Joseph Wood Bennion
| Joseph Wood Bennion | |
|---|---|
| Born | Joseph Wood Bennion September 5, 1952 Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| 🏫 Education | Brigham Young University |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Known for | Ceramics, pottery |
| Movement | Studio pottery |
| 👩 Spouse(s) | Lee Udall Bennion |
| 🏅 Awards | National Endowment for the Arts Visual Arts Fellowship (1990) Utah Governor's Mansion Artist Award (2009) |
| 🌐 Website | www |
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Joseph Wood Bennion (born September 5, 1952) is an American studio potter based in Spring City, Utah, whose functional salt-glazed and wood-fired stoneware has been profiled in ceramics journals and surveys of Utah art. He received a National Endowment for the Arts Visual Arts Fellowship in 1990 and the Utah Governor's Mansion Artist Award in 2009, and his work is held in museum collections including the American Museum of Ceramic Art and the Springville Museum of Art.
Early life and education
Bennion was born in Salt Lake City and introduced to ceramics through his uncle's family, who maintained a pottery studio in their home.[1] He initially attended Brigham Young University (BYU) to study early childhood education, but changed his focus to ceramics after encountering a group of potters in Crescent City, California, in 1974.[1][2]
He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in ceramics from BYU in 1982 and a Master of Fine Arts in 1986.[3][4]
Career
In 1980, Bennion established Horseshoe Mountain Pottery in Spring City, Utah.[5] His work focuses on functional domestic pottery, including bread bakers, mugs, and dinnerware.[6]
Bennion is known for his use of traditional ceramic techniques, specifically wood-firing and salt-glazing. He often uses a treadle wheel, emphasizing the rhythmic and physical nature of the craft.[7] His aesthetic is influenced by rural Utah and his secondary career as a Colorado River rafting guide in the Grand Canyon.[1][8]
Recognition and media
In 1990, Bennion received a Visual Arts Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.[9] In 2005, the Springville Museum of Art named him one of the "Top 100 Living Artists in Utah."[9] In 2009, he and his wife, Lee Udall Bennion, were the first married couple to jointly receive the Utah Governor's Mansion Artist Award.[9]
His work is included in the collections of the American Museum of Ceramic Art and the Springville Museum of Art.[5]
Reception and influence
Bennion's work has been discussed in ceramics journals such as Ceramics Monthly, which profiled his studio practice and approach to salt glazing in the 1980s, and The Studio Potter, which published his essay "The Body: Intimacy and Intuition." Surveys of Utah art and local history, including Utah Art and A History of Sanpete County, have also highlighted his role in the Spring City arts community and in the development of studio pottery in the region.
Personal life
Bennion is married to the painter Lee Udall Bennion. They have lived and worked in Spring City, Utah, for over 40 years, where they have been active in the local arts community and the restoration of the town's historic district.[4][8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Wolfe, Tamara S. (February 16, 2024). "The Story of Joe Bennion and Horseshoe Mountain Pottery". My Local Utah. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Joseph W. Bennion". Utah Artists Project. Marriott Library, University of Utah. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Alumni: Joe Bennion". Brigham Young High School Alumni. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Dant, Doris R. (1996). "Lee Udall Bennion: A Quiet Interview". BYU Studies Quarterly. 36 (3): 117.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Bennion". The Marks Project. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
- ↑ "Joe Bennion". Spring City Arts. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
- ↑ Bennion, Joseph (2011). "The Body: Intimacy and Intuition". The Studio Potter. 40 (1): 72–74.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Transcontinental Exhibition Catalogue" (PDF). Utah Division of Arts & Museums. 2019. p. 12. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Vincent, Mona. "Profiles: Lee Udall and Joseph Wood Bennion". Y Magazine. Brigham Young University. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
Bibliography
Journals
- Bennion, Joseph (2011). "The Body: Intimacy and Intuition". The Studio Potter. 40 (1): 72–74.
- Hunt, Bill (December 1986). "Joseph Bennion". Ceramics Monthly. 34 (10): 39–45.
Books
- Antrei, Albert; Roberts, Allen D. (1999). A History of Sanpete County. Salt Lake City, UT: Utah State Historical Society. p. 306. ISBN 0-913738-42-5. Search this book on
- Olpin, Robert S.; Swanson, Vern G.; Seifrit, William C. (1991). Utah Art. Layton, UT: Gibbs Smith. pp. 248–249. ISBN 978-0879053857. Search this book on
- Rogers, Phil (2002). Salt Glazing. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 142–145. ISBN 978-0-8122-3638-5. Search this book on
Web sources
- "Lee and Joe Bennion". 15 Bytes. Artists of Utah. February 8, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
- "Pandemic Bread". Utah Division of Arts & Museums. 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
External links
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