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About
Biography
Molly Schulps saw the possibilities of clay at an early age through the lens of her father, who was a successful production potter and well respected in the field of ceramics. She went on to earn her MFA with distinction from California State University, Northridge. Molly has been primarily a ceramicist, although she also uses many other materials such as paint, wood, wax, wire, etc. Schulps was a part-time lecturer at various colleges and universities throughout Southern California, until 2004, when she started her full time journey at Cypress College where Molly overseas the ceramics program and was the Art Department Chair from 2015-2021. Schulps exhibits her work nationally and is in several permanent collections.
Artist Statement
My work explores the nature of relationships through the animal forms and environment, as well as folkloric references. The animals are the metaphor for our own needs; the need to copulate, pro-create, isolate, create familial relationships and be triumphant. The folkloric references are also a way to investigate family histories and legends.
The series of works that I have made stem from my interest in family, more specifically the constructs of family and how we interact with one another. I have used animals to explore this idea of human nature because their lives are parallel to ours. Animals often forge lifelong bonds based on need and purpose. Gorillas tend to move “upwards” on the social circuit and will leave their families behind if they find a better partner. Beavers will mate for life and stay with their partner, unless one of them dies. These relationships have always fascinated me.
The materials I use are an important part of my process. I mainly use porcelain and terra cotta for the ceramic components because I think the surfaces are seductive and challenging. The nature of these two clay bodies can be finicky and paradoxical just like us, but when they are coaxed along they allow the palate to be pure like porcelain or earthy red clay bodies. The gold lusters give value to the form through surface, intent and the symbolic importance of both gold and silver.
Curriculum Vitae
MOLLY SCHULPS
EDUCATION
2001 M.F.A., with distinction, California State University, Northridge.
1998 B.A., California State University, Northridge.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
June 2023 Reverie, Visions West Contemporary, Livingston, MT
April 2016 Predator Prey, Taylor Junction Gallery, Joshua Tree, CA.
November 2012 Porcelain Forest, Curio, Venice, CA.
September 2011 American Folklore, Azusa Pacific University, CA
December 2011 Santaland, Bunny Gunner Gallery, Pomona, CA
September 2009 Hello Chimera, Armstrong’s Gallery, Pomona, CA
2 PERSON EXHIBITION
October 2020 Everything is Possible/ Nothing is Possible with April Coppini at Imogen Gallery, Astoria, OR
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
January 2025 Pop Up, Royal Nebeker Art Gallery, Clatsop Community College, Astoria, OR
October 2024 Clay Bodies, Imogen Gallery, Astoria, OR
June 2024 The Best Advice I Ever Got was From a Bear, Visions West Contemporary,Bozeman, MT
February 2020 L.A. Stories, Brenau University, Gainesville, GA.
March 2019 Lalapooluza, La Luz De Jesus, Los Angeles, CA.
September 2018 Nature, The Great Park, Irvine, CA.
March 2018 Subversive Flower, part of NCECA in Pittsburgh, PA.
April 2016 Invitational to the Sculpture in the Garden 2016, Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts.
August 2015 The Gang’s All Here, Mainframe Gallery, Seattle, WA.
January 2015 Pedagogic Clay, Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA.
April 2014 Kiln.edu, American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA.
September 2012 Call of the Wild, curated by Devon Tsuno at the Irvine Fine Arts Center
February 2012 The Vault, curated by Anne Faith Nicholls for the Palm Springs Modernist Show, Palm Springs, CA.
November 2011 Anniversary Show, Curio, Venice, CA.
February 2011 Radioactive, Armstrong’s Gallery, Pomona, CA.
May 2010 Kiln.edu, American Museum of Ceramic ArtFebruary
2010 OScene, Invitational biennaleLaguna Beach Art Museum, CA.
February 2010 All You Can Eat, Bunny Gunner, Pomona, CA.
February 2009 Featured Artist, Redcake Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
March 2009 Artra, Venice, CA.February
December 2008 Way to Overhung, Concrete Walls, Los Angeles, CA.
September 2008 Faculty Art Show, Cypress College, CA.
