Kedrick McKenzie’s work is an inquiry of what lies underneath layers and layers of frontiers.
Growing up on the West Coast where, as Joan Didion puts it, “boom mentality and a sense of Chekhovian loss meet in uneasy suspension,” his work originates from the act of questioning his assumptions how a frontier is claimed and the stories that are told about it. How are the stories of colonization told? How do objects and images alter the historical record? How do the things we fill out homes with change our views of the past?
By engaging with visual culture and mythmaking Kedrick combines quotidian craft practices, historical research, and ephemeral materials to challenge the slippery and subjective ways that histories are recorded.
His practice revolves around the uneasy combination of the care and individuality imbedded in craft traditions with the extractive practices and consumer culture found in large scale industries. The objects we surround ourselves with, the food we ingest, and the narratives that surround those forces are constant themes in his work. The result is a research led practice that suggests new stories about place, identity, and history.
CV
Education
MFA – Ceramics, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. 2023
BFA –Spatial Arts, Chemistry Minor, San José State University, San José, CA. 2017
Employment
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, PA, 2025 – Present
Foundations Technical Assistant, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, PA 2023 – Present
Adjunct Instructor, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, PA, 2023 – Present
Jr. Moldmaker, Felt + Fat, Philadelphia, PA, 2023
Instructor – University City Arts League, Philadelphia, PA, 2023 – 2024
Graduate Assistant, Foundations Department, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Philadelphia, PA. 2021- 2023
Technical Lead, Convivial Productions, Kansas City, MO. 2019 – 2020
Instructor – Higher Fire Clayspace and Gallery, San José, CA. 2016 – 2019
Studio Technician – Higher Fire Clayspace and Gallery, San José, CA. 2016 – 2019
Teaching Experience
Investigations of Art and Design – Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Spring 2024
Woodshop Fundamentals – Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Fall 2023 and Spring 2024
3D Foundation Principles – Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Fall 2023
Professional Experience
Winter Residency – Penland School of Crafts, Bakersville, NC – 2026
Teaching Partner – CraftNOW and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, Philadelphia, PA, 2022
Resident Artist, Kansas City Clay Guild, Kansas City, MO. 2019 – 2021
Artist Lecture and Demo – Kansas City Clay Guild, Kansas City, MO. 2020
Instructor – KC LEARN Homeschool Kansas City, MO. 2020
Instructor – Higher Fire Clayspace and Gallery, San José, CA. 2016 – 2019
Demonstrating Artist – Clay Carnival, San José, CA. 2018
Teaching Assistant to Cassandra Straubing – San José State University, Class: Art 140: Topics in Glass. San José, CA. 2015 – 2018
Teaching Assistant to Adam Shiverdecker – San José State University – Class: Art 46: Introduction to Ceramics. San José, CA. 2018
Treasurer – Ceramic Arts Guild – San José State University, San José, CA. 2015-2017
Treasurer – Glass Artists Guild – San José State University, San José, CA. 2016 – 2017
Awards
Tyler Dean’s Support for Student Research Award – Tyler School of Art and Architecture – 2023
Work Study Scholarship, Session 7 – Penland School of Crafts – 2017
Work Study Scholarship, Fall Concentration – Penland School of Crafts – 2017
Elizabeth Heil Scholarship – 2017
Fire-Arts Scholarship – 2017
Elizabeth Heil Scholarship – 2015
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
After Eureka, What? – Temple Contemporary, Philadelphia, PA, 2023
The Story Of Bethel – San José State University, San José, CA. 2017
Green/Grey – San José State University, San José, CA. 2016
In Pieces – San José State University, San José, CA. 2016
mass – San José State University, San José, CA. 2016
It Is Well – San José State University, San José, CA. 2015
If no one sees it, it will never hurt. – San José State University, San José, CA. 2014
Group Exhibitions
Future Continuous – Philadelphia, PA, 2026 – Juried by Lauren Sandler
Play Haus – Rude Haus – New Hope PA, 2025
Winter Exhibition – Minneapolis, MN, 2025
This May Be Clay – Philadelphia, PA, 2025 – Curated by George Rodrigruez
After Hours – Stell Elkins Tyler Gallery – Philadelphia, PA, 2025
31st Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National – Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA, 2023 –Juried by Adero Willard
[DYS] FUNCTIONAL – Wildfire Ceramics Studio, Missoula, MT, 2023 – Juried by Austin Coudriet
Messaged Recieved – Temple Contemporary, Philadelphia, PA, 2023 – Juried by Willaim Toney
Current and Recent Graduate Students at Tyler School of Art + Architecture – New York, NY. 2022 – Juried by Lauren Sandler
Temple of Joy – Temple Contemporary, Philadelphia, PA, 2022
KC Clay Guild Artist in Residence Exit Show – Kansas City, MO. 2021
playground – Wildfire Ceramics, Missoula, MT. 2021 – Juried by Chris Avershare
Fritz, SoPo Gallery, San José, CA. December 2017-January 2018 –
Connections – SoPo Gallery, San José CA. 2017
San José State University showcase at CCACA, Davis, CA. 2016
From the Fire – SJSU Glass Artist Guild showcase, San José, CA, 2015
San José State University showcase at CCACA, Davis, CA, 2015
SJSU Ceramics Guild Group Show – San José, CA, 2015
San José State University Student Showcase – Glass Art Society Conference, San José, CA, 2015
Glorious Mud – Liberty Arts Gallery, Yreka, CA, 2014
San José State University showcase at CCACA, Davis, CA, 2014
The First Annual Santa Clara County-Wide High School Art Exhibition – The Museums of Los Gatos, Los Gatos, CA, 2012
Kedrick McKenzie 