Marina Smelik
I grew up in the suburbs on the coast of the Pacific Ocean surrounded by forests and beautiful beaches. Close contact with nature affected my whole life, especially making its mark on my artistic style.
While in high school I enrolled in the School-Studio of the Fine Arts that provided me a strong foundation of academic knowledge of many different techniques and styles and set me off on the path of exploration. I have done Plain-Air pastel painting, watercolor and oil painting, silk screening, and mixed media. Over time 3D art became most appealing to me. I focused on direct stone carving and ceramics.
The inspiration for my works always comes from nature. There is nothing better and stronger than it. The more I observe and explore the world around us, the more I marvel at its originality and uniqueness. Most of my works were created under this influence.
My favorite materials are stone and clay.
Stone cannot be compared to any other material. When I'm working with a stone, I'm listening to what it "tells" me. Every stone has its character. Sometimes the stone is a collaborator; sometimes it is an opponent. Great results can be achieved only by compromising. Working on the project, I'm trying to express my thoughts and enrich them with the purity of the material. My works are always a combination of the plasticity of forms, movement, organic biomorphic shapes, "S" curves, a combination of positive and negative spaces.
Another material I'm working with is clay. It is an almost the complete opposite to stone - it is an obedient material that allows me to embody my ideas and always cooperates with me. My works are handbuilt sculptures and pottery. I find clay's natural color and texture attractive and try to preserve them in my works as much as possible. Glazes are used sporadically and only to highlight or contrast the natural beauty of the material used. Underglaze painting also opened new horizons in working with clay and offered many new possibilities.
I currently offer a series of online workshops and classes in 3D art for adults and kids. My goal of teaching is to develop a love for creativity and make sure that every student feels satisfaction from the process of creation and the result.
Exhibitions
International
2021 Honorable Mention EXTINCTION: Save the Planet, Gallerium Art, Ontario, Canada
2020 Fifth Place, 5th Anniversary Artists Exhibition, Fusion Art, Palm Springs, CA
2020 6th Annual Leaves & Petals Art Competition, Fusion Art, Palm Springs, CA
2020 Honorable Mention,10th Annual “Open” Art Competition, Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery
2020 Fifth Place, Special Merit 10th Annual “Landscapes” Online Art Competition, Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery
2020 3rd Annual Women Artists - 15th Quarterly Art Competition, Fusion Art, Palm Springs, CA
2020 First Place Created in Isolation, Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery
2020 Third Place 11th Annual “Abstracts” Online Art Competition, Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery
2020 First Place OPEN Art Exhibition, A Contemporary ROOM Online Gallery
2019 Best in Show, ALL Women Artist, Contemporary Art Gallery Online
2019 Off Center, Blue Line Arts Gallery, Roseville, CA
2019 10th Annual “Abstracts” Online Art Competition, Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery
2019 11th Solo Art Series Art Competition, Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery
2019 32nd Materials: Hard + Soft, Patterson-Appleton Art Center, Denton, TX
2018 8th Annual Workhouse Clay International, Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA
2018 Off Center, Blue Line Arts Gallery, Roseville, CA
2018 Building Bridges, Ziya Art Center, San Francisco, CA
2018 Second Place, ALL Women, Contemporary Art Gallery Online
2018 31st Women's Works, Old Court House Arts Center, Woodstock, IL
2018 Miniature Art Show, ShockBoxx Project Gallery, Hermosa Beach, CA
2018 Magnum Opus XXIX, Sacramento Fine Arts Center, Sacramento, CA
2018 Best in Show, Women Artists Art Competition, Fusion Art, Palm Springs, CA
2018 the CUP show, Clay Arts Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
2018 The 11th International Texas Teapot Tournament, C.A.M.E.O Gallery and TEA+ART, Houston, TX
2018 23rd Arts in Harmony 2018 Annual International Show, Maple Grove Arts Center, Maple Grove, MN
2017 6th Annual Juried International Exhibition of Contemporary Islamic Art, Irving Arts Center, Irving, TX
2017 Serve It Up, Clay Arts Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
2017 22nd Arts in Harmony 2017 Annual International Show, Blaine City Hall, Elk River, MN
2017 The 10th International Texas Teapot Tournament, C.A.M.E.O Gallery and TEA+ART, Houston, TX
2017 Flight Exhibition, Tubac Center of the Art, Tubac, AZ
2017 Ceramic Innovations, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA
2017 Seventh Annual Art and Earth Juried Exhibition, Berkeley Art Works, Martinsburg, WV
2017 Images on Clay, Clay Arts Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
