Janis Mars Wunderlich

Janis Mars Wunderlich is an Associate Professor of Art at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois, where she has taught since 2017. With over two decades as a studio artist, she maintains a national and international presence in ceramics through extensive exhibitions and features in major art publications.

Her educational background includes:

• MFA in Ceramics from The Ohio State University (1994)
• BFA in Ceramics (with additional emphasis in Printmaking) from Brigham Young University, Cum Laude (1992)

Wunderlich's practice centers on narrative ceramic sculptures blending animal, plant, and natural elements to explore vulnerability, turbulence, reciprocity, and resilience. Her interests span ceramics, art history (ancient ceramics and porcelain), painting, and the intersection of art and science through 3D ceramic printing. She creates visual storytelling that celebrates nurturing, spirituality, and interconnectedness through distinctive figurative works.

Her career has been documented in prominent features including Ceramics Monthly, Artemis Journal, and Studio Potter, alongside PBS documentaries and international film. These highlight her contributions to contemporary ceramics, innovative techniques, and exploration of womanhood in artistic practice.

Notable awards include:

• Hatch Award for Scholarship Excellence from Monmouth College
• Illinois Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship
• Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award Grant (2009)
• Virginia A. Groot Foundation Recognition Grant (2008)
• Ceramics Award at 64 ARTS National Exhibition
• Greater Columbus Arts Council International Artist Residency (2015-2016)

She has secured competitive grants from the Virginia Groot Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, and Greater Columbus Arts Council supporting her artistic research, international residencies, and ceramic innovations.