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Kent Conklin
Artist's Biography
Kent Conklin is currently
providing architects, design firms, galleries and private parties with a variety
of fine arts in the ceramic medium.
With his broad range of skills, Kent has completed various
commissions and enjoys making his client’s vision come to life. One
installation in a custom home overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge was a plaster
relief fantasy dining room in the style of Chagall. Another commission was at
the Wilshire Grand Hotel in Los Angeles: an arrangement of artifacts with a
South Pacific theme. He produced six figurative sculptures for the penthouse
suites at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vagas. He also designed and produced two
unique tile murals for the Maui Marriott Hotel. Kent worked with Quiksilver and
was responsible for creating contemporary visions in tile for several of their
new retail stores.
When Kent introduced his Imperial Fruit Collection he established
himself as a fine artist. He continually sells the fruit collection at high-end
galleries across the country. His Imperial Fruit Collection has also been
featured on the Carol Duvall Show. Some recent shows have included the Beverly
Hills Affaire in the Gardens Art Show, the Calabasas Fine Arts Festival, the
Indian Wells Arts Festival, the La Jolla Festival of the Arts and the Los
Angeles County Museum of Arts and Architectural Show.
Kent grew up in the
artistic community of Laguna Beach, California and began working with clay at
the age of twelve. He was employed as a professional potter at age fifteen in
1975. He worked with Marlo Bartels and John Brooks Pottery for a few years.
Kent participated in the popular Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach while still in
high school. Upon graduating in 1977, he began studying art, color and design,
and art history at the Laguna Beach School of Art.
Kent continued to study ceramics under an apprenticeship in New
Zealand, exposing himself to more of the infinite possibilities with clay and
firing in large bottleneck wood firing kilns. When he returned to California,
he continued his education at the San Francisco Art Institute, a school well
known for its contemporary art program.
After completing his education at the S.F.A.I., Kent began to
learn more of the pragmatic applications of the arts while working as a head
designer and mold maker for a commercial manufacturing company in Berkeley,
California. Here he applied his skills on commercial and industrial levels.
A natural progression for Kent was to start his own business in the
San Francisco Bay area. He worked with clients on product development and
manufacturing. In addition to running his own business, he continued to exhibit
in the design showrooms of San Francisco. One standout series consisted of
large-scale vases that offered a variety of motifs and a multitude of rich
glazes.
After fifteen years in the Bay area, Kent returned to his hometown
of Laguna Beach in 1994 where he has continued his pursuit as a ceramic artist.
The coastal community currently provides an environment where Kent’s
creative visions continue to flourish today.