2017 Off Center, Blue Line Arts Gallery, Roseville, CA
2017 First Place, Off Center: Teapots, Alpha Fired Arts Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2017 Naked and Refined Show, Clay Arts Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
2016 Craft Hilton Head 2016, Art League of Hilton Head Gallery, Hilton Head Island, SC
National
2021 EXPRESSIONS, Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA
2021 ALL ABOUT WOMEN, Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA
2020 CELEBRATION OF ART, Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA
2020 What Lies Beneath, Epperson Gallery of ceramic arts, Crockett, CA
2019 EXPRESSIONS, Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA
2019 Earth Devised, The d’Art Center, Norfolk, VA
2019 ALCHEMY, The Arts Guild of Sonoma, Sonoma, CA
2019 ICAN Juried Show, NCECA, Minneapolis, MN
2019 Art of Clay, North Carolina Pottery Center, Seagrove, NC
2019 Plate and Platter: National Juried Ceramics Exhibition, Artspace 304, Carbondale, IL
2018 Small Works, CORE New Art Space, Denver, CO
2018 Third Prize,INGENUITY, Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA
2018 Plates, Platters, Nothing Else Matters, Long Beach Island of the Arts and Sciences, Long Beach Township, NJ
2018 Coast to Coast National Juried Exhibition, Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA
2018 Honorable Mention, 52nd Annual National Mother Lode Art Exhibition, Placerville Arts Association, Placerville, CA
2018 Second Place, 60th Juried Exhibition at the Haggin Museum, Haggin Museum, Stockton, CA
2018 Annual Flowers & Gardens Juried Show, 311 Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2018 Honorable Mention, Cheers! Drink Up! Celebrating the Clay Drinking Vessel!, iCAN, Manitou Springs, CO
2018 Hungry Art Show, Shockboxx Gallery, Hermosa Beach, CA
2018 Love in the Times of..., Art Landing Gallery, Inglewood, CA
2018 iCAN Annual Members' Juried Competition, iCAN, Pittsburgh, PA
2018 Winter Small Works Exhibition, NAWA Gallery, New York, NY
2018 SIP: A Ceramic Cup Show, Savannah Clay Community, Savannah, GA
2018 identi-TEA: 16th Biennial Teapot Exhibition, Delmar Loop Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2017 Good Things... Come in Small Package, Flower City Arts Center, Rochester, NY
2017 5th Annual Cup Sale - juried by Martha Grover, Studio 550 Art Center, Manchester, NH
2017 What Goes Bump in the Night, Clay Arts Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
2017 Cups in Common, Clayworks, Charlotte, NC
2017 UNWEDGED, Pottery Northwest, Seattle, WA
2017 The Battle of the Bowls, Academy of Fine Arts, Amherst, VA
2017 Abstract Catalyst (4th Annual), Verum Ultimum Art Gallery, Portland, OR
2017 Annual Flowers & Gardens Juried Show, 311 Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2017 Art of Movement, Blue Line Arts Gallery, Roseville, CA
2017 Celebrate!, The Arts Guild of Sonoma, Sonoma, CA
2017 Designed to Dine, TEAplusART Gallery, Houston, TX
2017 51st Annual National Mother Lode Art Exhibition, Placerville Arts Association, Placerville, CA
2017 KC Clay Guild Teabowl National, KC Clay Guild Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2017 NAWA Small Works Summer, NAWA Gallery, New York, NY
2017 Plates, Platters, Nothing Else Matters, Long Beach Island of the Arts and Sciences, Long Beach Township, NJ
2017 "Flora & Fauna" National Juried Exhibition, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2017 Front of the House: Dining Together in Objects and Images, Guilford Art Center, Guilford, CT
2017 The Schwa Show, EMERGE Gallery, Greenville, NC
2017 Award of Merit, EAFA Open Juried Abstract Show, EAFA Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2017 SIP: A Ceramic Cup Show, Savannah Clay Community, Savannah, GA
2017 Downeast National Juried Sculpture Exhibition, EMERGE Gallery, Greenville, NC
2017 Margo Harris Hammerschlag Competition, NAWA Gallery, New York, NY
2017 Art of Gastronomy II, Healdsburg Center of the Arts, Healdsburg, CA
2017 Purposeful Pottery, Blue Line Arts Gallery, Roseville, CA
2017 Back to the Garden, Ciel Gallery, Charlotte, NC
2017 #StandupforScience: A Blue Planet, Sun Gallery, Hayward, CA
2017 CAMEO Member Show, C.A.M.E.O Gallery and TEA+ART, Houston, TX
2016 Honorable Mention Ceramic Tile 2016, Pewabic Gallery, Detroit, MI
Local
2022 Honorable Mention ARTIST’S VISION, Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA
2021 emergence, Pacific North-West Sculptors, Portland, OR
2021 FRESH ART 2021, Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA
2020 Honorable Mention FSVAA 57th Annual Nor-Cal Regional Juried Art Show, Solano Town Center Gallery, Fairfield, CA
2020 Hidden Treasures, Local Talent, Olive Hyde Art Gallery, Fremont, CA
2020 California Clay Competition, The Artery of Davis, Davis, CA
2020 WOMEN’S VIEW 2020, Caldwell Galleries, Redwood City, CA
2020 ARTIST’S VISION, Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA
2019 2nd Annual Artist Showcase, Pacific Art League Gallery, Palo Alto, CA
