The ridged curl of a dry hibiscus leaf
The closely veined surface of a gladiolus corm
The gills of a forest mushroom illuminated by a shaft of sunlight
The many textured blooms of a coral garden
The time etched ripples of a Yosemite rock face
The sparkle of fresh, dry snow
They amaze, fascinate, and inspire me. Lines and shapes in nature flow gracefully while maintaining a feeling of tension. Forms and surfaces are unified. In porcelain, I am trying to catch the delicacy as well as the strength of nature’s details. Those small details do not shout but still deserve our attention. Like the walls of a shell or the petals of a flower, translucent porcelain forms come to life in the sunlight. I am not trying to recreate nature but only capture a feeling, hoping to stimulate those who see my work to stop for a moment and observe the richness of the world around them.
Public Collections
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, New York
Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, Massachusetts
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Kohler Company, Medical and Personnel Building, Kohler, Wisconsin
University of Iowa, Museum of Art, Iowa City, Iowa
Racine Art Museum, Racine, Wisconsin
Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Minnesota
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
Publications
Porcelain, Vivienne Foley, The New Ceramics, Bloomsbury, 2014
The Best of 500 Ceramics: Celebrating a Decade in Clay, Lark Books, 2012
The Best of Pottery: Vol. 1, Jonathan Fairbanks and Angela Fina, Rockport Publishers, 1996
The Best of New Ceramic Art, Toni Fountain Sikes, Hand Books, 1997
The Best of Pottery: Volume 2, Angela Fina and Christopher Gustin, Rockport Publishers,1998
The Ceramic Design Book, Val Cushing, Lark Books 1998
Wheel Thrown Ceramics, Don Davis, Lark Books, 1998
Porcelain: Traditions and New Visions, Jan Axel and Karen McCready,
Watson Guptill Publications, 1981
Ceramics: Mastering the Craft, Richard Zakin, Krause Publications, 1990, 2001
The Ceramic Spectrum, Robin Hopper, Krause Publications, 2001
500 Bowls: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Design, Lark Books, 2003
The Complete Guide to High-Fire Glazes, John Britt, Lark Books, 2004
Electric Kiln Ceramics, 3rd Edition, Richard Zakin, Krause Publications, 2004
Making Marks: Discovering the Ceramic Surface, Robin Hopper, Krause Publications, 2004
Surface Design for Ceramics, Maureen Mills, Lark Books, 2009
The Studio Potter, Volume 15, Number 1, 1986, Works in Electric Firing – Portfolio, p. 47
The Studio Potter, Volume 16, Number 1, 1987, Wisconsin Potters
Exhibitions
2015
Sandra Byers: The Nature of Things, James Watrous Gallery, Overture Center, Madison, Wisconsin
Smithsonian Craft Show, National Building Museum, Washington, DC
Porcelain: Sandra Byers, Delores Fortuna & Peter Pincus, Artisan Gallery, Paoli, Wisconsin
2014
Mud: Handmade in the Midwest, Racine Art Museum, Racine, Wisconsin
From Heaven to Earth, Katie Gingrass Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Paoli Family Show, NCECA, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Elevating Clay: From Wheel to Wall, Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, Wisconsin
Smithsonian Craft Show, National Building Museum, Washington, DC
2013
Garden Song, ARTspace of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Kohler, Wisconsin
2012
Smithsonian Craft Show, National Building Museum, Washington, DC
Our Gardens Inside and Out, Charles Allis Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
9th Annual Ceramics Invitational, Artisan Gallery, Paoli, Wisconsin
2011
Inhabited Porcelain: Sandra Byers, Susan Schultz, Jennifer McCurdy, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Not So Still Life: 3-D and 2-D from RAM's Collection, Racine Art Museum, Racine, Wisconsin
2010
Translucency, Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, MinnesotaTranscending Materials, Staunton Augusta Art Center, Staunton, Virginia
Sandra Byers, Vessels Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts
2009
Small Treasures, Vessels Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts
The Colleen & Dennis Bindley Collection Exhibition, Dane County Regional Airport, Madison, Wisconsin
2008
Yunomi Invitational, Akar Gallery, Iowa City, Iowa
Autumn Invitational Ceramics Exhibition, Fawick Gallery, Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio
2006
Sandra Byers and Mark Bell: Two Ways with Porcelain, LaCoste Gallery, Concord, MassachusettsSTART, Function + Art, Chicago, Illinois
