KIMBALL ART CENTER ANNOUNCES THE MARCH 7, 2025, OPENING OF TRACES
March 3, 2025
Traces showcases nine female ceramicists who use clay as a powerful record of touch, time, and history—both personal and collective.
PARK CITY, UT – February 18,2025 – On March 7, 2025, Kimball Art Center will host an opening reception for its newest exhibition, Traces. This show brings together nine groundbreaking female ceramicists who push the boundaries of ceramics as their medium for social, cultural, and material exploration. The reception begins at 6:00 PM and will feature refreshments and special remarks from Kimball Art Center’s Executive Director, Aldy Milliken.
In the exhibition, ceramic artists explore the profound ways in which clay bears witness to personal and collective histories.
“Clay, with its elemental connection to the earth, is a powerful vessel for storytelling,” says Kimball Art Center Curator, Nancy Stoaks. “As a material, clay inherently holds traces—of touch, time, and memory. Through their work, these artists reveal forms where the past, present, and future coexist.”
For the duration of the exhibition, Kimball Art Center will become a space where time collapses, showcasing the past, present, and future stories told by internationally acclaimed artists Ashwini Bhat, Jenny Hata Blumenfield, Nicki Green, Anabel Juárez, Heidi Lau, Galia Linn, Brie Ruais, Nicole Seisler, and Bari Ziperstein.
On display in the exhibition will be Ashwini Bhat’s Agnija, Born of Fire, a glazed ceramic piece inspired by the termite mounds near her childhood home in Southern India. Known as cathedrals, these mounds are often adorned with colorful powders and decorations meant for worship. The title Agnija, Born of Fire refers to the essential role of fire in transforming raw clay into a finalized artwork. The piece replicates the natural ventilation system of termite mounds, resemblant of kilns. Bhat built a custom kiln around the piece and fired it for six days using gas and wood to create the desired effect.
Also on display will be work from artist Brie Ruais, whose dynamic sculptures depict her engagement with the earth through her bodily movements, examining how the human form connects with nature. Ruais’s creations capture a bold bodily presence, with textures that are scraped, gouged, and imprinted, demonstrating her relationship with the land. Her sculptures are deeply influenced by her fascination with the earth, which she views as a source of both resilience and foundation—her creations express the difficulties of conflict alongside the elegance of formation. Her sculptures, designed to be human-sized, encourage onlookers to reflect on their own bodies in relation to the substantial, sensory forms.
Together, the works in Traces encourage viewers to consider the traces we leave behind and the ones we carry with us. They challenge us to examine how we imprint ourselves on the world and how the world imprints itself on us.
The opening reception will start at 6:00 PM and will feature special remarks from Executive Director, Aldy Milliken. Refreshments will be available. Traces will remain on display at Kimball Art Center through May 18, alongside the Wasatch Back Student Art Show. For more information, visit KimballArtCenter.org.
About the Kimball Art Center
Kimball Art Center (KAC) provides international quality art exhibitions and dynamic educational opportunities for the citizens of Park City, Summit County, Wasatch County, and the region’s many visitors. KAC introduces visitors to the artistic process and gives insight into the many layers of creativity with its exhibition, education and event programs. Art is a catalyst for growth that allows an outlet for reflection, fosters new ways of thinking, and encourages compassion and connection. Kimball Art Center is committed to the fundamental American principles of expression and open engagement.
Art is a universal language that provides an opportunity for cross-cultural dialogue. We see our role as a vital component of civic life for residents in our area and serve as a stimulant for creativity and community dialogue, aiming to energize Park City’s vibrant arts community. Founded in 1976 by Bill Kimball, the Kimball Art Center is one of the region’s oldest creative non-profit organizations.
