David Vertačnik
- Professor Emeritus
Contact Info
Personal Links
Biography —
David Vertacnik received his MFA from the New York state college of ceramics at Alfred University in Alfred, N.Y, in 1975 and his Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana state university in 1972. David has taught at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas since 1979.
His art has been viewed in numerous solo, two-person, and group exhibitions in the United States and Slovenia. His work is held in public and private collections, including those belonging to bethel college (newton, Kansas), the overland park convention center (Overland Park, Kansas), Emprise bank (Wichita, Kansas), the former president of Slovenia, Milan Kucan and the city of most NA Soci, Slovenia where three sculptures grace it's picturesque river walk.
David employs a wide range of materials in his pieces, including ceramics, cast bronze, industrial and agricultural objects. Many of his sculptures are designed for outdoor sites, created with elements that move freely in space.
Creative Works —
Selected Work
The Kinsey Juried Art Show 2009. Indiana University School of Fine Arts Gallery. Bloomington. IN. 2009
Stardust Memories. Spalding University, Huff Gallery. Louisville. KY. 2007
Teaching the Object. Arts Incubator. Kansas City. MO. 2004 - 2005
Art on Axis: Indiana State University Alumni Exhibition. Axis Architecture. Indianapolis. IN. 2004
Clay Mechanics. Midland Art and Antique Market. Indianapolis. IN. 2004
Endless Summer. Dennis Morgan Gallery. Kansas City. MO. 2004
For the Arts. Shook Hardy and Bacon. Overland Park. KS. 2004
Four Person Exhibition. CornerBank. Lawrence. KS. 2004
Summer Group Exhibition. Dennis Morgan Gallery. Kansas City. MO. 2004
Summer Group Exhibition. Dennis Morgan Gallery. Kansas City. MO. 2003
Summer Group Exhibition. Dennis Morgan Gallery. Kansas City. MO. 2002
Out of Academe: Clay Artists, Who Teach. Manhattan Arts Center. Manhattan. KS. 2002
Topeka Competition/24. Topeka. KS. 2002
Sculpture in the Wiley Nook. Morgan Gallery. Kansas City. MO. 2002
Kansas Clay Connections. Art & Design Gallery, University of Kansas. Lawrence. KS. 2002
Art Colony. Tolmin Museum. Tolmin. Slovenia. 2001
Art Colony of Emigrant Slovene Artists. Most na Soči. Slovenia. 2001
Overland Park Convention Center Art Project. 2001
OdVsepovsd/From All Over. Mestna Gallery, Ljubljana, Slovenia (June 28 - August 2)
Razstavni salon Rotovz, Maribor, Slovenia (September 7 - 30). Ljubljana. Slovenia. 2001
Lawrence Arts Commission 11th Annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition. Lawrence. KS. 1998 - 1999
Topeka Competition/21. Topeka and Shawnee Public Library Gallery of Fine Art. Topeka. KS. 1997
Centennial Celebration. Art & Design Gallery, University of Kansas. Lawrence. KS. 1997
Slovene Artists from around the world. Hotel Kompas. Most na Soci. Slovenia. 1996
Texas National '96 Exhibition. Stephen F. Austin State University. Nacogdoches. TX. 1996
Grants & Other Funded Activity —
Selected Grants
CLAS Faculty Travel Grant. University of Kansas. (12/31/2010). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded. To attend the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts conference in Philadelphia, PA.
CLAS Faculty Travel Grant. University of Kansas. (12/31/2010). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded. To transport wax and steel patterns to the Walla Walla Contemporary Art Foundry in Washington.
Hallmark Faculty Research Fund. Department of Design, University of Kansas. (12/31/2008). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded. Mold making materials for large scale duplication of concrete forms.
Faculty Travel Fund. (12/31/2007). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded. To attend the exhibition “Breaking the Mold at Alfred University, Alfred, NY.
General Research Fund. University of Kansas. (12/31/2007). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded
Hallmark Faculty Research Fund. Department of Design, University of Kansas. (12/31/2007). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded. Mold making materials for large scale duplication of concrete forms.
Competition General Research Fund. University of Kansas. (5/22/2006). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded
Hallmark Faculty Research Fund Grant. Department of Design, University of Kansas. (5/31/2006). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded. To attend the National Council on Education for Ceramics Conference in Louisville, KY, March 14, 15, 16, 2007.
Hallmark Fund Grant. Department of Design, University of Kansas. (12/31/2005). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded
Hallmark Fund Grant. Department of Design, University of Kansas. (12/31/2004). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded
'Linear efflorescence,' floral-mechanical transfigurations in bronze. University of Kansas. (12/31/2002). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded
International Studies Travel Grant. University of Kansas. (12/31/2002). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded. Travel to Most na Soci, Slovenia
A Collective Harvest/1997 Slovene Artist Colony. University of Kansas. (12/31/1997). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded
Joyce and Elizabeth Hall Center for the Humanities Travel Grant. University of Kansas. (12/31/1997). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded. Travel to Ljubljana, Slovenia
International Studies Travel Grant. University of Kansas. (12/31/1996). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded. Travel to Most na Soci, Slovenia.
Founding Found and Readymade Objects Sculpturally. University of Kansas. (12/31/1995). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded
Joyce and Elizabeth Hall Center for the Humanities Travel Grant. University of Kansas. (12/31/1993). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded. Travel to Ljubljana, Slovenia
Visual Arts Fellowship in Sculpture Meritorious recognition. Kansas Arts Commission. $5000.00. (12/31/1993). State of Kansas. Status: Funded
Three-dimensional Wall Drawings. University of Kansas. (12/31/1989). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded
Fellowship Award, Meritorious recognition. Mid-America Arts Alliance/National Endowment for the Arts. (12/31/1986). Federal. Status: Funded
Potentiality of Color in Mixed Media Sculpture. University of Kansas. (12/31/1984). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded
Comparison and Contrast: The Aesthetic Study of High Temperature Refractories. University of Kansas. (12/31/1982). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded
Grant support for the Mid States 6 Designer Craftsman Exhibition at the University of Kansas. Kansas Arts Commission. (12/31/1982). State of Kansas. Status: Funded