James C. Watkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James C. Watkins
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| Born | May 28, 1951 |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Ceramics, Pottery |
James C. Watkins was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1951. He grew up on a farm in Athens, Alabama. Today, he is a famous ceramic artist living in Lubbock, Texas. He has been working with clay for more than 40 years!
Watkins is known for his large, special ceramic pots that have two walls. He also makes tiles from a material called porcelain substrate using a laser. His art often has cool textures. He creates these textures using unique firing methods. For his porcelain tiles, he uses special chemicals and fires them many times. This gives them bright and colorful surfaces.
Watkins became well-known in 1993. His art was chosen for the White House Collection of American Crafts. This collection was put together by Michael Monroe, who worked at the Smithsonian Institution. James C. Watkins' art is now in 21 permanent collections around the world. These include the Clinton Library in Arkansas and the Shigaraki Institute of Ceramic Studies in Japan. His work has been shown in 40 solo exhibitions and 164 group shows.
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Teaching and University Work
Watkins is a very respected professor. He is a Paul Whitfield Horn Professor Emeritus at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. He taught students about ceramics and drawing for buildings.
The Horn Professorship is the highest award a professor can get at Texas Tech University. It is given to teachers who are known nationally and internationally. This award recognizes their amazing research or other creative achievements.
His Life and Inspiration
Watkins gets ideas for his art from his childhood. He grew up on a farm in the southern United States in the 1950s and 60s. His parents were farmers. James was the oldest of six children.
When he was a kid, big cast-iron pots were very common on farms. His mother used these large black pots to make things like soap and hominy. Watkins creates his large, double-walled ceramic pots to remember helping his mother. He would help her keep the fire hot around those big cast-iron pots.
Awards and Honors
James C. Watkins has received many awards. These awards honor his great work in art and teaching.
- 1990 The President's Excellence in Teaching Award, Texas Tech University
- 2005 Senior Fulbright Scholar Fellowship, Vietnam (he taught at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture)
- 2013 William D. Kerns Award for the Visual Arts
- 2016 Art on the Llano Estacado Legacy Award, from the Texas Tech University Museum Association
- 2019 Texas Master Award, given by the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft
- 2023 Texas State Visual Artist 3D Award, from the Texas Commission on the Arts
- 2024 West Texas Walk of Fame inductee, from Civic Lubbock, Inc.
- 2024 BADG Legacy Grant Recipient, from Black Artist +Designers Guild Grants. This grant was funded by the Maxwell Hanrahan Foundation.
Education
- 1973 Kansas City Art Institute, Ceramics/Drawing, B.F.A. (Bachelor of Fine Arts)
- 1977 Indiana University-Bloomington, Ceramics, M.F.A. (Master of Fine Arts)
Images for kids
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James C. Watkins working in his studio.
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Double-walled Caldron from the ("Fragility Series"), fired using a special method called saggar firing. It is 20 inches high and 20 inches wide.
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A multi-fired porcelain tile from the ("Reflections Series"). It is 12 inches high and 24 inches wide.
