About the Artist
Mario Munguia Jr. is currently a k-12 art educator and adjunct instructor in Paris, Texas. Munguia was raised in Paris, Texas and graduated summa cum laude with a BFA from The University of Texas at Tyler in 2016 and an MFA from Arizona State University in 2019. Munguia’s work has been featured at the 2016 NCECA National Student Juried Exhibition, 2022 Contemporary Clay Exhibition, 2023 Off Center International Ceramic Exhibition, and has participated in the C.R.E.T.A Ceramic Residency in Rome, Italy. He has been featured three times as a demonstrating artist on the ASU Ceramic Research Center Juried Open Studio Tour. Munguia is also an avid action figure collector, and his collection currently contains over three thousand figures most of which are superheroes, wrestlers, video game characters, movie icons, imported collectibles and childhood toys.
Experience
Education
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2019 MFA, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
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2016 BFA, Summa Cum Laude, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX
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2013 AS, Paris Junior College, Paris, TX
Experience
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2022 - current, Paris Junior College, Adjunct Instructor: Ceramics I, Ceramics II, Art Appreciation
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2021 – current, Texas Art Education Association Region 8 VASE Director (Juror Foreperson, Site Manager, Contest Operator)
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2019 - current, Chisum Independent School District, Art Teacher, Grades 9-12
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2018 - 2019, ASU School of Art Instructor of Record: Ceramics for Non-Majors, 3-D Design
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2017 - 2025, Paris Junior College Upward Bound Summer Program Ceramics/Painting Course Elective Instructor
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2012 - 2013, Paris Junior College Art Department Work Study Assistant
Exhibitions (Selected)
2025
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Spring, Art Guild Collaborative, Plaza Art Gallery, Paris, TX
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TRAHC’S 37th Annual Juried Exhibition, Regional Arts Center, Texarkana, TX
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Feast Your Eyes, Plaza Art Gallery, Paris, TX
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Fresh Ideas 2025, Lewisville Grand Theater Main Art Gallery, Lewisville, TX
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FACE (Paris Junior College Faculty and and Alumni Creative Exhibition), Foyer Gallery, Paris Junior College, Paris, TX
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Together, Gainesville Visual Arts Juried Exhibition, Santa Fe Depot Museum, Gainesville, TX
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Rockwall Art League 25th Annual Juried Show, Cavender Nissan, Rockwall, TX
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For the Love of Art 2025 Exhibition, ArtCentre of Plano, Plano, TX
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Changing Colors, Art Guild Collaborative, Plaza Art Gallery, Paris, TX
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2025 TAEA Juried Annual Members Art Show, Virtual Exhibit
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Hotter N Hell 2025 National Art Exhibition, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA
2024
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Beyond The Classroom: High School Art Faculty Group Exhibition, Anne Dean Turk Fine Art Gallery, Kilgore College, Kilgore, TX
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Sun and Moon, Art Guild Collaborative, Plaza Art Gallery, Paris, TX
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Cíclico, Solo Exhibition, Plaza Art Gallery, Paris, TX
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MSU 2nd Annual High School Teacher and Student Exhibition, Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, TX
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Memories, Art Guild Collaborative, Plaza Art Gallery, Paris, TX
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Rockwall Art League 24th Annual Juried Show, Cavender Nissan, Rockwall, TX
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2024 TAEA Juried Annual Members Art Show, Virtual Exhibit
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Hotter N Hell 2024 National Art Exhibition, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA
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Carnival, Art Guild Collaborative, Plaza Art Gallery, Paris, TX
2023
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Art on the Line Juried Art show, 1894 Gallery, Texarkana, AR
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The Ones That Got Away, Group Exhibition, InBetween Studios, Micro Gallery, Tyler, TX
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Off Center!, International Ceramic Juried Exhibition, Blue Line Arts Gallery, Roseville, CA
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VALA Spring Collective, Juried Exhibition, Blue House Too Gallery, Allen, TX
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MSU 1st Annual High School Teacher and Student Exhibition, Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, TX
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TRAHC’S 35th Annual Juried Exhibition, Regional Arts Center, Texarkana, TX
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VALA Membership Collection Exhibit, Collin County Technical Center, Allen, TX
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Play, Gainesville Visual Arts Juried Fall Exhibition, Santa Fe Depot Museum, Gainesville, TX
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LatinXhibit, Juried Show, Art Center Galleries, Fayetteville, NC
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Rockwall Art League 23rd Annual Juried Show, Cavender Nissan, Rockwall, TX
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Dark Art Show, VALA Gallery, Visual Arts League of Allen, McKinney, TX
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Thankful for the Artists, VALA Gallery, Visual Arts League of Allen, McKinney, TX
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2023 TAEA Juried Annual Members Art Show, Virtual Exhibit
2022
