Brad Bachmeier working in situ during an Artist-in-Residency at the Grand Canyon/Parashant National Monument
"Honoring humankind's ancient & universal partnership with clay"
- Founded 1993 -
Bachmeier Pottery & Sculpture work is now found in private, public and permanent collections in all 50 American states and internationally including Microsoft Headquarters and Michelle Obama's personal collection while garnering over 50 regional, national, and international grants and awards. With specialties in large-scale vessels, low-fire atmospheric firings, and large-scale relief sculpture work, Brad Bachmeier is also one of only 19 recognized Brick Sculptors (American Brick Association) in the U.S.
In 2009, Brad was recognized with the Governor's Award in Art Education for "Sustained and impactful art education and advocacy efforts for students and citizens of ND". Brad worked as a Founding Board Member to help start the Fargo Moorhead Visual Artists, The North Dakota Art Education Association non-profit organizations and the Center for Creativity at the Plains Art Museum. He has also served as President of the Board of Directors for both the Rourke Art Museum in Moorhead and The Arts Partnership of the FM Area as well as an official advisor to the inaugural Arts and Culture Commission in Fargo. Brad was appointed by Governor Jack Dalrymple to the ND Council on the Arts Board of Directors in 2014 where he recently served as Vice-Chair. Brad is currently employed at Minnesota State University Moorhead as Program Coordinator and Professor of Art Education leading the largest such program in a 3 state region. Professor Bachmeier was nominated by the Carnegie Foundation for U.S. Professor of the Year in 2016 and received the Art Educators of Minnesota Higher Art Educator of the Year Award in 2018. Brad also was appointed to the Fargo City Planning Commission in 2019.
Brad and Sue Bachmeier live in South Fargo with their 4 children, Mackenna, Addison, Clay & Kyler
Gallery of Ceramic Work
Work created the past 6 years during 5 Artist-in-Residencies: Mesa Verde N.P. (Unesco World Heritage Site), Grand Canyon/Parashant National Monument, Petrified Forest National Park, Lewis & Clark State Park, and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Relief Sculpture
Large-Scale Tile and Brick Relief Sculpture Installations
Studio/Services/Galleries
What can we do for you?
The Studio
Open to the public by appointment
Located at 8417 25th St. S. in Fargo, ND, features 3 potters wheels, slab roller, extruder, 4 ceramic kilns and mobile work surfaces to accommodate large-scale projects. Open to the public the first weekend of every October for the Fargo Moorhead Visual Artists Studio Crawl Event. Info at www.fmva.org
Commissioned Public Art
Whether in ceramic tile or brick relief, we can tell the story of your organization in a sophisticated and powerful way.
Our site-specific relief sculpture murals add a custom touch to any building. We have complete control of a variety of sizes, styles, colors and textures to compliment your building and architecture. Click the Relief Sculpture tab to see a few examples. We also install!
We've worked with dozens of companies to produce custom awards that can distinguish your organization.
Past clients include Fargo Marathon, FM Convention & Visitor's Bureau, National H.S. Coaches Hall of Fame, SDSU Alumni Foundation, NDSU Alumni Foundation, MSUM Alumni Foundation, The Arts Partnership, Sanford Hospital, Rourke Art Museum, NDSU Athletic Department, Thrivent Financial and many more....
Gallery Representation
Due to high demand and scarcity, Bachmeier Pottery has limited gallery representation with the region's two finest commercial galleries:
Underbrush Gallery, Fargo ND
Rehfeld's Gallery, Sioux Falls, SD
Workshops & Residencies
Brad has conducted dozens of workshops and residencies with specialties in: Wheel-throwing, throwing large forms, atmospheric firings, public art, art careers, and the business and marketing of art
Including......Red Rock Canyon, NV, Muddy Waters Clay Center Grand Forks, Grand Canyon/Parashant N.M., Minot State University, North Dakota State University, Dickinson State University, Hawaii Potter's Guild, Valley City State University, The Granary in Groton, S.D., South Dakota State University, The University of North Dakota, The University of South Dakota, Bismarck State University, The Jamestown Art Center, Mesa Verde National Park/UNESCO World Heritage Site and The National Petrified Forest in Arizona to name a few.
