About

Autumn works in both illustrated functional porcelain, and watercolor paintings, depicting observations from her surroundings. Her work acts a portrait of daily life, by showing details of the day that can often be overlooked. Her work brings attention to the beauty of the urban landscape.

Autumn creates narratives in each piece by illustrating elements that are representative and unique to local landscape. A viewer familiar with the setting can view the illustrations and recognize their city in the landmarks and buildings. The imagery is also vague enough that a wider range of people can relate to the content. Each piece allows the viewer to identify with the scenes depicted and form their own narratives to create a relationship with the work.

 

Bio

Born into a family of artists, her mother a painter, and her grandparents who have worked in ceramics for over 50 years, she understands the importance of art objects in one’s life, and it only seems natural that she go into the art field. Beginning with small projects in my grandparent’s studio she has always had an affinity for ceramics.

Her serious interest in ceramics began at Southern Oregon University in 2004-2008. The influence of the many instructors who came through the ceramics department has given her a diverse ceramic education and helped her to develop a unique voice and style. In the summer of 2006 she apprenticed under the French potter Jean-Nicolas Gerard in Valensole, France. Spending long days in the studio, she gained technical skill doing production assistance and studio work for Mr. Gerard. This opportunity also provided time to develop her own work and ideas.

In 2010-2011 she studied at University of Florida as a Post-Bacc student. She enrolled in the Masters of Fine Arts program at Louisiana State University in 2011, where she studied with Andy Shaw and Michaelene Walsh  during the three year program which she completed in the spring of 2014.  

Autumn moved to Minneapolis, MN, in 2014 when she was awarded the Fogleberg Fellowship at Northern Clay Center. She has remained in Minneapolis and works as a studio artist, an art instructor at a k-8 school, and teaches various College and community education art classes.

Autumn’s Resume


  • Education
    2011-2014 Masters of Fine Arts, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    2010-2011 Post-Baccalaureate study, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
    2003-2008 Bachelor of Arts, Studio Art, Southern Oregon University, Ashland, Oregon

    Residencies and Apprenticeships
    2018 Lacuna Gallery, invitational drawing residency, Minneapolis, MN
    2016 Sedona Summer Colony, Invited artist, Sedona AZ
    2014-2015 Northern Clay Center, Fogleberg Fellowship, Minneapolis, MN
    2006 Ceramics Apprenticeship with Jean-Nicolas Gerard, Valensole, France

    Honors and Awards
    2020 Artist Initiative Grant, Minnesota State Arts Board
    2018 Emerging Artist award, Ceramics Monthly Magazine
    2017 Jerome Ceramic Artist Project Grant, Awarded by Northern Clay Center
    2016 Emerging Artist Award, American Craft Council Show, San Francisco, CA
    2011 Award of Excellence, Focus Gallery at University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, Intersection: UF Post-Bacc and Graduate Student, Exhibition
    2006 Kester Award, Scholarship for Visual Arts, Southern Oregon University, Ashland, OR

    Teaching Experience
    2015-2022 St John the Baptist Catholic School, New Brighton MN, Visual Arts Instructor, grades k-8th
    2014-2020 Teaching Artist, Various specialty classes, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
    2015-2020 Artistry at Bloomington Arts Center, Teaching Artist, community ed. classes, Outreach instructor for adult and youth program art classes, Ceramics, drawing, sculpture, STEAM education
    2016- 2017 Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Minneapolis, MN, Adjunct Faculty, introduction to ceramics, drawing I, Introduction to Art
    2011-2014 Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, Instructor of Record, 2-Dimensional Foundations, Introduction to Hand-building, Introduction to Wheel Throwing
    2011 Louisiana State University, Teaching Assistant, introduction to ceramics

    Solo Exhibitions
    2021 Anthony Schaller Gallery, St Joseph, MI, Autumn Higgins Solo Exhibition
    2021 In Tandem Gallery, Bakersville, NC Autumn Higgins solo show
    2019 Akar Gallery, Iowa City, IA, Autumn Higgins - Iowa City
    2018 Anthony Schaller gallery, St. Joseph, MI A Portrait of Daily Life
    2016 Gallery 360, Minneapolis, MN, Quiet Moments in Daily Life –illustrations in watercolor and porcelain
    2015 Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA, Ordinary Perspective MFA Thesis Exhibition,
    2012 Mudfire Gallery, Decatur, GA, Autumn Higgins 2012, Recent Ceramic works
    2008 Davis and Cline Galleries, Ashland, OR, 8th Annual BFA Exhibition
    2007 Southern Oregon University Ashland, OR, Escape:Ceramic Forms
    2006 Southern Oregon University, Ashland, OR, Re-Bound:Trashion Show -Photography exhibition

    Selected Group Exhibitions and sales
    2023 Oregon Country Fair, Veneta OR, Juried One Year Artist Pottery
    2023 Anthony Schaller Gallery, Baroda MI, Animalia, Animals of the kingdom
    2020-2022 River Valley Potters Tour, Abnet Farm, Stillwater, MN
    2021 The Grand Hand Gallery, St Paul MN, Space Contained, Autumn Higgins and David Jensen
    2019-2022 Mill City Farmers Market, Minneapolis MN, Exhibiting artist during summer season
    2020 Anthony Schaller Gallery, St Joseph, MI, Animals Show
    2016-2019 American Craft Council Shows, St Paul, MN, San Fransisco CA
    2018 Anthony Schaller Gallery, St Joseph MI, Home and habitat- Mel Griffin and Autumn Higgins
    2018 Santa Fe Clay, La Mesa Exhibition
    2018 Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN, Four Jerome Artists
    2015-2018 Clay AKAR , Iowa City, IA, Annual Americano Invitational
    2017 Grand Hand Gallery, St Paul, MN, Ashes to Ashes
    2017 Concurrent NCECA Exhibiton, Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, OR Corner of Siskiyou and Indiana,
    2016 Ash Street Project, Portland, OR, Stirring Embers, Ray Grimm and a Life Of Making
    2016 Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD, Winterfest
    2016 Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, WI, One and Only at Kohler Art Center
    2016 Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD, At Your Service, Invitational curated by Linda Arbuckle
    2016 Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN, Fogleberg, Anonymous Potter, and Redwing Artists show
    2015 Schaller Gallery, St. Joseph, MI, Expressive and Distinct
    2015 18 hands gallery, Houston, TX, Porcelain
    2012 LSU School of Art Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA, 8 Fluid Ounces

    Media and Publications
    2019 Pottery Making Illustrated, January/February 2019, Custom Condiments
    2018 Ceramics Monthly Magazine, May 2018, Emerging Artist Feature
    2018 Ceramics Monthly Magazine, February 2018, Author/feature, A Portrait of Daily Life, process article,
    2018 Ceramics Monthly Magazine Author/feature, Quick Tip: Old Item, New Use
    2016 Stirring Embers, A workbook for a life of making, Ray Grimm Legacy Project, contributor, p. 45
    2015 Ceramics Monthly Magazine, 2015 Yearbook and Annual Buyers Guide, Residents at Northern Clay Center
    2012 Clay Times Magazine, Emerging Artist Spotlight, Volume 18, Issue

  • Item description