• Jennifer Rogers is the Robert O. Daniel Professor of Art at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she teaches ceramics and sculpture. She received her BA from Coe College in 2003 and her MFA from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, in 2007.

    Rooted in the language of post-minimalism, Rogers creates ceramic sculptures and installations composed of borrowed and collected forms. The work speaks to memory, intimacy, and the poetics of material, offering viewers an experience that is both personal and universal.

    Rogers has exhibited her work nationally at venues including NCECA (Minneapolis), Northern Clay Center, The Other Art Fair at Mana Contemporary, the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art, Soap Factory, Rosalux Gallery, Mainframe Studios, ArtLab at the Krasl Art Center, and The Clay Studio (Philadelphia).

  • My work is a whisper, a ghost, an imprint—a quiet record of time and presence.

    Rooted in the language of post-minimalism, I create ceramic objects that are simple, restrained, and inspired by experimentation and process.  With dry, white surfaces and pared-down details, these artworks are composed in spatial arrangements that explore light, shadow, scale, and the quiet tension between stillness and movement. Each installation evokes a suspended moment—connecting past and present, and inviting reflection on the physical and visual weight of objects.

    I work fluidly across ceramic techniques—hand-building, throwing, and slip casting—allowing the object’s formal and conceptual qualities to guide its making. After firing, I assemble the artworks through stacking, piling, and suspending, creating compositions that suggest presence without figure, narrative or text. These collected forms speak to memory, intimacy, and the poetics of material, offering viewers an experience that is both personal and universal.

  • Born 1972, Mason City, Iowa

    Lives and works in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    EDUCATION

    2007 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, MFA

    2003 Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA, B.A., Art, cum laude

    2001 Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA, A.A

    SOLO EXHIBITIONS

    2024 With a Whimper, Chadima Gallery, Iowa Ceramics and Glass Center, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2021 Without Worry, Sinclair Galleries, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2018 Saccharine, Sinclair Galleries, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2017 Saccharine, Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD

    2016 HomeWork, Emily Galusha Gallery, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN

    2013 HomeWork, Mt. Mercy University, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2011 Building, Dwelling, Thinking, ArtLab, Krasl Art Center, St. Joseph, MI

    2010 In Place, The Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI

    2007 Futility, Master of Fine Arts Exhibition, Katherine E. Nash Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

    2006 Detritus, Solo Exhibition, University of Wisconsin, Marathon County, WI

    GROUP EXHIBITIONS

    2024 Making Connections, Ceramics Invitational, concurrent with the Iowa Clay Conference, Janalyn Hanson White Gallery, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2023 Aggregate, Ceramics Invitational, Mainframe Galleries, Des Moines, Iowa

    2019 The Other Art Fair, Chicago, Juried and Organized by Saatchi Online, Mana Contemporary Art, Chicago

    2019 Into the Blue: An all-Iowa Juried Exhibition, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2019 Duck, Duck, Gray Duck, a regional showcase of Midwest ceramicists, organized by Northern Clay Center and the Airport Foundation, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Minneapolis, MN

    2019 Earthy Paradise, a two-person show with Ursula Hargens, Curated by Andrea Kann, a concurrent exhibition for NCECA-Claytopia Joe Christenson Studio, Minneapolis, MN 

    2019 Iowa Educators Exhibition, group show, curated by JoAnn Schnabel, a concurrent exhibition for NCECA-Claytopia , Squirrel Haus Arts, Minneapolis, MN

    2019 Alumni Exhibition, group show, Curated by Arbe Baris, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2018 Pedestal to Table Ceramic Invitational, a group show curated by Marion Nehmer, Linda Lewis, Emily MacFarland, Diane Hayes, and Judy Goodwin, Mainframe Studios, Des Moines, IA

    2016 Superusted, Midwest Biennial, curated by Cheryl Wilgren-Clyne, Urban Institute for Contemporary Art, Grand Rapids, MI

    2016 Superusted, Midwest Biennial, curated by Cheryl Wilgren-Clyne, Soap Factory, Minneapolis, MN

    2015 Juried, Biennial Exhibition, Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque, Iowa

    2014 Juried Online Exhibition, Reclaimed: Installation, Performance and Site-Specific Work, One Wall Gallery, Art Access (catalog), The jurors chose 13 works from a pool of 112 submissions. The exhibition is available for viewing online: www.one-wall-gallery.com

    2012 Colleagues Show, Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, IA

    2011 Northern Clay Center Artists, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN

    2011 Momento, Iowa Clay Conference Presenters Exhibition, Sinclair Galleries, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2010 Coe College Faculty Show, Sinclair Galleries, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2010 Group Exhibition, Home Sweet Home, Pelham Art Center, Pelham, NY

    2009 Juried Exhibition. 2009 Artists of NCC, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN

    2008 Four Jerome Artists, 2008 Jerome Project Grant Exhibition, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN

    2008 Not, Not Clay: REALLY Contemporary Works,, Gallery 13. Minneapolis, MN

    2008 Interlochen Faculty Exhibition, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen, MI

    2008 The Boiler Room 2, Fourteen on the Fourteenth, Group Show, Minneapolis, MN

    2007 Virtual Field: Seed Project, Schroeder Romero Project Space. Winkleman Gallery, New York, NY

    2007 Seed Project Auction & Benefit, Rare Gallery, New York, NY

    2007 Four-person show, Alumni Exhibition, Sinclair Galleries, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2007 The Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Student Exhibition, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

