Dean Justice Leeper

608-695-7853 djleeper@gmail.com

deanleeper.com IG: dean_leeper

Education

2019 - University of Montana Missoula, MT Masters of Fine Arts,

2015 - University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI Post-Baccalaureate

2014 - Berea College Berea, KY Bachelors of Arts Major in Studio Arts, concentration in ceramics, Minor in Art History

2012 - Studio Art Center International (SACI) Florence, Italy - Studied Fresco Painting and Art History 

Work/Teaching Experiences

2018 - Instructor of Record Graduate Teaching Assistant, Drawing Foundation, University of Montana. Missoula, MT  

2018 - Graduate Teaching Assistant Instructor of Record, Ceramics For Non-Majors, University of Montana. Missoula, MT (Spring Semester) 

2018 - Graduate Teaching Assistant Instructor of Record, Ceramics For Non-Majors, University of Montana. Missoula, MT (Summer Course) 

2017 - Drawing Teaching Assistant, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

2014 - Student Crafts on the Square, Demonstrator/Outreach Teacher. Berea, KY 

2014 - Ceramic Apprentice, Berea College. Berea, KY

2013 - Northern Clay Center: Summer Studio Intern. Minneapolis, MN

2013 - Figure Drawing Coordinator, Berea College. Berea, KY 

2012 - Teaching Assistant, Berea College. Berea, KY 

Solo Exhibitions

2019 “Narratives of Place” Gallery of Visual Arts, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

2017 “Interpretations of Place” Fine Arts Gallery, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

2015 “Thrown, Caught, Released” HotelRed. Madison, WI

2012 “New Work” Tredennick Gallery, Berea College. Berea, KY 

Group Exhibitions

2021 “Resident Exhibition” STARworks Center for Creative Enterprise. Star, NC

2019 “Looking West” NCECA exhibition, James J. Hill House. Saint Paul, MN

2019 University of Montana and Montana State University Faculty and Student, Exhibition. Archie Bray Foundation for Ceramic Arts. Helena, MT

2018 “24th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition” Gallery of Visual Art, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

2018 “Ecotone” University Center Gallery, University of Montana. Missoula, MT 

2018 “grad-i-ent” School of Art Gallery, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

2018 Annual Juried Art Exhibition, Juror Lisa Simon & Jason Neal, Gallery of Visual Art, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

2017 University of Montana and Montana State University Student and Faculty Exhibition, Archie Bray Foundation for Ceramic Arts. Helena, MT

2017 University of Montana Graduate & Post Baccalaureate Student Exhibition, Clay Studio of Missoula. Missoula, MT 

2016 UMECA Juried Exhibition, Off Center Gallery, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

2016 Annual Gallery of Visual Arts Juried Exhibition, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

2016 “Curious Multiplicity” School of Art Gallery, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

2015 “Eutectic” University of Wisconsin, Art Lofts Gallery. Madison, WI  

2015 John Currie Gallery. Madison, WI 

2015 “Mentor/Mentee Invitational” Gallery on Main. Richmond, KY 

2014 “Di-Verge” Senior Art Exhibition, Doris Ulmann Galleries. Berea, KY 

Permanent Collection

2018 Montana Museum of Art and Culture Purchase Award “River Road” Annual Gallery of Visual Arts Juried Exhibition, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

2017 Montana Museum of Art and Culture Purchase Award “Down Stream” Annual Gallery of Visual Art Juried Exhibition, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

Selected Curations                                                                                                                                                    

2019 Regular Style: Annual MFA Online Exhibition, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

2019 Ecotone: Exhibition of statewide artists and Montana graduate students, University Center Gallery. Missoula, MT 

Workshops

2016 “Beyond the Mug II” Adamah Clay Studios of Bethel Horizons. Dodgeville, WI (Taught)

2015 “Beyond the Mug” Adamah Clay Studios of Bethel Horizons. Dodgeville, WI (Taught)

2016 Assistant to Gerit Grimm, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts .Deer Isle, ME 

2015 Assistant to David Dahlquist in workshop “Create. Meaning. Together” Adamah Clay Studios. Dodgeville, WI 

2015 Assistant to Linda Christianson in workshop “Making Well-Crafted Pottery” Adamah Clay Studios. Dodgeville, WI

2015 Assisted visiting artist Christa Assad in workshop held at University of Wisconsin Madison Ceramic Department. Madison, WI

Additional Professional Experience

2018 Gallery Assistant to the Gallery of Visual Art, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

2017 Co-director of FrontierSpace Gallery. Missoula, Mt. 

2016 Artist talk, panel discussion, professional practices, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

2015 Instructor and Studio Tech Support, Midwest Clay Project. Madison, WI

2015 Helped rebuild anagama wood kiln at Adamah Cay Studios. Dodgeville, WI 

Awards & Honors

2018 Honorable Mention, “24th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition” Gallery of Visual Art, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

2017 Honorable Mention, Juror Beth Lo, University of Montana Emerging Ceramic Artist Exhibition, Off Center Gallery, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

2016 Art Criticism 250 Award, “Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition” Gallery of Visual Art, University of Montana. Missoula, MT 

2016 Mary Nyburg Scholarship, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

2016 Fell-Oskins Scholarship, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

2016 Dirk and Kim Visser Scholarship in Art, University of Montana. Missoula, MT

2010-14 Berea College Dean’s List. Berea, KY

2014 Undergraduate Skutt Throwing Competition at NCECA, Second Place

2013 Ceramic Student Travel Grant, Berea College. Berea, KY

2012 Design for a Summer Grant, Berea College. Berea, KY

2010 Scholastic Gold Key Award, Milwaukee Art Museum. Milwaukee, WI

Media/Publications

2019 “Exploring Missoula’s mountains through the seasons” Author, Peter Friesen. Missoulian 

https://missoulian.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/exploring-missoula-s-mountains-through-the-seasons/article_0efcde9c-85ef-5a07-add4-6f509c6ba634.html

2018 “Ceramics Made of Montana” Author, Suzanne Miller.  Distinctly Montana, http://www.distinctlymontana.com/node/40318

Technical Skills/ Experience

  • Experience firing electric, gas, salt/soda and wood kilns. 

  • Experience with maintenance of electric kilns, including rewiring, programing, and replacing cone sitters. 

  • Experience building a catenary arched kiln, including flews and chimney.  

  • Experience replacing parts and fixing Soldner Clay mixers. 

  • Basic welding experience

  • Experience with wood-shop tools, hand tools, power tools, table saws, etc. 

  • Proficient in clay and glaze material, both handling and mixing. 

  • Experience with Material Safety Data Sheets in both 2D and 3D studio settings. 

  • Proficient in general computer programs.

  • Experience with organizing and ordering ceramic material for studio use.  

  • Work well in community studio environments, and enjoy working with others.