1999
Ceramics Monthly - “Four Virginia Potters” - Dec. 1999
Clay Times - “Four Potters of Floyd County, Virginia” - July 1999
Sculptural Ceramics - Ian Gregory - A&C Black Ltd - Cover Photo - 1999
Clay Times - “Go Figure”- May 1997
Ceramics Monthly-Cover Story-"Accepting Change”- March 1990
Sculptural Ceramics - Chilton Book Company-Back Cover Photo-1988
Ceramics Monthly - "Art,Money,and the NEA" - Feb.1987
American Craft - “NEA Visual Artists Fellowships” - Jan.1987
The Robb Report - "Ceramic Art-It's on Fire" - March 1986
Studio Potter - Vol.13,No.2 - "Potters of the Blue Ridge" - 1985
Clay Revisions - 1984
NCECA Journal Vol.4 - "Spotlight" - 1983
American Ceramics Vol 2,No.1 - Review - 1983
Ceramics Monthly - 1983
American Crafts - Katherine Pearson-Stuart,Tabori,Chang Publishers - 1983
Low Fire Ceramics - Susan Wechsler- Watson&Guptil Publishers -1981
New York Times - Show Review - 1978 and 1982
Craft Horizons - 1977
Ceramics Monthly - “Studio Potters”- 1976
Miscellaneous Honors
Honorary Member Award - NCECA 2022
Adjunct Curator of Ceramic Art Taubman Museum, Roanoke, VA 2013-2014
Creator/Director of "Women Working with Clay" Symposium Hollins University 2011-present
Founding Member of 16 Hands Pottery Tour 1998-present
"Potter Sculptor/Sculptor Potter" panelist, NCECA, Phoenix,AZ 2009
Invited Participant - International Ceramics Symposium - Dokuz Eylul Univ.-Izmir, Turkey-2002
Honorary Chairman - Kansas City Art Institute Scholarship Auction - 2001
Panelist - NCECA -Columbus-1999
Juror - ACC Craft Fairs -1996 and 1999
Juror - Richmond Craft Fair - Virginia -1990
Juror - National Clay Biennial- Radrord University - 1989
Artist in Residence - Archie Bray Foundation -1984
Board of Trustees - Piedmont Craftsmen - 1981-1984
Juror - Biennial Craft Exhibition-Washington,D.C. - 1984
Presenter - NCECA Atlanta - 1983
Panelist-High Museum - "Regionalism & Contemporary Crafts" - 1982
Selected Exhibitions
Huntington Museum of Art - Solo Exhibition 2023
“Walter Gropius Master Artist Exhibition and Workshop Series”
Eleanor D. Wilson Museum - “Duo” - 2 person exhibition - 2021
Donna Polseno and Richard Hensley
“Women Working With Clay” - Ten years of Telling the Story - 2020
Eleanor D. Wilson Museum, Hollins, University
List Gallery - "Embodied Form" catalogue from List Gallery Exhibition with essays by Andrea Packard and Wayne Higby - February 27-April 8, 2018
Duality - Donna Polseno and Richard Hensley - Buffalo, WY - May 14 - August 31, 2015
Trax Gallery - "In the Cast" an invitational exhibition of hand cast or molded ceramic pieces by Andy Brayman, Kathy Erteman, Mie Kongo, Paul Kotula, Andrew Martin, Donna Polseno, and Tom Spleth - September 7-October 4, 2013
Santa Fe Clay - 3 Person Exhibition - Santa Fe, NM - January 24, 2013
Eno Gallery - Two Person Show Figurative Scultpure - Hillsboro, NC - June 29, 2012
Plinth Gallery - Solo Exhibition of Pottery - Denver, CO
November 5 - December 5, 2010
"Solo Exhibition of Figurative Sculpture"
Blue Spiral 1 Gallery - Asheville, NC 28801
"Reverences" Taubman Museum, Virginia 2009
"Potter Sculptor/Sculptor Potter" NCECA exhibition, Phoenix,AZ 2009
" Concreta-Sculpture Ceramiche"
Six artists: Lee Babel, Aldo Rontini, Donna Polseno, Lisa Nocentini, Ingrid Mair Zischg, Betty Woodman.
