Ceramicists Victoria Christen & Julia Allen Their Work & Influences

Join us to hear both Victoria and Julia discuss and show images of their past and current work, focusing on family and environmental influences shaping her art practice.

Free and open to the public!

Artist Biography: Victoria Christen

Victoria Christen is currently a resident at LH Project.  A native of Eastern Montana, she earned an MFA in Ceramics from the University of Minnesota and has taught Ceramics at Macalester College, Knox College, Lewis and Clark College and the University of Portland.  Currently living in Portland, Victoria works in a variety of media, including functional and sculptural ceramics, mixed-media sculpture, and fibers. She has exhibited her work and given workshops across the United States and internationally and has been a resident artist at the Archie Bray Foundation, Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, Red Lodge Clay Center, and the International Ceramics Research Center in Denmark.  Victoria has received an NEA Regional Visual Arts Fellowship Award, two Minnesota Arts Board Grants, a travel grant to Japan, and a Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) grant.

Artist Biography: Julia Allen

Julia Allen is a native to Wallowa County.  Art was not a part of her youth and never contemplated participating in any art form until she took a pottery class in college. “Pass no Pass”.  She figured if she showed up and tried, how could they fail her.  It became her passion.  Taking it every semester until she had to transfer to complete her degree in nursing.  Fast forward 10 yrs later when married and with kids and career, she started taking pottery classes at local studio in Boise Idaho where she was residing.  After 3 – six week classes, she was “kicked out’ because she produced too many pieces for a class. Then her home studio began.  In 2020, Julia and her husband, Troy, returned to Wallowa County. She continues to explore hand building and throwing techniques.  A recent addition to her pottery collection is a Raku kiln.

“I was never encouraged in my youth to explore art.  I truly believed I did not have any artistic talent. When I took my first pottery class in college, it was pure joy.  For those that feel they can’t do art because they think they lack the skill to draw or paint, I encourage a class in pottery.  Let me show you, there is an artist somewhere in everyone.  You just have to find your joyful medium!” -Julia