Artist Statement
Biography
Sandy Milller, a ceramic artist, currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri with
her husband, Bill Miller, and her two chihuahuas, Taffy and Ginger. A former professional in
the graphics field, she designed and produced advertising materials, consumer packaging, and
corporate communication pieces for various St. Louis companies for 22 years. During her spare
time she taught scuba diving, dived internationally, and photographed the marine
environment, specializing in macro photography of small aquatic animals.
After taking a ceramic class at St. Louis Community College, she returned to college full-time
for her BFA degree in ceramics at Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville, graduating summa
cum laude in 2008. Her ceramics, drawing, painting and photography reflects her love of nature
and echos her former involvement in the underwater world. Miller has shown her work in galleries
and art fairs in the St. Louis, Missouri and Madison County, Illinois region.
Exhibitions, Shows, Art Fairs
2008
Oceanic Influences – Solo exhibition, St. Louis Community College, St. Louis, MOArt St. Louis XXIV, The Exhibition – Juried group exhibition, Art St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Cooked 405 – Group show, Art & Design Building, Edwardsville, IL
Venus Envy 2008 – Juried group exhibition, Mad Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2008 SIUE Student Art Competition Exhibition – Juried group exhibition, Morris University Art Gallery, Edwardsville, IL
SIUE Annual Undergraduate Show – Juried group show, New Wagner Gallery, Edwardsville, IL
2007
SIUE Annual Undergraduate Show – Juried group show, New Wagner Gallery, Edwardsville, ILVenus Envy 2007 – Juried group exhibition, St. Louis, MO
2006
Wall Ball Art Benefit – South City Open Studio and Gallery for Children (SCOSAG); Artist demonstration by invitation, St. Louis, MOLeague of Innovation 2006 – Juried Regional Junior College Student Competition; published full-color catalog
Central West End Art Fair & Taste 2006 – Juried art fair, St. Louis, MO
Venus Envy 2006 – juried group exhibition, St. Louis, MO
2005
The Framery – Group show, St. Louis, MOPhoenix Potteries – Co-exhibition, Phoenix Potteries Gallery, St. Louis, MO
Chesterfield Arts - Art in the Park – Art fair, Chesterfield, MO
Central West End Art Fair & Taste 2005 – Juried art fair, St. Louis, MO
Venus Envy 2005 – Juried group exhibition St. Louis, MO
Art St. Louis – Group exhibition, Fleishman-Hillard, St. Louis, MO
Art St. Louis – Juried group exhibition, St. Louis, MO
2004
Art St. Louis – Surfaces Within and Without, Juried group exhibition, St. Louis, MOHistoric Shaw Art Fair – Juried art fair, St. Louis, MO
Central West End Art Fair & Taste – Juried art fair, St. Louis, MO
Recognition and Awards
Windgate Fellowship Award Nominee (2008) One of two graduating seniors representing SIUE for annual award competition. Selected by Thad Duhigg, Art Department Chair at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Provost Scholarship (2008) Award based on academic achivevement, GPA, essay and portfolio; Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Awarded Spring 2008 for Fall 2008 semester
SIUE Friends of Art Charity Art Auction (2008) Friends of Art Award of $100 for “Jungle Leaves”, Juror: Mark Sheppard, Adjunct Art Instructor at St. Louis Community College at Meramec and at St. Charles Community College; Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsville, Illinois (Feb. 29, 2008)
League of Innovation (2006) Juried Regional Junior College Student Competition, full-color catalog, one of five St. Louis Community College student artists selected out of 248 art students in all media. “South Rim” (wood sculpture).
Education
Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville, IL; BFA - Ceramics, Summa Cum Laude (2008)
St. Louis Community Colleges - St. Louis, MO; Dean's List
Maryville University - St. Louis, MO
IHM Health Studies - St. Louis, MO; Emergency medical treaining
Southwest Missouri State University - Springfield, MO
Parkway Central/North Senior High Schools - St. Louis, MO; Honor Society
Career History / Experience
8/2006 - 12/2008
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, full-time student with emphasis in ceramics art. Experience with a
range of clays, glazes and surface treatment techniques. Participant in reduction, oxidation, anagama, salt and raku
firings. Responsible for personal firings and assisted in numerous group firings. Glaze and slip mixing and glaze testing experience
1/2003 - 5/2006
Ceramic courses at St. Louis Community College - Forest Park and Meramec Campuses. Ceramic student worker May - Dec 2004,
SLCC-Meramec: Assisted instructor, Jim Ibur - mixed/tested glazes; loaded/unloaded/fired gas and electric kilns; provided
studio maintenance; help students as needed
12/2003 - 2/2006
Part time independent ceramic art work at Phoenix Pottery studio
1971 - 2001
Career in graphic design and production art. Twenty-two years experience in designing corporate communication pieces and
consumer packaging. Provided creative direction, production art, photo direction, print direction to complete marketing
materials. [Diagraph Corp; Midco; Freelance; Boise Cascade Corp.-Composite Can Division; Schnucks Markets]. Expert in
Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat; General knowledge of Illustrator; Quark XPress; Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Apple Pages, Keynote,
iMovie; Mac and PC platforms
1981 - 2001
Scuba diver; National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) Divemaster & Instructor, taught and lead scuba trips; Underwater photographer
Service
SIUE Friends of Art Charity Art Auction (2008) Ceramic vessel donations; Volunteer runner & event clean up; Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsville, IL
Quincy Riverfest (2007) Invited art fair juror; Quincy, IL
Laumeier Student Ambassador (2006) Representative for St. Louis Community College - Meramec; Mike Venso - Laumeier organizational leader
Venus Envy (2005, 2006) Exhibition Committee Member
Venus Envy (2004) Volunteer
Memberships
Wagner Pottery Association (SIUE student ceramics club) Member 2007, 2008
NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) Member 2004, 2005
Art St. Louis Member and artist volunteer 2005, 2008, 2009