40th Anniversary Exhibition of the Madison Potters Guild, Higher Fire Gallery, Madison, Wisconsin
2005
Smithsonian Craft Show, National Building Museum, Washington, DC
Dynamic Duos, Vessel Gallery, Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania
Magnificent Extravagance: Artists and Opulence, Wustum Museum of Fine Arts of the Racine Art Museum, Racine, Wisconsin
American Craft Exposition, Northwestern University, Illinois
Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2004
Smithsonian Craft Show, National Building Museum, Washington, DC
American Craft Exposition, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
Our Cups Runneth Over, The Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston, Massachusetts
One and Only, Artspace, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Kohler, Wisconsin
2003
Sandra Byers: Lifeforms, Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, Wisconsin
Ohio Art Pottery: Tradition and Legacy, Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, Ohio
American Craft Exposition, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2002
Smithsonian Craft Show, National Building Museum, Washington, DC
CraftBoston, Boston, Massachusetts
Earth Origins, Gallery 110 North, Plymouth, Wisconsin
Vessels, Boxes, and Baskets, Function + Art, Chicago, Illinois
American Craft Exposition, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2001
All Things Small and Beautiful, Greater Reston Arts Center, Reston, Virginia
Miniatures and Small Works, Globe Theatre Balcony Gallery, Berlin, Maryland
Three Person Exhibition, Katie Gingrass Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Treasures, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
2000
Sandra Byers: A Gentle Nature, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Smithsonian Craft Show, National Building Museum, Washington, DC
Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
American Craft Exposition, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
Paoli Clay Family Reunion Show III, Sugar River Gallery, Verona, Wisconsin
1999
Porcelain 1999, Esmay Fine Art Gallery, Rochester, New York
Solo Exhibition, Mackeral Sky, East Lansing, Michigan
Small but Substantial, Katie Gingrass Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Treasures, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
1998
Thirty Years of Wisconsin Crafts from the Permanent Collection, Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, Wisconsin
Functional Ceramics 1998, Wayne Center for the Arts, Wooster, Ohio
SOFA/NYC, Katie Gingrass Gallery, New York City, New York
The Bindley Collection: Recent Acquisitions and Old Favorites, Sugar River Gallery, Verona, Wisconsin
Treasures, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
1997
The Smithsonian Craft Show, National Building Museum, Washington, DC
The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
American Craft Exposition, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
SOFA/Navy Pier, Katie Gingrass Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
SOFA/Miami, Katie Gingrass Gallery, Miami, Florida
Monarch National Ceramics Competition, Kennedy-Douglas Center for the Arts, Florence, Alabama
Best in America, Stones Gallery, San Francisco, California
Paoli Clay Family Reunion Show, Sugar River Gallery, Verona, Wisconsin
Treasures, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
1996
The Philadelphia Craft Show, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Val Cushing, Ron Isaacs, Sandra Byers, Schneider Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
Treasures, Artspace: John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Kohler, Wisconsin
Monarch National Ceramics Competition, Kennedy-Douglas Center for the Arts, Florence, Alabama
Wisconsin Potters Invitational, Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Cambridge Invitational, Trends and Traditions in Clay, Cambridge, Wisconsin
Flora 96, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, Illinois
International Orton Cone Box Show, Baker University, Baldwin City, Kansas
1995
Paoli Family Clay Show, Art Resources Gallery, St. Paul, Minnesota
The Philadelphia Craft Show, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1993
From Our Vault to the Studio: New Work by Craft Artists in the Wustum Collection, Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, Wisconsin
White House ChristmasTree, The Blue Room, Washington, DC
