Artist Biography
BORN: January 28, in Bonn, Germany
RAISED: Kentfield, California USA
LIVED: San Francisco, California, currently based in Italy
STUDIED: Ceramics, Sommelier, Italian, Fine Art
PROFESSION: Ceramic Artist
bc mcleran was first introduced to art at the age of 5. Her grandmother Aida had a professional painter come to their family home to give her private painting lessons. In high school she continued painting, initially copying the large flower paintings by Georgia O’Keefe. In college at the San Francisco Art Institute figure painting was the main focus and bc mcleran choose the male figure over the female. Almost all those early nude male paintings were sold. After her 2nd year at SFAI she added photography into her major and did many black & white self-portraits. She had always loved Italy from her first visit at the age of 18 and knew she would someday go back. In 2000 she booked a solo trip to Rome with the plan of a 2 week Italian language course, followed by another 2 week fresco painting class in Florence. Florence never happened. She remained in Rome for 1 year, then moved to Perugia to further her language studies in order to survive in Italy. She took a brief fresco painting class in a small painters studio, then discovered the world of wine. Stepping away from art, she enrolled in the Italian Sommelier course. A year and a half later in one of the last sommelier tastings she met her future husband. They moved to the small town of Spello together. There she opened Vinosofia an enoteca (wine bar & shop) in 2012. Her husband has recently taken over the business since 2018. This allowed bc mcleran to returned to her much missed practice as an artist.
Since 2019 bc mcleran has worked solely with clay primarily on the wheel and some hand building.
Artist Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
2023
La Meridiana International School of Ceramics, Tuscany FI, ITALY
Karatsu Japanese Ceramics, throwing, handbuilding and wood firing, 2 week course
Kintsugi Basics, 2 day workshop with Instructor Michael Martino
2021
La Meridiana International School of Ceramics, Tuscany FI, ITALY
Oxidation Glaze Course, with Instructor Eve Carrobourg, 1 week course
Scaling Up on the Wheel, large format throwing, with Instructor Riccardo Gori, 1 week course
2020
La Meridiana International School of Ceramics, Tuscany FI, ITALY
Form & Decoration, Artist Residency, with Instructors Pietro Elia Maddalena & Franco Rampi, 2-month course
2019
Mondo Ceramica Srl, Giuliano & Mauro Mencarelli, Deruta PG ITALY
Glazing and Crystallisation with Instructor Francesco Rastelli, 2-day course
2018
Mondo Ceramica Srl, Giuliano & Mauro Mencarelli, Deruta PG ITALY
Bucchero e Villanoviano Ceramic Course with Instructors Cesare Calandrini e Rita Rolli 3-day course
Mondo Ceramica Srl, Giuliano & Mauro Mencarelli, Deruta PG ITALY
Ceramic Decoration Course with Instructor Sara Palmerini 3-day course
Scuola Internationale D'Arte Ceramica Romano Ranieri, Deruta PG ITALY
Ceramic wheel throwing, coil & slab building, sculpture and glazing with Instructor Vinicio Barcaccia 1-month course
2005
AIS Italian Association of Sommeliers, Assisi PG ITALY, Sommelier Certification
2002
Didaskila Art School, Perugia PG ITALY
Italian Fresco Painting, 1-month course
2001-04 University for Foreigners, Perugia, PG ITALY
Completed 4th Level B1 CELI 2i of Italian language & cultural studies
2001
John Cabot University, Rome RM ITALY
Elementary Italian and Ancient Roman Art History
Spring Semester
1995
SFAI San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California USA
BFA Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, Dual major in Painting and Photography
1992
Zhejiang Academy of Fine Art, Hangzhou, China
Studied traditional Chinese painting techniques and calligraphy, 6-week SFAI Summer Exchange Program
INTERNSHIP
1993-1995
Catharine Clark Gallery, San Francisco, California USA
Acquired distinctive curatorial skills, general gallery management, updated artists' resumes files and slides, created gallery inventory system, maintained accession/de-accession of artwork, produced monthly exhibition schedule and press releases and worked directly with professional artists, curators, and art collectors.
EXHIBITIONS
2006
La Pace…dove si trova? Solo Show
A series of color photographs documenting peace promotion in Italy
Ènoné, Perugia, ITALY
2005
Parigi a Perugia, Solo Show
A series of travel color photographs
L'Aperitivista, Perugia, ITALY
TRAVEL
ASIA China, Beijing, Hangzhou, Putuoshan Island, Shanghai
EUROPE England, France, Germany (extensively), Italy (extensively), and Spain
USA Alaska, California, New York, Hawaii, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands
COLLECTIONS & REFERENCES Available on request