Fred Stodder was born in 1957 in Manhattan beach California and began studying ceramics at the early age of 16. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of California, Irvine. Currently his studio is located in Laguna Beach where he works with his wife and partner Nao Otomo.

His ceramic art is regularly exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the country. He is the recipient of numerous awards, appears in many important collections and has been featured in Ceramics Monthly as well as other national arts publications.

Although ceramics is a very ancient art form, Fred Stodder’s work is very unlike traditional ceramics in his use of extremely hard edges, bright bold colors, and razor sharp glaze delineation. His work is mostly inspired by architecture, minimalist painting, and jazz music.

Born:                   Manhattan Beach, California, 1957

Education:          Laguna College of Art and Design, 1976-1978,

                            Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, California, 1977-1979

                            B. A. University of California, Irvine, 1983

Teaching:          1982-1985 and 1993-1998 Laguna College of Art and Design

Exhibitions

2005                 American Craft Council, Baltimore, MD
                          All California,  Laguna Art Museum. Laguna Beach, California
                          Affaire in the Gardens, Beverly Hills, CA (1st place ceramics)
                          Festival of Arts, Laguna Beach, CA (1979-1988), and (1993-now)
                          La Quinta Arts Festival, La Quinta, CA
                          La Jolla Festival of Arts, La Jolla, CA

                         Music For Cello And One Or More Amplified Vases, Composer; Alvin Lucier, Performer; Charles Curtis,Vases created for

                         this performance by Fred Stodder Diapason - Gallery for Sound, New York City

2004                 From Stoneware To Porcelain, The Art and Cultural Center, Fallbrook, California

                          22nd Annual Art Auction, Laguna Art Museum. Laguna Beach, California
                          Affair in the Gardens, Beverly Hills, CA (2002-2004) (Honorable Mention)
                          La Quinta Arts Festival, La Quinta, CA (2003-2004) (Artist Choice Award)
                         Art Bethel Art Festival, Saint Petersburg, Florida (2002-2004) (Purchase Award)

2002               Music For Cello And One Or More Amplified Vases, Composer; Alvin Lucier, Performer; Charles Curtis,Vases created for

                         this performance by Fred Stodder, Performed March 2002 at the University of California San Diego

                         American Craft Council, Baltimore, MD 1999-2002
                         American Craft Council, San Francisco, CA 1999-2002

2000               Selections From The Allan Chasanoff Ceramic Collection, Mint museum of Craft and Design, Charlotte,  North Carolina                                         

1999                Post Pop, Bistango, Irvine, California
                        Coming Alive, Market Gallery, Los Angeles, California

1997                Tiffany Windows, South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa California (solo exhibition)
                         Southern California Open, Laguna Art Museum , Laguna Beach California (Purchase Award)

1996                The Golden Land: Then and Now, Bistango, Irvine, California
                         The Figurative Concept, Irvine Valley College, Irvine, California

1995                Clay Today, Saddleback College Art Gallery, Mission Viejo, California
                          Fred Stodder, Avante Gallery, Cleveland, Ohio (solo exhibition)

1992                 Ink & Clay XVIII, University Art Gallery, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California

1991                 Viewpoint Gallery, Carmel, California
                         Two Person Show, Artifacts, San Francisco, California

1990                 New Dimensional Forms by West Coast Artists, One Bush Street, San Francisco, CA

1989                 Fred Stodder, Gallery West, Los Angeles, California (solo exhibition)

1987                 Imaginary Acquaintances, North Terminal, Connector Gallery, San Francisco International Airport, California
                          Fred Stodder, Gallery West, Los Angeles, California (solo exhibition)

1986                 Expressions of the Human Figure, Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Fullerton,California
                          Fred Stodder, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California (solo exhibition)
                         Art in the Third Dimension, Diane Nelson Gallery, Laguna Beach, California

1985                Collector’s Choice, Angels Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, California

1984                Art Transmissions (film and video exhibition), Newport Harbor Art museum, (OCMA)Newport Beach, California
                         Objects as Illusions, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, California

                         All California ’84, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California (catalog),(purchase award)

1983                Untitled ’83, Museum of North Orange County, Fullerton, California (award)
                         Orange County Clay, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California (catalog)

1982              What Ever Happened to the Avant-Garde?, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, California
                        All Media ’82, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California
                       Clay and Glass by Six California Artists, Abraxas Gallery, Newport Beach, California
                       Faculty Exhibition, Art Institute of Southern California, Laguna Beach, California
                       Experimental Films by Orange County Film Makers, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California
                       National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts NCECA Film Festival, San Francisco Art Institute,            
                       National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts NCECA Student Show, California State University at San Jose    

1981              Collector's Choice Gallery, Laguna Beach, California

Publications:

The Allan Chasanoff Ceramic Collection, 2000
Ceramics Monthly, “Fred Stodder” May 1992
At Home: Bay Area Living, “Objects of Our Affection”, Summer 1990
Interior Design, “Melrose Bar and Grill”, February 1990
Arts in California, “Post Modem and Ocean Front”, Winter 1988
Home Magazine, “Paradise Lofts”, October 1987
Design West, “Eclectic Through and Through”, April 1987
Los Angeles Times, Part V, “Laguna Art Museum Opening”, Sept. 20, 1986