Anna V. Freeman
Bio
Anna concentrated in Ceramics and Printmaking at Alfred University's School of Art & Design, where she earned her B.F.A. She earned her M.F.A. in Visual Studies through a joint interdisciplinary program at Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University. Her work has been exhibited across the country and is held in private collections internationally. Images of her work have been published in multiple books, including Image Transfer on Clay, 500 Ceramic Sculptures, Ceramic Sculptures and Ceramics Today. Originally from Pennsylvania, Anna now lives in Virginia Beach, where she works as a ceramic artist and instructor.
Artist Statement
In my recent body of work, I explore environmental concepts relating to global and regional water availability. The wall-hung tile groupings and the sculptural vessels depict cycles of drought and excess rainfall and reference the vital significance of water. The imagery ranges from microscopic views of botanical structures for moving and storing water, aerial views, plant imagery, and glossy pools of raindrops, to contrasting areas of matte, cracked clay surfaces, representing drought.
I construct the sculptural vessel forms from wheel-thrown porcelain cylinders, which I attach and alter to make one tall sinuous form. For the wall-hung pieces, I use both stoneware and porcelain clay. I develop the detailed surface imagery using hand-carved designs, hand-pressed textures made with everyday found objects, layers of brushed underglaze, and the sgraffito process. After bisque firing, I apply layers of multiple different glazes to create contrast between glossy and matte surfaces, resulting in a balanced patchwork of color and texture.
Recent Exhibitions:
Above and Below the Surface, juried regional exhibition
Honorable Mention Award for “Submerging”
Neil Britton Art Gallery, Virginia Wesleyan University, Norfolk, VA
August 29 - December 6, 2022
Focal Local, juried regional exhibition
The Brock Gallery, Virginia Beach Art Center
July 1 - 31, 2022
November 2021 Juried All-Media Show
3rd Place Award, 3-D category for “Light Rain”
Crossroads Art Center, Richmond, VA
November 19, 2021 - January 9, 2022
Think Small 11, biennial international invitational miniature exhibition
artspace, Richmond, VA
October 21 - December 12, 2021
H2O, juried Mid-Atlantic group exhibition
Honorable Mention Award for “Spring Rain”
The Brock Gallery, Virginia Beach Art Center
June 4 - 27, 2021
From the Earth, juried regional group exhibition
Best In Show Award
The Brock Gallery, Virginia Beach Art Center
May 7 - 30, 2021
Exuberant Wisdom, Two-person Exhibition
The Morin Gallery at The Arts Center in Orange, Orange, VA
February 4 - March 19, 2021
Fleck Fine Art Exhibition, Curated Group Exhibition
Fleck Fine Art Gallery, Toronto, ON
August 14 - 29, 2020
Streaming, group exhibition and online auction, artspace, Richmond, VA
March 14 - March 21, 2020
Juried All-Media Show, group exhibition, Crossroads Art Center, Richmond, VA
March 20 - May 1, 2020
Drought and Deluge, solo exhibition
Helena Davis Gallery at artspace, Richmond, VA
January 24 - February 23, 2020
Selected Past Exhibitions
2019
CarpeDiem Exhibit, invitational year-long regional group exhibition, CarpeDiem pop-up gallery space, Charlottesville, VA
Faculty and Student Exhibition, The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, VA
Hermitage Handmade Festival, juried acceptance, Hermitage Museum and Gardens, Norfolk, VA
Stockley Gardens Spring and Fall Arts Festivals, juried acceptance, festival to benefit the Hope House Foundation, Norfolk, VA
2018
Hermitage Handmade Festival, juried acceptance and First Place Award, Hermitage Museum and Gardens, Norfolk, VA
Crafted, Indie Crafts and Arts Market Fall 2018, juried acceptance, O’Connor’s Brewing, Norfolk, VA
Stockley Gardens Spring and Fall Arts Festivals, juried acceptance, festival to benefit the Hope House Foundation, Norfolk, VA
2017
Group Members Exhibition, Ceramics Designers Association, Arts of the Albemarle Gallery, Elizabeth City, NC
2017 Rawls Museum Arts Juried Regional Exhibition, Rawls Museum Arts, Courtland, VA
Stockley Gardens Spring Arts Festival, juried acceptance, festival to benefit the Hope House Foundation, Norfolk, VA
