Collection: Justin Rothshank - Featured Artist

For this Artaxis Shop, we're doing something a little different. In partnership with our featured artist, Justin Rothshank, we are launching a new initiative aimed at increasing the representation of BIPOC artists within the Artaxis organization. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of Justin’s work in this shop (and generous donations from members) will help us cover the application fee for 50 new BIPOC artists to apply to Artaxis by the end of this year. As an all volunteer organization, application fees are what keeps the Artaxis website running. This initiative includes the formation of a paid committee of current Artaxis members who will help to coordinate, review, and invite other BIPOC artists to apply. This is only the beginning of the work that we are committed to doing to make Artaxis a more inclusive platform - now and into the future.

Our current membership includes 797 artists from all over the world. As an educational and professional resource for contemporary artists and curators, we must do more to uplift and amplify BIPOC voices in the field. This initiative, in addition to our ongoing support of emerging artists through the Artaxis Fellowship and our partnership with The Color Network, is part of Artaxis’s commitment to more fully represent the diversity of perspectives and practices that make up the global ceramics community. Artaxis stands in solidarity with BIPOC, activists, and all voices working to end systemic racism in our country.

Justin Rothshank is a studio potter working in Goshen, Indiana since 2009. Justin’s ceramic work has been exhibited and published internationally, including articles in Ceramics Monthly, American Craft, Studio Potter, The Log Book, and several books. He has been a presenter, panelist, visiting artist, and artist-in-residence at numerous universities, schools, conferences, and art centers throughout the United States and abroad.

Justin is the author of Low Fire Soda, a book published in 2020 by Ceramic Arts Network that also includes a corresponding video release. In 2012 Justin released an instructional DVD titled Ceramic Decals: New Ideas and Techniques, published by Ceramic Arts Daily. His functional and decorative ceramic ware is available for purchase in more than three dozen galleries and gift shops around the United States.

In 2001 Justin co-founded the Union Project, a nonprofit organization located in Pittsburgh, PA, where he served as Associate Director and Principal Artist until 2009. Justin’s work at the Union Project was recognized with numerous historic preservation and social innovation awards from city, state, and national organizations. He is also a co-founder of the Michiana Pottery Tour and the Indiana Potters Conference.

In 2019 Justin was selected by Traditional Arts Indiana as a Master Artist. In 2014 Justin was awarded an Individual Artist Grant by the Indiana Arts Commission. He was presented with an Award of Excellence by the American Craft Council in February 2009. In 2007 he was recognized by Ceramics Monthly Magazine as an Emerging Artist. He has also been awarded an Alcoa Foundation Leadership Grant for Arts Managers, a 2007 Work of Art Award from Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, the 2005 Decade of Servant Leadership Award from Goshen College, and was named to Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 under 40 in 2005.

Justin's work is in the numerous public and private collections around the United States. Museum collections include: High Museum (Atlanta, GA), Frick Museum (Pittsburgh, PA), Museum of Fine Arts (Springfield, MA), San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (San Angelo, TX)

Find Justin’s Artaxis page: https://artaxis.org/justin-rothshank/

Find Justin on Instagram: @jrothshank