Paul Kotula

Paul Kotula is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design at Michigan State University, part of the College of Arts and Letters. He specializes in ceramics and contemporary art practices, with an international exhibition record since 1991. His work has been featured in venues such as the Art Alliance Philadelphia and the Scripps College Ceramics Annual. He is also a frequent visiting artist/critic at Cranbrook Academy of Art and a former instructor at the College for Creative Studies.

Education: Kotula earned an MFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 1989.

Research Interests: Kotula’s practice bridges studio ceramics and contemporary art, focusing on themes of craft, design, and visual culture. His work explores materiality and the intersection of art and utility, as seen in exhibitions like “Hide and Reveal” in Cheongiu, Korea. He has presented scholarly work, including a 2023 paper titled “Re-crafting the Table” at SECAC (Virginia Commonwealth University).

Awards and Grants: He has received two Individual Artists Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and a grant from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs. In 2003, Dialogue magazine recognized him as one of “25 People Making a Difference in the Arts in the Midwest.”

Professional Roles: Kotula has extensive gallery experience, serving as director at Pewabic Pottery, Swidler Gallery, REVOLUTION (Detroit/New York), and his own paulktoulaprojects. He has curated over 200 exhibitions featuring international contemporary artists, emphasizing visual culture and craft innovation.