Biography
Rhonda Willers is a visual artist, educator, writer, researcher, mother, and author of the book, Terra Sigillata: Contemporary Techniques published by The American Ceramics Society February 2019. She teaches in-person and remote ceramics and creativity centered workshops.
Focusing on fragility, space, and subtle strength, Willers works with repetitive forms and markings to elicit thoughts of memories, spiritual spaces, and rituals. Her conceptually-driven art practice includes ceramics, mixed media, drawing, painting, and time-based installations. Recent and upcoming exhibitions include: Untitled 18 at SooVAC (Soo Visual Art Center) juror Danielle Krysa aka The Jealous Curator, Persistence of Mingei: Influence Through Four Generations of Ceramic Artists at The Weisman Art Museum (Minneapolis) and Crowns: Crossing into Motherhood, a group exhibition featuring art made in response to the experience of mothering, at the Canton Museum of Art in Canton, Ohio.
Willers earned her BFA in ceramics and photography from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls and continued with post-baccalaureate studies at the University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth. She completed her MFA at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln with an emphasis in ceramics and minor studies in drawing and sculpture. Her work and writing has appeared in The Isolation Journals, Ceramics Monthly, Pottery Making Illustrated, and Ceramics Technical. She is a contributing author to Low-Fire Soda by Justin Rothshank (2020), Low-Fire Glazes for Potters and Sculptors by Ben Carter (2024), and The Book of Prompts by Suleika Jaouad (to be released).
Willers serves as Past-President of the Board of Directors for the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, also known as NCECA. She previously served in an executive leadership positions as President 2022-2024, President-Elect from 2021-2022, Special Advisor from 2020-2021 and Steward of the Board from 2018-2020, and Director at Large from 2009-2012. In these roles, she assists in the planning of the annual NCECA conference in addition to serving on committees that support the organization's mission and vision of advancing creation, teaching, and learning through clay with purpose and fostering environments of equity, diversity, access, and inclusion.
From 2007-2018, Willers was a Lecturer in the Art Department at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls teaching a broad range of courses: beginning and advanced level ceramics, creative arts entrepreneurship, design foundations, and general art appreciation (class size of 120-150). Her special projects included overseeing student participation in the American Craft Council St. Paul Show for three years, assisting the visiting artist program known as the Wyman Visiting Professor in Art, securing and/or supporting several prominent artists and scholars, as well as co-coordinating or coordinating gallery exhibitions and the annual outdoor art exhibition.
Currently, Willers is a full-time studio artist and writer at her home in rural Elk Mound, Wisconsin, where she lives with her family.
Interview on Tales of a Red Clay Rambler with Ben Carter, 2024 (click here to listen)
Interview broadcasted on Wisconsin Public Radio: Spectrum West (click here to listen)
Interview on The Potters Cast podcast with Paul Blais, 2019 (click here to listen)
Interview broadcasted on Wisconsin Public Radio: Spectrum West (click here to listen)