Meet Emerging Artist Frankie K. Pittorf - Inside Art with Michael Rose

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Michael Rose, Art Contributor

 

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PHOTO: Michael Rose

 

Creating with clay is part art, part craft, and for emerging artist Frankie K. Pittorf, ceramics is also deeply personal. Through their art, Pittorf probes their own experience while utilizing inventive technical strategies that pair archival drawings from their childhood and novel ceramic forms. Using ceramic objects as a means to tell their story, Pittorf is a talented young artist whose career promises to produce potent artworks that resonate with many.

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Originally from upstate New York, Pittorf earned their BFA from Syracuse University in 2022. They came to Rhode Island to pursue a residency at The Steel Yard, and have since become an engaged member of the art community here. After completing their residency at The Steel Yard, Pittorf stayed on at the organization as a teacher, instructing new ceramicists in introductory courses. Through their kind and encouraging demeanor, they’re welcoming new enthusiasts to the world of ceramic art in an engaged and informed way.

 

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PHOTO: Michael Rose

 

Speaking of their involvement at The Steel Yard, Pittorf shares that it has been influential, saying, “My time at the Steel Yard has changed the way I think about my practice. I no longer feel like I am just a maker, but instead an educator and a community member. I found my love for teaching at the Yard, and am so grateful to my students who continue to inspire me every day, making me a better artist. My community and my craft are not mutually exclusive, and for me, these things cannot grow without one another. Working in a shared community space fostered a sense of collaboration, new relationships, and helped me establish myself as an artist here in Rhode Island.”

 

The local scene is already benefiting from Pittorf’s artistic vision. They shared work over the summer in a special exhibition for Steel Yard residents and will be participating in a forthcoming exhibition at Rhode Island College. Much of their work leverages personal memory and materials like childhood drawings as the foundation for an exploration of queerness. In one ongoing series, Pittorf created a large scale tooth fairy jar based on drawings from their youth and has completed scores of ceramic teeth to accompany it. The teeth are clothed with Barbie shoes, personifying them and bringing in the element of play which is evident in much of the artist’s work.

 

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Asked what they hope people experience when looking at their work, Pittorf says, “For myself, my work is an act of reclamation. It serves as a way to reconnect with my childhood self and allows me to explore and examine my own relationships with queerness and adolescence. I hope that my work can resonate with others, offering them back a part of childhood and sharing in the joy and playfulness that I experience while making my work. I’m giving a part of myself with each piece, and I hope that my work can help bridge gaps in understanding queerness.”

 

While their involvement with The Steel Yard has been a jumping off point for Pittorf’s engagement in the Rhode Island community, they also recently moved into a new studio space in Providence, shared with fellow ceramic artist Haley Peters, where they plan to focus on producing new work to accompany objects they made during and after their recent residency.

 

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PHOTO: Michael Rose

 

Looking forward, Pittorf is excited to utilize their new creative venue. They say, “I’m excited about all of the new opportunities that this space will provide. I am extremely grateful to be at a point in my career where I can support myself and my practice outside of academia. I often put too much pressure on my work and I hope that this space can alleviate some of that. Our studio is still in the works, but I am excited to be working in a space with such amazing artists, especially my studiomate Haley Peters.”

 

During a recent studio visit, Pittorf showed off finished pieces and works in progress. In one of their most ambitious projects, a large vase, ceramic Hot Wheels tracks criss-cross a painted map of the town in which they were raised making for a multi-layered experience. In another series of small but highly decorated vessels, Pittorf charts spaces and objects from their upbringing that relate back to their exploration of queerness. All of Pittorf’s work is imbued with a keen sense for expressive drawing, bright color, and adventurous experimentation.

 

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Frankie K. Pittorf’s ceramic work is poignantly autobiographical and offers connections to others who have shared experiences. Their art is also full of the recognizable language of youth, making it resonant with a broad audience. Utilizing an aesthetic that is all their own, Pittorf has established a unique creative voice. They are an artist to watch.

 

See more artwork from Frankie K. Pittorf on their Instagram @k.fpa

Michael Rose is a multi-talented fine art professional based in Southern New England. Since 2014 he has served as the gallery manager at the historic Providence Art Club, one of the nation’s oldest arts organizations. Through his current freelance work he advises collectors and artists, provides appraisal services, teaches, and completes curatorial projects.

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