In the Media
Fargo Forum Article "Peace by Piece"
Madison Skate/Bike Park Brick Sculpture Project
News from the studio
Projects and happenings in the Studio and Region
Projects & Friends
Projects, networks, organizations and people doing good work.
Community, Kids & Clay
Joint project with the Legacy Children's Foundation in Fargo
North America's largest brick sculpture has been installed! Check out the In the Media links above for article and video as well as the project web-site: www.fargobricksculpture.com
Fargo-Moorhead Visual Artists
Fantastic local artists group with over 200 members. Sponsors the largest annual art event in the FM Area, the Studio Crawl which occurs the first weekend of every October. See you there!
Check out this great non-profit group to see how you can get involved at www.fmva.org
World Relief
An international relief and development agency founded in 1944 as an humanitarian association. World Relief offers assistance to victims of poverty, disease, hunger, war, disasters and persecution. The organization has offices worldwide. It is supported by churches, foundations, and individual donors, as well as through United States Government grants from USAID and other agencies.
Stand for the Vulnerable
Hessed House
Hesed House's mission is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless and give people the chance to hope again. Hesed House is a national model for ending homelessness that includes a Comprehensive Homeless Resource Center collaborating to provide the tools necessary to help individuals and families break free of the shackles binding them to homelessness.
Because everyone deserves dignity
MSUM's Art Ed. Org.
Student Art Education Chapter of the National Art Education Assoc.
This group has done amazing service projects though the years volunteering hundreds of hours with organizations such as: Great Plains Food Bank, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Charism's program for at-risk youth and Churches United for the Homeless - Art Club for kids, to name a few. Check em' out here!
Kulzer Design
Gerry Kulzer of Kulzer Design is a long-time friend and assistant sculptor for Bachmeier Pottery. Kulzer previously worked with Brodin Studios near Minneapolis. He is responsible for the sculpting of many portrait busts and life-size bronze sculptures around the country. Kulzerdesign.com
Nationally Recognized Regional Artists
Nelda Shrup - Jewelery
Richard Gruchalla - Ceramics
Tom Maras - Glass
Deborah Broad - Printmaking
Carl Oltvedt - Drawing
Walter Piehl - Painting
Jon Offutt - Glass
Richard Bresnahen - Ceramics
Norik Astvatsaturov- Repousse
Zhimi Guan - Painting
Fritz Scholder - Painting
Elise Parsley - Illustration
Linda Whitney - Printmaking
Ben Victor - Sculpture
Steve Nowatzki - Printmaking
Jeff Zachman - Sculpture
Shop
For the annual Fargo-Moorhead Visual Artists Studio Crawl this year, we set up a virtual shop page for the first time. We'll leave here a small selection of available works. Shipping will be an additional expense and will be worked out with each individual client purchase.
Say hello!
Let us know what we can do for you.
Conservation Through Clay
Select work from 5 National Park Artist-in-Residency programs conducted in 6 years - 200 works in total
Primal Element Series
This body of work investigates and honors the historical uses and relationships that mankind has had with clay as a material since nearly the beginning of life. Only humans and clay share the most intimate relationship that includes food, meals, homes, writing and much more. This series proudly embraces the strength of a 30,000 year old ancient and global tradition of vessel making across cultures, borders and time. The vessel form is chosen to tell this part of the exhibit story for its universal accessibility, timelessness and symbolic power. Reference to rock as parent material, archeological ceramic artifacts, and cultural decorative patterns reinforce the universal significance of pottery as a meaningful discipline. “Earth I am, it is most true, disdain me not for so are you.” – English folk pottery motto
Platters and Plates
Alternative Firing & Finishes
Variations on alternative firing, finishing and reduction techniques
Virtues & Revelations
This series of works examines the theme of shared humanity through the idea of virtue. This unifying theme cuts through religious, cultural and historical barriers and demonstrates the importance that mankind's striving for goodness has had in the past and continues to have today. This series borrows upon worldly languages, cultures, and religious symbols and imagery to teach contemporary lessons about the importance of virtues today. Using the word "prophet" in the ancient sense of truth being told, this "Revelations Series" illustrates how truth and virtue are treated in the context of modern societies. The work references our complex relationship with technology and science and its effect on nature, spirituality and human relationships. With this work, social commentary is created which engages viewers in analyzing truth to conduct a modern cultural critique.
Award & Product Samples
