Ceramics and AP 3-D Design teacher Mr. Cameron Petke is an established artist who has showcased his artwork in various exhibitions, including the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C.
The Hirshhorn is a museum and sculpture garden at the National Mall that highlights artists of the modern era. It has housed pieces from renowned contemporary artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Banksy, and Yayoi Kusama.
Petke displayed his work at the Hirshhorn in 2015 for the Smithsonian Holiday Show, and again in 2024 as a collaboration with the Washington Project for the Arts.For his 2024 exhibition, he created an installation of about 25 temple bell pieces and 50 functional pottery pieces, such as serving bowls and vases.
Petke remarked that he sees art exhibitions as points of human connection.
“I hope a bit of ‘transference’ happens when someone picks up or views something I’ve made,” said Petke. “I hope they’ll feel the sense of joy I felt making it and sense the care that was put into this thing.”
Petke’s art is rooted in his love for creating things with clay and making physical pieces of history.
“[My] deeper interest began in a particular lecture where our professor proposed…that ‘with clay, not only are we making art…we are making artifacts that will survive thousands of years, and we can send our thoughts into the future for others to find,’” said Petke.
His artistic abilities have been refined by the time he spent abroad, living in Japan as an artist-in-residence. He believes that his studies in Japan were crucial to the development of his artistic career.
“I met artists from around the world, and it changed how I approached every part of my artistic process,” said Petke.
In addition to exhibiting his pieces, Petke has taught high school and college ceramics for over 25 years, including as a lecturer and adjunct professor at Hood College and Loyola University. As a full-time art teacher, Petke balances exhibition preparation and his ceramics business with instructing students.
Senior Santiago Torres-Espina, who takes AP 3-D Design and has been a student in Petke’s ceramics classes for three years, spoke to how Petke manages his different roles and initiatives.
“It’s impressive seeing his work ethic, since he is able to juggle so many tasks,” said Torres-Espina. “He emphasizes the necessity of artists to work in a timely fashion, and this comes through in his thorough planning and time-slotting of when he completes pieces.”
Although he is a professional artist with multiple accolades to his name, in the classroom Petke teaches a range of artistic techniques to students across all art levels from beginner to advanced.
Torres-Espina highlighted how Petke’s teaching style helped build his confidence to take on more tasks in the studio.
“I have been guided by him as a mentor in deepening not just my technical abilities in ceramics, but also my ability to process complex artistic concepts,” Torres-Espina said. “He’s also very encouraging of learning new skills and never makes you feel like you’re making the wrong artistic choice.”
Petke’s career is a culmination of his experience and growth throughout the years. He shares his work, experiences, and artistic philosophy on his business website Baked Clay Studio, where he also sells handmade dishware, furniture, and Eastern Temple Bells, the focus of his studio work.
His opportunities don’t stop there. He was invited to attend the National Council for the Education of the Ceramic Arts Conference next year, one of the biggest ceramic events in the country.
“When I began my career, I’d answer ‘open calls’ for art at galleries, and send applications in for exhibitions all year, every year, just hoping to get accepted,” said Petke. “Now, I try to be more deliberate. I will jump at shows if I am excited about the other artists that are showing.”