Crafted, Indie Crafts and Arts Market Fall 2017, juried acceptance, O’Connor’s Brewing, Norfolk, VA
2016
Bees and Bots, solo exhibition, Rawls Museum Arts, Courtland, VA
Stockley Gardens Spring and Fall Arts Festivals, juried acceptance, festival to benefit the Hope House Foundation Norfolk, VA
Crafted, Indie Crafts and Arts Market 2016, Spring and Fall, juried acceptance, O’Connor’s Brewing, Norfolk, VA
2015
CarpeDiem Exhibit, invitational regional group exhibition, CarpeDiem pop-up gallery space, Charlottesville, VA
Stockley Gardens Fall Arts Festival, juried acceptance, festival to benefit the Hope House Foundation Norfolk, VA
Crafted, Indie Crafts and Arts Market 2015, juried acceptance, O’Connor’s Brewing, Norfolk, VA
Emerging III, Juried Exhibition, Rawls Museum Arts, Courtland, VA
Super Bowls, Juried Exhibition, Neil Britton Gallery, Virginia Wesleyan College, Norfolk, VA
2014
Instinctive Means, Invitational Group Exhibition, The Selden Gallery, Norfolk, VA
Celebrate with Color, National Juried Exhibition, Frederick Gallery, Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts, Fredericksburg, VA
Emerging II, 2014 Rawls Museum Arts Juried Regional Exhibition, Rawls Museum Arts, Courtland, VA
Feed the Planet, International Mail Art Exhibition, The Museum of Instant Images, work exhibited online and at historic sites in the Alphen Chaam municipality during Cittaslow International World Assembly, The Netherlands
Visual Textures, National Juried Exhibition, Frederick Gallery, Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts, Fredericksburg, VA
2013
Edible Provisions, International Juried Exhibition, Port Loggia Gallery, Nova Scotia College of Art & Design, Halifax, Canada
TIME, Juried Regional Group Exhibition, The Selden Gallery, Norfolk, VA
Stockley Gardens Fall Arts Festival, juried acceptance, festival to benefit the Hope House Foundation Norfolk, VA
Department of Visual Art Faculty Exhibition, Group Exhibition, Green Hall Galleries, Chowan University, Murfreesboro, NC
Cup Invitational, Invitational Exhibition, Susan Maasch Fine Art, Portland, ME
HOME: Interpreting the Familiar, National Juried Exhibition, GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading, PA
12th Annual National Juried Cup Show, National Juried Exhibition, Downtown Gallery, Kent State University, Kent, OH
Vase Forms: Sculptural and Utilitarian Ceramics, National Juried Exhibition, Studio 101, Arts Alliance of Georgia, Woodstock, GA
2012
Locally Made, Invitational Group Exhibition and Fundraiser, Rawls Museum Arts, Courtland, VA
Substrata: Layered Meanings in Contemporary Art, Invitational Group Exhibition, The Selden Gallery, Norfolk, VA
What’s Your Function?, National Juried Exhibition, Altered Esthetics, Minneapolis, MN
Solo Cup benefit Exhibition, Group Exhibition and Fundraiser, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
Dining In V: An Artful Experience, National Juried Exhibition, 18 Hands Gallery, Houston, TX
art-ic-u-late, Invitational Group Exhibition, The Selden Gallery, Norfolk, VA
Awards and Honors
Honorable Mention, Above and Below the Surface, Juried regional exhibition, Neil Britton Art Gallery, Virginia Wesleyan University, Norfolk, VA, 2022
3rd Place Award, 3-D category, November 2021 Juried All-Media Show, Crossroads Art Center, Richmond, VA, 2022
Honorable Mention, H2O, Juried Mid-Atlantic Exhibition, The Brock Gallery, Virginia Beach Art Center, VA, 2021
Best in Show Award, From the Earth, Juried regional exhibition, The Brock Gallery, Virginia Beach Art Center, VA, 2021
First Place Award, Hermitage Handmade Festival, Hermitage Museum and Gardens, Norfolk, VA, 2018
Solo Exhibition Award, Emerging III Exhibition, Rawls Museum Arts, Courtland, VA, 2015
Honorable Mention, Celebrate with Color Juried Exhibition, Frederick Gallery, Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts, VA, 2014
Nominee, McDowell Columns Scholar Prize, Chowan University, NC, 2013
Doris Conover Award, Rawls Museum Arts, VA, 2009
Margaret Harlow Collection Purchase Award, Bemidji State University, MN, 2008
Wild Water Rapids Visual Studies Grant, Old Dominion University, VA, 2004
Purchase Award, Printmaking, Alfred University, NY, 2001
Sophomore Art Award, Alfred University, NY, 1999