Celebration of American Crafts, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Silver Anniversary Celebration of American Crafts, Creative Arts Workshop, New Haven, Connecticut
1992
Art from the Earth: Art Inspired by Flowers, Katie Gingrass Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Treasures, Artspace: A Gallery of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Kohler, Wisconsin
Bindley Collection: Ceramics from the 80's, Crossman Gallery, University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, Wisconsin
The Philadelphia Craft Show, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Convictions in Clay, Colucci Gallery, West High School, Madison, Wisconsin
1991
Pearls and Porcelain: The White Show, Ferrin Gallery, Northampton, Massachusetts
The Philadelphia Craft Show, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Holiday Signatures, Katie Gingrass Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1990
Surprises: Big Art/Small Scale, Farmington Valley Arts Center, Avon, Connecticut
1989
Old Friends and New, Artspace: A Gallery of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Kohler, Wisconsin
1988
Wisconsin Craft Masters, Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, Wisconsin
Dynamic Dimensions: Crafts in the New Age, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Hothouse, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Vessels, Form & Function, West Bend Gallery of Fine Arts, West Bend, Wisconsin
Gardengrown II, The Craftsman's Gallery, Scarsdale, New York
1987
The Washington Craft Show, The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
Gardengrown, The Craftsman's Gallery, Scarsdale, New York
Miniatures in Mixed Media, Banaker Gallery, Walnut Creek, California
Batter Up: A Celebration of the Birthday Cake, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
1986
Solo Exhibition, Artifacts Gallery, Indianapolis, IndianaBoxes, Seuferer Chosy Gallery, Madison, Wisconsin Festival Salute, Grace Chosy Gallery, Madison, Wisconsin
1985
Annual Celebration of American Crafts, Creative Arts Workshop, New Haven, Connecticut
Clay Treasures, Pinch Pottery, Northampton, Massachusetts
1984
Solo Exhibition, Jackie Chalkley Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Solo Exhibition, Martha Schneider Gallery, Highland Park, Illinois
The Washington Craft Show, The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
1983
Clay Spectrum, The Craftsman's Gallery, Scarsdale, New York
Clay Invitational, David Barnett Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Works of Art on a Small Scale, Evanston Art Center, Evanston, Illinois
Utilitarian Mud, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1982
Sandra Byers: The Nature of Things, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Solo Exhibition, Synopsis, Winnetka, Illinois
Solo Exhibition, Artifacts Gallery, Indianapolis, Indiana
Trends in Porcelain, A.R.T. Gallery, Elk Grove Village, Illinois
National Crafts Exhibition, Galveston Arts! Gallery, Galveston, Texas
1981
American Crafts 81, Currier Gallery of Art, Manchester, New Hampshire
Lake Superior 81, Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota, Duluth, MinnesotaPorcelain: 3 Perspectives, Craft Concepts, Lutherville, Maryland
Solo Exhibition, Everson Museum of Art Sales Gallery, Syracuse, New York
National Cone Box Exhibition, Memorial Union Gallery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
1980
A Collection of Small Treasures, The Hand and the Spirit, Scottsdale, Arizona
Invitational Crafts Exhibition, Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York
The Studio Potter, Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, Wisconsin
Two by Two, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Ceramics 1980, Purdee Gallery, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Westwood Clay National 1980, Otis/Parsons Gallery, Los Angeles, California
1979
Solo Exhibition, Synopsis, Winnetka, Illinois
Crafts Exhibition, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, Illinois
1978
Clay and Fiber: 15 Viewpoints, Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, Wisconsin
1977
Beaux Arts Designer/Craftsmen 1977, Columbus Museum of Fine Arts, Columbus, Ohio
Drinking Companions, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
StoneHouse Gallery, Two Person Exhibition, Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Growing Things Show, Synopsis, Winnetka, Illinois
1976
Solo Exhibition, Synopsis, Winnetka, Illinois
StoneHouse Gallery, Two Person Exhibition, Cedarburg, Wisconsin