An Exhibition of Clay Works by Terry Shepherd and Paintings by Cynthia Duff

Sponsored by Chuck and Patti Shear/Shear Inc.
December 6, 2024-January 31, 2025
Opening Reception December 6, 2024, 6:30pm-9:00pm

Terry Shepherd, The Art Center’s Director of Ceramics, has led the Ceramics Studio since 1984. With a career spanning 53 years, Shepherd is a highly respected ceramic artist and educator, having studied and collaborated with Paul Soldner and other notable ceramic artists. Prior to returning to Grand Junction in 1983, Shepherd co-founded his first studio in El Jebel, Colorado, where he worked from 1972 to 1983. Each December, he showcases new work alongside a fellow artist. This year, he has invited Grand Junction painter Cynthia Duff to join him.
Cynthia Duff is known for her nature-inspired landscapes and vibrant depictions of Western wildlife, including Sandhill Cranes. Her use of vivid, expressionistic colors and fragmented scenes creates dreamlike atmospheres that draw viewers into her work.
Shepherd’s portion of the exhibit will feature a wide variety of ceramic forms, both functional and sculptural, inspired by natural elements such as river rocks and stylized figurative shapes. His pieces reflect his mastery of alternative firing techniques, including low-fire salt vapor, raku, and saggar firing. These processes, often unpredictable, lead to unique and spontaneous embellishments on his ceramic forms, especially in his saggar-fired work, which capture the dramatic effects of flame paths, metal oxides, and organic materials. In contrast, his functional stoneware and porcelain pieces showcase expert craftsmanship and the lively brushwork he applies to glaze designs.
“I like my work to communicate a personal and visual language, reflecting the firing process and the essence of form,” Shepherd says. “Clay has the ability to captivate our senses and enhance life with its textures and colors. My aim is to create pieces that bring excitement, joy, and a touch of mystery to the viewer.”
Shepherd expresses his enthusiasm for exhibiting alongside Cynthia Duff: “I’m honored to have Cynthia show her work with me. From the first time I saw her paintings, I was captivated by her bold use of color and her ability to transform familiar subjects into something fresh and thought-provoking. Her work brings a joyful, curious energy that I believe will inspire anyone who views it.”
Duff’s work is featured in public spaces such as Community Hospital, Mesa County Libraries, and various private collections, while Shepherd’s ceramics can be found in collections nationwide, including The Soldner Center for Art and Innovation (Aspen, Colorado), Colorado Mesa University, and The Art Center’s permanent collection. He is represented by The Blue Pig Gallery (Palisade, Colorado) and the Ago Gallery (Ouray, Colorado). In August 2024, Shepherd’s work was showcased at The Blue Sage Art Center in Paonia, Colorado, alongside the paintings of Debbie Cope.