Welcome New Faculty: Jonathan Christensen Caballero!
He received his MFA from Indiana University and a BFA from Utah State University.
● Solo Exhibitions: Lux Center for the Arts, NE – University of Central Arkansas – Belger Crane Yard Studios, KC – Lawrence Arts Center, KS
● Group Exhibitions: NCECA Annual, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, KC
● Residencies: Interdisciplinary Ceramics Research Center University of Kansas and Belger Arts, KC
● Publications include: Hyperallergic and American Craft
Jonathan received the prestigious title of Emerging Artist in 2021 by the annual Ceramics Monthly jury
And has been a guest on Tales of Red Clay Rambler Podcast
● Visiting Artist at Alfred University, Ohio University, and the University of Iowa
And has led workshops at Arrowmont, the Iowa Clay Conference, and the Clay Studio, Philadelphia.
My art reflects my identity, shaped by observing my parents support our family through labor and my mother’s migration journey from Panamá. It explores themes of Latin American labor, oral histories, the material culture from Latin America, and human figurative sculpture.
Each sculpture tells a story through its materials: red earthenware, construction supplies, gold, second-hand clothes, metal, and wood. These materials are more than just physical objects; they carry significant meaning. The red earthenware connects to both the ceramic traditions throughout Latin America as well as modern bricks used in construction. Second-hand clothes, in their vibrant hues, represent the cultural richness of color in Latin America through garments accessible to working-class people today. Building materials symbolize the labor that shaped them and acknowledge the significant contributions of our community to the broader American landscape.
In my work, human figures and forms engage in a dialogue between past and present, labor and migration, familial connections and individual aspirations. Each material choice connects our heritage with the present, reflecting on the changes we seek. Through my art, I aim to honor the resilience and hopes of those who came before, while contemplating the collective journey that informs our identity and guides us toward a hopeful future.
