MaPo Kinnord facts for kids

MaPo Kinnord is a talented artist and teacher. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1960. Today, she lives and works in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is well-known for her amazing sculptures made from clay.

Early Life and Learning

MaPo Kinnord grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. She loved art and decided to study it in college. She earned her first art degree, called a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), from the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston.

Later, she continued her studies and received a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree. This advanced degree came from Ohio State University in Columbus. In 1995, MaPo Kinnord moved to New Orleans. There, she met John T. Scott, who became an important mentor to her.

Her Art and Inspiration

MaPo Kinnord creates sculptures using clay. Many of her artworks look like the traditional mud huts found in Ghana, a country in Africa. Her art often explores ideas about "ancestral memory." This means she thinks about the history and experiences of people who came before us.

To learn more, she even traveled to Northern Ghana. She made a video there about how people make pottery and build with clay. Her art is greatly inspired by different kinds of architecture, which is the design of buildings. She uses clay to show both the outside and inside of these forms. MaPo Kinnord has also said that working with clay is like playing jazz music. It's creative and free, but still has a clear structure.

MaPo Kinnord as a Teacher

Besides being an artist, MaPo Kinnord is also a dedicated teacher. She believes in using art to help people. She has taught art therapy, where people use clay and meditation to relax and express themselves.

She has taught at several famous art schools. These include the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina. She also taught at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine. Before moving to New Orleans, she taught in Massachusetts and California. In 1995, she became a professor at Xavier University of Louisiana.

Art Shows and Exhibitions

MaPo Kinnord's artwork has been shown in many places. Her sculptures have been displayed in galleries and museums around the world. Some places include the Arthur Roger Gallery and the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans. Her art has also been seen at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.

In 2017, her work was part of an art show called Congregation. This exhibition was held at Antenna Gallery. In 2018, her art was featured in another important show. It was called The Whole Drum Will Sound: Women in Southern Abstraction. This exhibition at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art included works by many famous women artists.