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Art on the Line Juried Art show, 1894 Gallery, Texarkana, AR,
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Contemporary Clay 2022, Juried Exhibition, The Art Center of Western Colorado, Grand Junction, CO
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Figurative and Abstract, VALA Gallery, Visual Arts League of Allen, McKinney, TX
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Convergence, VALA Gallery, Visual Arts League of Allen, McKinney, TX
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Qué Onda, Solo Exhibition, Central Texas College, Killeen, TX
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100-Mile Juried Exhibit, Coppell Arts Center, Coppell, TX
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2022 TAEA Juried Annual Members Art Show, Virtual Exhibit
2021
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Reflejos, FAC Gallery, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX
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Invited Alumni Exhibition, FAC Gallery, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX
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Ceramic Art Showcase, Valley of the Caddo Museum and Cultural Center, Paris, TX
2020
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2020 TAEA Juried Annual Members Art Show, Virtual Exhibit, Juror: Nathan Murray
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Dark Art Show, VALA Gallery, Visual Arts League of Allen, McKinney, TX
2019
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Mario Scenario, thesis exhibition, Harry Wood Gallery, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
2018
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Commemorative Exhibition during anniversary gala, Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ
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Cosmogyny, Fine Art Complex 1101, Tempe, Arizona
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It’s Alive!, Mill Avenue Post Office, Tempe, Arizona
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Land [Muse]um: Artifacts and Inquiry, Harry Wood Gallery, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
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Feedback, Meadows Gallery, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX
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Mud Works MMXVIII, Shemer Art Center, Phoenix AZ
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TAG Pop-up Art Exhibition, A. E. England Building Auditorium, Phoenix, AZ
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Mirabella with ASU Students and Alumni Art Exhibit, Riverside Office Plaza, Tempe, AZ
2017
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Mud Works MMXVII, Shemer Art Center, Phoenix AZ
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ASU Bookarts, ASU Exhibition Hall, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
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Dine in or Take Away, Step Gallery, Grant Street Studios, Phoenix, AZ
2016
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Exchange, SDSU Gallery, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
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Exchange, ASU Step Gallery, Grant Street Studios, Phoenix, AZ
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ASU Ceramics NOW, ASU Exhibition Hall, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
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ASU New Grad Show, Harry Wood Gallery, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
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UT Tyler BFA Alumni Show, Meadows Gallery, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX
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UT Tyler Annual Juried Student Art Exhibit, Meadows Gallery, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX
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interFACE (in Partial Fulfillment for BFA Degree), Fine Arts Complex Gallery, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX
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Dirty South Mug Competition, River Oaks Square Art Center, Alexandria, LA
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NCECA National Juried Student Exhibition, Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, Kansas City, MO
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UT Tyler College Day Juried Student Exhibition, Fine Arts Complex Gallery, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX
2015
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Undergraduate Alumni Student Art Exhibit, Paris Junior College Art Department Gallery, Paris, TX
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C.A.M.E.O. Emerging Artist’s Exhibition, Lee College, Baytown, TX
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Truth, Myth, Creation, University Center Gallery, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX
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UT Tyler High School Day Student Exhibition, Fine Arts Complex Gallery, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX
2014
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UT Tyler Annual Juried Student Art Exhibit, Meadows Gallery, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX
2013
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Paris Junior College Student Art Exhibit, Paris Junior College Art Department Gallery, Paris, TX
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Paris Junior College Annual Juried Student Show, Paris Junior College Art Department Gallery, Paris, TX
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Great Plains Juried Art Exhibition, Centre Gallery, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant, OK
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UT Tyler Annual College Symposium, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX
Awards & Honors
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2025, Honorable Mention Painting, Together, Gainesville Visual Arts Juried Exhibition
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2025, Morgan Henderson Picass-OH WOW! Award, Gainesville Visual Arts Juried Exhibition
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2024, Third Place Sculpture, Rockwall Art League 24th Annual Juried Show
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2023, 1st Place, Art on the Line Juried Art show, 1894 Gallery