Spring 2008 Pedagogic Clay, Orange Coast College, CA
December 2007 Way to Overhung, Concrete Walls, Los Angeles, CA.
September 2007 Mentor to Many, Tom McMillin, California State University, Channel Islands.
September 2007 Parallels, Coastline College, CA
June 2007 One World, Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, Ojai, CA.
2007 Kiln. EDU, American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA.
2006 Contemporary Ceramics, Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, Ojai, CA.
May 2006 Tom McMillin and Friends, Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, Ojai, CA.April 28-June 1,
2006 California Clay Competition, The Artery, Davis, CA.
December 2004 Group Show, Absolute Art Gallery, San Marino, CA.
December 2004 Kiln. EDU, American Ceramics Museum, Pomona, CA. October- November 2004 Faculty Exhibition, Cypress College, CA. •
July- August 2004 Featured Artist, Fine Arts Building at the Orange County Fair, CA. June 2004 Invitational Exhibition, Absolute Art Gallery, San Marino, CA
November 2003 Faculty Exhibition, Vincent Price Gallery and Museum, East Los Angeles College, CA
June- August 2003 Invitational Exhibition, Powerful Beauty, Ventura County Museum of Art, Ventura, CA
March 2003 pluck, Studio Channel Islands Art Center, Camarillo, California (also co- curator).
October 2002 Artist’s in residence from S.C.I.A.C., Camarillo Art Center, Camarillo, CA
June 2002 Palos Verdes Art Center, Palos Verdes, CASeptember 2001 Beefcake/Cheesecake, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, California.March
2001 Really Big Sculpture, Palos Verdes Art Center, Palos Verdes, California. January 2001 The Feminine Form, Studio Channel Islands Art Center, Camarillo, California.
February 2001 Erotic Art, Art City, Ventura, California.
EXPERIENCE
March 2023-Present Owner and operator of Columbia Clay in Astoria, OR
Fall 2004-Fall 2022 Professor, head of the ceramics program at Cypress College, CA.
Fall 2003 – Spring 2004 Adjunct Faculty, teaching all levels of ceramics (Art 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b), at Moorpark College.
Summer 2003 Adjunct Faculty, teaching Art Appreciation (Immersion Program for East Los Angeles College, at University California Los Angeles.)
Spring 2003 – Fall 2003 Adjunct Faculty, teaching Beginning Ceramics (Art 186), at Glendale College.
Spring 2002- Fall 2003 Adjunct Faculty, teaching Art Appreciation (Art 202) beginning drawing (Art 201) and drawing III(Art 202), at East Los Angeles Community College.
Spring 2002- Spring 2004 Part-time Lecturer of three-dimensional design (Art 141) and two- dimensional design, at California State University, Northridge.
Fall 2000 - 2001Teaching Associate for beginning ceramics (Art 267) and three-dimensional design, at California State University, Northridge.
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
October 2024 Curated Clay Bodies at Imogen Gallery in Astoria, OR
January 2020 Curated Superscope exhibition at Cypress College in Cypress, CA
September 2011 Guest speaker at Azusa Pacific University
Fall 2010 Guest speaker at California State University, Fullerton
October 2008 Co-curated Animaform for the Cypress College Art Gallery.
2007-2015, Facilitated Cypress College ceramic students in being a part of the CaliforniaCeramic Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Art in Davis, CA
May 2005, Guest Lecturer at California State University, Channel Islands.
June 2005, Organized and directed pit-firing workshop for ceramic students and fellow ceramicists.
June 1, 2003, Organized and directed pit-firing workshop for ceramic and sculpture students from Glendale College and El Camino College.
March 30- May 11, Co-curator for pluck, at Studio Channel Islands Art Center.
October 2002 Guest lecturer for the ceramics/ sculpture department at California State University, Channel Islands.
Summer 2000-2004, artist in residence at Studio Channel Islands Art Center.December
1998-September 1999 Designing, consulting, and creating of ceramic tile murals and installations for Didier Michot Design Group in Beverly Hills, California.
June 1998-December 1998 Production potter for The Clay Pot in Chico,