Meet Robert Miller | Artist,Professor,Curator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Robert Miller and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robert, why did you pursue a creative career?
My parents believed I should be a lawyer and that my art should remain a hobby and not a career. However, that changed in my senior year of high school when my father invited his friend, Serge Sarkis, the amazing Russian sculptor who crafted the Mayor Tom Bradley bust at LAX, over for dinner one night. I showed him some of my artwork and he told my father that I should pursue my passion and journey deeper into the art world. I was fortunate to be accepted into Otis Parsons Artist Institute for my BFA and UCLA for my MFA. Then, I had the incredible opportunity to do an apprenticeship, 30 miles outside of Kyoto, in Shigaraki, Japan. Doors opened for me to work with incredible mentors like Adrian Saxe, Ralph Bacerra, and John Mason. They deepened my love for ceramics and inspired my giving back to the arts. I co-founded the Miller-Durazo Gallery in the ‘90s and then created the SUR Biennial with a dear friend Ronald Lopez to showcase Latino artists.
I learned that success comes from talent, hard work, and loving support from the art community and family. I never could have continued my artistic path without the patience and understanding of my wife and children.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about?

I have had the pleasure of being an artist for over 30 years. I did not care very much for ceramics at first, until I was forced to take a class at Otis. I new something magical was happening in the ceramic department and wanted to be a part of it.

I fell in love with creating objects. I explore the intersection of ceramics, utilitarian forms, I alter proportions, create unique glaze surfaces against vibrant and unique backgrounds, engaging with the discourse surrounding altering form and function. Transitioning from the realm of production line ceramics to conceptual installation art, my aim is to challenge viewers by presenting everyday forms within novel contexts. Shadows cast by my pieces induce a sense of vertigo, Embedding the space with an illusion of movement. I envision the future of ceramics as a fusion of technological advancements and societal concerns. By blending cutting-edge technologies with critical reflections on our cultural values, we can push the boundaries of the medium and provoke meaningful conversations about the role of clay in contemporary society.

I come from a world of d-i-y glazes. Formulating my own glazes, immediately sets my work apart from most ceramic artists. The art must flow through you, only then can you create something unique. As a artist we mus put in the time to discover your voice. My style of ceramics is a hybrid of Asian influence and traditional European master technical- strong fundamentals. We as artists must respect the material, clay has taken thousands of years to develop. The life span of high-fire clay is close to forever. Ceramics has been used as a historical record. A house can burn down but a bowl will survive.

How did you get to where you are today professionally? Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? Your community can help you out. Collaborate. When you support other peoples’ dreams, yours can come true too.

Being an artist is never easy, but it is a lot of fun!

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way.

I’ve always had multiple jobs. Hard work. Constant creating.

Learned a lesson in the 90s owning a gallery, I knew lots of talented artists and created shows. I learned quickly that a lot of artists couldn’t commit when finally offered a show. this taught me that you must take the risque! You can’t expect to be discovered, we must put ourselves out there constantly. This is very hard, no one wants rejection, but it part of the gig. You have to go for it and most importantly you must keep up your art practice,

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

Do your own thing. Create your own movement. Personally, in my work I’m into retro, zinc soft glazes that are not like anything else out there. I put them on sexy forms and I find it Magical.

Ar the end of the day I love what I do. I love to create, and I love sharing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Downtown LA is a must for vibrant and alternative galleries, energetic street art, and free admission museums. The Bendix Art complex not only houses artists’ studios and hosts monthly gallery openings, but also, it’s a historic building, with Gothic architectural details, developed by William Douglas Lee, who also designed Chateau Marmont Hotel and the El Royale Apartments. Art’s power is that it demands mental, emotional, and physical interaction with its viewers so lets take a trip on the Metro. Each station has a art project created by a local artist. I have trouble think of a bigger gem for the city and the art community than that.
.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Serge Sarkis, the amazing Russian sculptor who crafted the Mayor Tom Bradley bust at LAX, that over for dinner one night. I showed him some of my artwork and he told me that I should pursue my passion and journey deeper into the art world. I was fortunate to be accepted into Otis Parsons Artist Institute for my BFA and studied with the amazing Ralph Bacerra who instilled a love for ceramics. Where Ralph changed my path was right before graduation at one of our lunches he stopped in mid sentience on what he was talking about and looked at me with a serious look and said “Robert what ever you do I want you to promises me now that you will give back and teach”. I did not know where that came from, and it definitely was not in my plan. When I was offered my first teaching job at first i was going to turn it down, then I remembered with Ralph had said, and I excepted the teaching job. Giving back through teaching changed my life. It is amazing what one teacher can do in you life. Then I attended UCLA after my apprenticeship at So- TO -EN Co. in Shigaraki, one of the oldest sites for ceramics in Japan. I returned to go to UCLA for my MFA under incredible mentors including Adrian Saxe, John Mason and Peter Shire who are stars in my field and taught me how the art world works. These amazing people put me on this great adventure.

Website: www.robertmillerceramics.com

Instagram: rmillerceramics

Linkedin: robert-miller-11569438

Facebook: Robert .Miller503092

Image Credits
Wendy Gonzalez