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2020, 1st Place Sculpture, TAEA Annual Members Art Show
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2018, Martin Wong Foundation Scholarship Award
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2017, 2018, 2019, Arizona State University School of Art Special Talent Scholarship
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2017, Darlene and Donald Schaumburg Scholarship in Ceramics, Arizona State University
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2016, Special Talent Scholarship, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, Arizona State University
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2015, Bill and Glenda Barret Scholarship Recipient, The University of Texas at Tyler
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2014, UT Tyler Art Department Special Talent Scholarship
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2013, 1st Place Photography Category, Paris Junior College Annual Juried Student Art Exhibit
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2013, 2nd place Photography Category, Great Plains Juried Art Exhibit
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2013, UT Tyler Annual College Symposium Scholarship Award Winner, Department of Art and Art History, University of Texas at Tyler
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2012, 3rd Place Design Category, Paris Junior College Annual Juried Student Art Exhibit
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2011, Paris Junior College Art Talent Scholarship, Paris Junior College Art Department
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2008-2010, Regional Gold Medal Art Recipient, TAEA VASE
Publications
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2025, Bringing Art to Life Mario Munguia Jr Champions Creativity in His NorthEast Texas Town, UT Tyler Magazine, Winter 2025
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2024, Artistic Cycle, Teacher Brings Imagination to Life in Artworks, The Paris News
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2023, Meet Mario Munguia Jr, Shoutout DFW, Shoutoutdfw.com
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2023, Creative Crossroads, Texas Art Education Association ESTAR Newsletter-Winter
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2021, 'Reflejos' Exhibit at UT Tyler Honors Hispanic Heritage Month, Countylinemagazine.com
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2021, Art, A Language of Vision, Chisum’s Munguia fostering skills, passion for artwork, Paris Life Magazine
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2020, A New View, Munguia Works to Paint his own path at Chisum, The Paris News
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2018, Meet Mario Munguia Jr, Voyage Phoenix, Thought Provoker Series
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2017, Visceral, Kelsey McLaughlin, Paris Life Magazine March Issue 2016, NCECA National Student Juried Exhibition at the Leedy Voulkos, kcstudio.org
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2015, PJC Alumni Art Exhibit Opens Tuesday, eParisExtra.com
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2014, At my new school I met ‘Mario the Monster Artist’, Lucy Lowry, Visualfling.com
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2013, Visual Arts Present Awards to PJC Students, Paris Junior College Website Article
Presentations/Involvement
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2025, TAEA Nominations Committee member
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2025, TAEA Region 10S High School VASE, Juror, Irving, TX
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2025, TAEA Region 7 High School VASE, Juror, Longview, TX
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2025, TAEA Region 8 Junior VASE, Juror, Redwater, TX
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2024, TAEA Region 10S High School VASE, Juror, Irving, TX
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2024, TAEA Region 10E High School VASE, Juror, Forney, TX
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2023, Speaker/Presenter -“Que Sigue” Guest Lecture Central Texas College Library, Killeen, TX
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2023, Juror - Tyler ISD Arts Festival, Tyler, TX
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2023, TAEA Region 7 High School VASE, Control Room Support, Contest Operator
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2023, TAEA Region 7 Junior VASE, Control Room Support, Contest Operator
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2022 - 2023, TAEA Blue Ribbon Committee member, Region 8 Representative
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2022 - 2023, Workshop Presenter, Paris Junior College Art Day
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2021 – current, Texas Art Education Association Region 8 VASE Director (Juror Foreperson, Site Manager, Contest Operator)
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2020, NCECA Board Nominations Committee member, position: member at large
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2020 - current, Paris Arts Alliance Board Member, Paris, TX
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2018, Make Me a Monster, Conference Workshop Leader, Zombie Apocalypse Medicine Meeting, Arizona State University
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2018, Paris Junior College Continuing Education Course Instructor, Hands on Clay
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2018, ASU School of Art Summer Camp Instructor, Fantasy Creatures in Clay
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2017 - 2019, Demonstrating Artist, ASU Art Museum Ceramics Research Center Annual Juried Studio Tour, Phoenix, AZ
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2017 - 2018, Demonstrating Artist, Tempe Festival of the Arts, Tempe AZ
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2017, Demonstrating Artist, Pop: Art in Unexpected Places Festival sponsored by Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance, Scottsdale, AZ
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2014-2016, UT Tyler Art Club Vice President, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX
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2012, Juror Frisco Depot Museum Community Art Show, Hugo, OK
Residencies
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2017 C.R.E.T.A. Rome, Rome, Italy
Contact Me