Ceramics by Ted Smudde

ABOUT TED SMUDDE

Ted's formidable years were spent in the small town of Terre Haute, Indiana. His interest in the arts was awakened at an early age when he tagged along with his mother, who attended art classes at the local private Catholic College. He remembers walking through the artist studios and seeing figures created out of plaster and sculptures carved in stone. Some of these works wound up in his family home after being purchased by his father, who also loved and appreciated art.
After moving to Los Angeles, CA at the age of ten, Ted’s exposure to art broadened to include tours of the Norton Simon Museum, the LA County Museum, MOCA, and the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu. He was especially drawn to the human figures of Rodin, Henry Moore, and Brancusi.
Ted began his ceramic studies in high school and continued them at San Diego State University, where he focused on hand-building and learning about various firing temperatures and techniques. Determined to become an artist, Ted transferred to Otis College of Art and Design where he studied under the renowned ceramicist Ralph Bacerra, whose innovative use of negative space and surface design would have a life-long influence on Ted.
After thirty years, Ted continues his artistic exploration of form and surface design from his Glendale, CA studio just outside of Los Angeles.

EDUCATION

1989 Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA), Ceramics, Otis Art Institute of Parson School of Design, now Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, California 

1984-85 San Diego State University

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1989 - current  Studio Artist

2022 - current  Instructor, Community Center of La Canada Flintridge

2022 - current Senior Marketing Manager, SprintRay, www.sprintray.com 

2019 - 2022  Senior Marketing Manager, Carbon Inc., www.carbon3d.com 

1997 - current  Marketing Professional, www.linkedin.com/in/tedsmudde 

2020 - 2023  Artist Assistant, Vanessa Beecroft www.instagram.com/vanessa.beecroft, www.de-pury.com

1995 - 1997      Lead glaze technologist and sculptor, California Pottery and Tile Works, www.calpot.com 

1993 - 1995      Film crew art department - design, build, and decorate sets for film production

1992 - 1993      MOA (Museum of Oriental Art) instructor & studio technician, West Los Angeles

1991                 Artist-in-residence/guest ceramic instructor, Flintridge Prep, La Canada, CA  

1990 - 1991      Designer & manufacturer of slip cast and press mold for use in production of consumer bathroom accessories, India Ink / Zenna

1990                 Artist Assistant, Keiko Fukazawa www.keikofukazawa.com 

1990                 Assistant to Ed O'Reilly, Creative Consultant, on the film “Ghost” Paramount Pictures

1988 - 1989     Studio Assistant, Otis Art Institute of Parson School of Design ceramics department