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. She teaches in-person and remote ceramics and creativity centered workshops.

She is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice incorporates ceramics, facial tissues, mixed media, drawing, painting, and time-based installations. Her work lingers in the quiet moments — where memory, ritual, and transformation meet. 

Exhibitions include: Transformations: grief, gratitude, love, and time at the Pablo Center at the Confluence in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 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 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 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 Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life by Suleika Jaouad (2025).

Willers served as Past-President of the Board of Directors (2024-2025) for the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, also known as NCECA. She previously served in executive leadership positions on the board of directors as President (2022-2024), President-Elect (2021-2022), Special Advisor (2020-2021) and Steward of the Board (2018-2020), and Director at Large (2009-2012). In these roles, she assisted in the strategic and long-range planning of the organization, supported preparations for the annual NCECA conference, and served on committees that supported 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 Senior 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 and two cats.

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)