Palazzo Pretorio
Certaldo, Italy 2008
"Influencial Journeys" Univ. of W.VA China Program, NCECA Louiville,KY 2007
Mid-Career Survey: Potter's Space and the Earthbound Goddess - Eleanor D. Wilson Museum, Hollins University, Roanoke VA June-July 2006
Former Bray Residents - Turman Gallery, Helena, MT Archie Bray International- June 2006
Poetry of Pottery - Maryland Federation for the Arts, NCECA, March 2005
Kentucky Museum of Art and Design - “The Splendid Table” - Louisville, KY - 2004
“21st Century Ceramics” - Canzani Center Gallery at CCAD - Columbus,Ohio - 2003
“Releasing the Mold” - Tower Fine Arts gallery at SUNY Brockport,NY - 2003
“Functional Ceramics” - Wooster ,Ohio - 2003
“Amerika Topragindan” - 5 Ceramic Artists - Adnan Franko Sanat Galerisi - Izmir, Turkey - 2002
“The Shape of Color” - Montgomery College Art Gallery - Multi Media Group Show - Md. - 2002
Morgan Gallery - “Friends and Collegues: Victor Babu and Students” - KCMO - 2002
Peck Gallery - 2 Person Show - Providence,RI - 2001
Anderson County Art Center, SC - “Go Figure” - 3 Person Show - 2001
William King Art Center - “Community in Clay” - Abington,VA - 2000
Art Museum of Western Virginia - “Community in Clay” - Roanoke, VA - 1999
Kennedy Museum of Art - “Clay Becomes the Figure” - Ohio University - 1999
Gallery 10 Ltd. - Wash.D.C. - Recent Sculpture - 2 person - 1997
Figurative Ceramic Sculpture Invitational - Montgomery College-Md. - 1997
Survey of Contemporary Ceramics - Tustin Gallery - Ca. - 1996
Virginia Clay Invitational - Longwood Center for the Arts - 1996
“Independant Makers” - Ohio University Seigfred Gallery - 1996
Twist Gallery - Portland,Oregon - Ceramic Sculpture - 1 person - 1994
Exhibits USA - “Built, Thrown, Touched” - Nationally Touring Survey of Ceramics - 1993-1994
American Hand - Recent Work - 1 person -Washington - 1993
“Art/Heart of the Figure” - Twist Gallery - Portland, Oregon - 1992
Javier Puig Gallery - Recent Sculpture - 1 person - Minneapolis - 1991
California Museum of Art - “The Winged Gate” - Santa Rosa, Ca. - 1990
The Handcrafters Gallery -Sante Fe , New Mexico - 1 person - 1990
Martha Schneider Gallery - Chicago, Illinois - 1 Person - 1988
Seattle Art Museum & Renwick Gallery - “Clay Revision: Plate,Cup,Vase” - 1987-88
Ree Schonlau Gallery - Omaha,Nebraska - 1 Person -1985
“Raku and Smoke” - American Museum of Contemporary Crafts - 1984
Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art-Invitational - 1984
Kansas City Art Institute Alumni Show - 1983
Martha Schneider Gallery - Chicago, Illinois - 2 Person - 1983
“By Design” - Minneapolis, Minn. - 1 Person - 1983
The Elements Gallery - NYC - 1 Person - 1983
American Hand - Washington,D.C. -2 Person - 1982
“The Basket” - John Kohler Art Center - Wisconsin - 1981
“12 Plus 1” - Ken Ferguson - Surroundings Gallery - NYC - 1981
“Living From Clay” - Berea College - Kentucky - 1980
Detroit Gallery of Contemporary Crafts - 2 Person - 1979
“Biennial of Piedmont Crafts” - Mint Museum,N.C. - 1978
The Elements Gallery - NYC - 1 Person - 1978
“Eight Independant Production Potters” - KC Art Institute - 1976
“Marietta Crafts National” - Judges Award, OH - 1976
“Young Americans Clay/Glass” - Museum of Contemporary Crafts - 1976
“ACC Craft Work” - Miami - 1976
Selected Workshops and Presentations
North Carolina Potters Conference - Asheboro, NC - March 2-4, 2018
Sawtooth School for Visual Arts - Winston-Salem, NC - October 12-13, 2013
Spring Island Trust Visiting Artist Program - "Form and Color" - Spring Island, SC - February 24-March 2, 2013
Kingston Potters Guild - Kingston Ontario, Canada 2008
City of Orlando Pottery - Orlando FL 2007
Miami Potters League - Miami 2006
Montana State University - Bozeman - Spring 2005
Craft Alliance -St. Louis-2002
Forest Park Community College - St. Louis-2002
East Tennesee State University - Tennesee - 2001
William and Mary College - Virginia - 1997
Virginia Clay Conference - Front Royal, Virginia - 1997
Odyssey Center for the Arts-Asheville - North Carolina - 1997
Oregon School of Art and Craft-Portland - Oregon - 1994
Indiana University - Bloomington,Indiana - 1993
Ohio Designer Craftsman - Columbus, Ohio - 1990
New Mexico State University - Las Cruces - 1988
Southwest Craft Center - San Antonio, Texas - 1986
Edinburgh School of Art - Scotland - 1984
American Contemporary Crafts Museum - New York City - 1984
Banff Center - Alberta, Canada - 1984
Penland School of Crafts - North Carolina - 1983
Georgia State University - Georgia - 1982
Rhode Island School of Design - Rhode Island - 1981
Kansas City Art Institute - Kansas City, Missouri -1981
Arrowmont School of Crafts - Tennessee - 1980
Berea College - Kentucky - 1980
Cranbrook Academy of Art - Michigan - 1979
University of Georgia - 1976