    2007 Open Door III, Juried Group Show, Rosalux Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

    2007 Global Unity, Mosaic Festival Group Show, Minneapolis, MN

    2007 Art in the Boiler Room, Minneapolis, MN

    2006 Pattern Language, Fashion Show, DPCI 97/4/ 782, Collaboration with Gail Heidel, Weisman Art Museum, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

    2006 Praxis Practice, Katherine E. Nash Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

    2006 Narrative Beyond Words, Wilson Library, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

    2006 Fresh Works, Graduate Exhibition, Arts Quarter Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

    2006 NAGAS, North American Graduate Art Survey, Nash Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

    2006 The Marge Brown Kalodner Graduate Student Exhibition, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA

    2006 Group Show, Label Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    2006 Scholarship Show, Arts Quarter Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

    2006 Collaborative Works, Neural Communication, Collaboration with Lora Stoyanova, Arts Quarter Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

    2006 Collaborative Works, Prix Fixe, Collaboration with Mayumi Amada, Arts Quarter Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

    2005 Fresh Works, Graduate Exhibition, Arts Quarter Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

    2005 Operation Prairie Storm, Group Show, Label Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    2005 Scholarship Show, Arts Quarter Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

    2005 Mandatory II, Graduate Exhibition, Arts Quarter Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

    2004 Iowa Crafts 36, Charles H. MacNider Art Museum, Mason City, IA

    2004 Deadpan, Senior Thesis Exhibition, Sinclair Galleries, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2003 Kirkwood Student Exhibition, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    1993 Art Show 5, Juried Exhibition, Hearst Center for the Arts, Cedar Falls, IA

    SELECTED AWARDS AND GRANTS

    2015 Perrine Award, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2014 Integrating Technology in the Classroom Grant-Faculty Grant, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2009 Art Initiative Grant, Minnesota State Arts Board, St. Paul, MN

    2008 Jerome Ceramic Artist Project Grant, Awarded by Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN

    2008 Dedalus Foundation Fellowship Nomination, New York, New York

    2006 Graduate Research Professional Partnership Grant, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

    2006 Joel and Aja Award in Ceramics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

    2005 Zelda and Max Berman Scholarship in Art, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

    2005 Joel and Aja Award in Ceramics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

    2004 Member of Phi Beta Kappa, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2004 Marvin Cone Art Prize, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2003 Great Lakes Clay Company Ceramics Prize, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2003 Robert and Joan Kocher Prize in Art, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2002 William C. and Mildred M. Crawford Scholarship, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2001 Fine Art Scholarship, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2001 Outstanding Student of the Year Award, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2001 Member of Phi Theta Kappa, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND LECTURES

    2014 Thursday Forum Lecture: Organization May Save Your Life: and Other Stories from the Artists' Studios, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2013 Public Lecture: HomeWork, Mt. Mercy University, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2011 Public Lecture: Building, Dwelling, Thinking, ArtLab, Krasl Art Center, St. Joseph, MI

    2011 Iowa Clay Conference Presenter: Artist Talk & Workshop, The Ceramics Center, Coe College

    2008 Visiting Artist Lecture: Artist Talk, The College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN

    2007 Visiting Artist Lecture: Artist Talk, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2005 Visiting Artist Lecture: Artist Talk, University of Wisconsin, Marathon County, WI

    PRESS AND PUBLICATIONS

    2019 Review: Looking Back at The Other Art Fair: 5 Booths We Loved by Vasia Rigou (www.rainbowed.us/art-design)

    2015 Review: Soap Factory's biennial celebrates nature and nurture in handsome show, Star Tribune, article by Mary Abbe

    2014 Reclaimed: Installation, Performance, and Site-Specific Work Catalog, One Wall Gallery, Art Access

    2013 Momento: A review by Claire Kovacs Ceramic Art and Perception Issue 91

    2012 Saatchi Online, 100 Curators, 100 Days, Selected by Curator: Flora Fairbairn

    2012 THERE Journal of Design, College of Design, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

    2009 500 Ceramic Sculptures, Lark Books

    2008 NCC News, Northern Clay Center Newsletter: Jerome Artists

    2006 American Craft Council Conference Publication, Shaping the Future of Craft

    2003 Colere, Literary Publication Cover, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2003 Student Research Symposium Publication Cover, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

    2001 League of Innovations Catalogue Cover, 15th Annual Student Art Competition

    SELECTED COLLECTIONS

    2019 Lemon Chiffon, Candy Dish Series, Kirkwood Community College  Permanent Collection

    2019 Girl with Apple, Private Collection

    2019 Lemon Drop, Private Collection

    2019 Double Bubble, Private Collection

    2019 Air Head,  Private Collection

    2019. Avocado Green Dream, Private Collection

    2005 Pillbox, Private Collection

    2003 Collector's Edition, Alces Alces, Private Collection