2019 FRESH ART 2019, Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA
2019 Ceramic Sensibilities, Art Works Downtown, San Rafael, CA
2019 Second Place Bay Area Masters, Fine Arts Galleria, San Mateo, CA
2019 Clay from ACGA, Epperson Gallery of ceramic arts, Crockett, CA
2019 California Clay Competition, The Artery of Davis, Davis, CA
2019 Snap!, ARC Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2019 Small Works Exhibition, Art Works Downtown, San Rafael, CA
2018 Works by the Orchard Valley Ceramic Arts Guild, Olive Hyde Art Gallery, Fremont, CA
2018 Abstraction Exhibition, Pacific Art League Gallery, Palo Alto, CA
2018 Fresh Works, Harrington Gallery, Pleasanton, CA
2018 Out of Darkness, Light, City of Santa Clara Indoor Sculpture Exhibition, Santa Clara, CA
2018 Spring Open Juried Show, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA
2018 Snap!, ARC Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2017 Cross Currents (11th Annual), Frank Bette Center for the Arts, Alameda, CA
2017 New Member's Show, Blue Line Arts Gallery, Roseville, CA
2017 Mother Lode Art Exhibition, The Shakespeare Club, Placerville, CA
2017 Fall Annual Juried Exhibition, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA
2017 A Blue Planet, John O'Lague Galleria, Hayward, CA
2017 Membership Medley, Blue Line Arts Galleria, Roseville, CA
2017 Carry the Light, Fine Arts Galleria, San Mateo, CA
2017 California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Art, Davis, CA
2017 A Sculpture Exhibition, Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA
2016 Honorable Mention Abstraction, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
2016 Open Show, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
2016 Honorable Mention Holiday Art Market, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
2016 California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Art, Davis, CA
Solo
2021 Solo Exhibition, San Mateo Main Library, San Mateo, CA
2020 Solo Exhibition, San Mateo Main Library, San Mateo, CA
2019 Solo Exhibition, San Mateo City Hall, San Mateo, CA
2019 Solo Exhibition, Lindsay Dirkx Brown Gallery, San Ramon, CA
2019 Solo Exhibition, Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery
2018 3rd Artist Spotlight Solo Art Competition, Fusion Art, Palm Springs, CA
2017 Solo Exhibition, San Mateo Main Library, San Mateo, CA
2017 Fall Colors Solo Exhibition, San Mateo City Hall, San Mateo, CA
2017 Weightless Ceramics Solo Exhibition, San Mateo Main Library, San Mateo, CA
2017 Fantasy in Stone Solo Exhibition, Rotunda Gallery, Redwood City, CA
2016 Solo Exhibition, San Mateo City Hall, San Mateo, CA
2016 Solo Exhibition, San Mateo City Main Library, San Mateo, CA
2016 Solo Exhibition, Art Academia, San Mateo, CA
Gallery
Golden Moon Gallery, San Mateo, CA
2018,2020 ARTSY Online
Teaching Experience
2021 - present Sculpture and Ceramics Online Workshops and Classes, Palo Alto, CA
2013 - 2021 Sculpture and Ceramics Teacher, Art Academia, San Mateo, CA
2021 - ICAN Top Finalist Teacher Award, 24th Annual National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition
2021 - Teacher Participation Award, 24th Annual National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition
2020 - Regina Brown Award for Excellence in Teaching, 23rd Annual National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition
2020 - Teacher Participation Award, 23rd Annual National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition
2019 - Teacher Participation Award, 22nd Annual National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition
2018 - Teacher Participation Award, 21st Annual National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition
2018 - Potters Council Middle School Award, 21st Annual National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition
2018 - CeramicArtsDaily.org Teacher Award, 21st Annual National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition
2017 - Teacher Participation Award, 20th Annual National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition
Publication
2020 American Artwork
Lectures/Workshops
2020 Ceramics. Air-Dry Clay Exploration, Art Academia, San Mateo, CA
2020 Ceramics. Handbuilding and Surface Decoration, Art Academia, San Mateo, CA
2019 Ceramics. Maiolica Painting, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
2019 Ceramics. Sgraffito, Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, CA
2019 Ceramics. Handbuilding and Surface Decoration, Art Academia, San Mateo, CA
2018 Ceramics. Surface Decoration, College of San Mateo, San Mateo, CA
2016 Ceramics Workshop, International Women’s EXPO, San Mateo, CA
Organizations
International Sculpture Center (ISC)
Pacific Rim Sculptors (PRS)
Association of Clay and Glass Artists of California
Orchard Valley Ceramic Arts Guild
Education
School of Fine Arts, Vladivostok, Russia
Bachelor of Art and Science, Far-Eastern State University, Vladivostok, Russia
Master of Science in Biology, Far-Eastern State University, Vladivostok, Russia