Orla Dunstan
Bio
I am a clay artist living and working in Brooklyn. I make clay sculptures as psychological and emotional responses to the zeitgeist of our times and to my experience as a human, specifically as a woman, as we evolve socially and culturally. The forms are strongly influenced by natural forms in the parks and the built environment of my city. I enjoy creating tension by juxtaposing or combining organic and geometric shapes to evoke the intersection of nature and industry. Clay’s responsiveness to touch is seductive and it is important to me that the finished pieces retain a dynamic quality that reflects clay’s malleability in the process of making.
CV
SELECTED GROUP SHOWS
2025: Sacred Space, 440 Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2025: Third Prize, Tokyo-New York Friendship Ceramic Competition, Nippon Gallery, New York, NY
2023, 2024, 2025: Brooklyn Ceramic Arts Tour, Rene Murray Studio, Brooklyn, NY
2020: Art From the Boros VII, Denise Bibro Gallery, New York, NY
2019: Third Prize, Tokyo-New York Friendship Ceramic Competition, Nippon Gallery, New York, NY; juried by Toshio Ohi, 10th Generation Ohi Potter; Shinichi Doi, former conservator, The Metropolitan Museum; Cora Rosevear, former Associate Curator, Museum of Modern Art; Professor Miyeko Murase, Takeo and Itsuko Atsumi Professor Emerita, Columbia University and former Special Consultant for Japanese Art at The Metropolitan Museum
2019: Clay Cubed, ClaySpace Ceramic Arts Center, Lisle, IL; juried by Debbie Venezia, Director of Arts DuPage, Jonathan Pacheco, Ceramic Artist and Joey Knox, Mixed Media Artist
2017: Gowanus Artists Group Show, 313 Butler Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, curated by Jonathan Schorr
2011: PLG Neighborhood Pop Up Show, sponsored by PLG Arts, Brooklyn, NY
2008-2025: Arts Gowanus Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
2012- 2025: Tokyo-New York Friendship Ceramic Competition, Nippon Gallery, New York, NY
Education
Saint Louis University, Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, 1979
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1980-1982
NY Studio School, 1983
Whitney Museum Studio Program, 1983
Pratt Institute, Greenwich House Pottery, Third Avenue Clay: attended classes and workshops since 1985. Workshops have included: Anne Hirondelle, Linda Arbuckle, Richard Notkin, Steven Heinemann, Peter Pincus, among others.
Site Title / Logo Options
Site Title - control the font typeface, style, line height, transform and letter spacing of the site title.
Site Title Size - set the size of the font for the site title.
Site Title Color - choose the color used on site title.
Mobile Site Title - control the font typeface, style, line height, transform and letter spacing for the site title on mobile devices.
Mobile Site Title Size - set the size of the font for the site title on mobile devices.
Site Navigation Options
Navigation - control the font typeface, style, transform and letter spacing of the navigation links.
Navigation Size - set the size of the font for the navigation text.
Navigation Color - choose the color used for navigation links.
Navigation (Active) Color - choose the color used on all navigation links when currently being viewed.
Navigation (Hover) Color - choose the color used on all navigation links when hovered.
Secondary Navigation - control the font typeface, style, line height, transform and letter spacing of the secondary navigation text.
Secondary Navigation Size - set the size of the font for the secondary navigation text.
Secondary Navigation Color - choose the color used for secondary navigation links.
Blog Options
Blog Sidebar - determines the position / display of the sidebar within the blog.
Blog Sidebar Width - controls the width of the sidebar on the blog list and item view.
Blog Sidebar Padding - select the amount of space between the sidebar and the main content areas.
Blog Post Spacing - sets the amount of spacing between each blog post on the list view.
Blog Meta Data Color - sets the color used on article meta data (date, comment, like & share).
Gallery Options
Gallery Style - determines whether slideshow images fill all available space or fit to the window with no cropping.
Gallery Padding - set the amount of space along the top right and bottom side of the slideshow display.
Enable Gallery Thumbnails - displays a 'Show Thumbnails' option in gallery navigation.
Initial Gallery View - sets the initial view of the gallery to slideshow or thumbnails.
Gallery Controls - choose from three styles of slideshow controls or hide them completely.
Gallery Control Text - control the font typeface, style, line-height, transform and letter spacing properties of the gallery controls font.
Gallery Controls Size - set the size of the font used for gallery controls.
Gallery Controls Color - choose the color used for gallery control links.
Gallery Controls (Active) - choose the color used for the active slide control.
Product Styles
Product Background Color - sets the color behind the product image.
Product Overlay Color - sets the color of the overlay when product list titles are set to 'overlay.'
Products Per Row - determines the number of products shown per line on the product list.
Product List Titles - controls the position of the product title on the product list.
Product List Alignment - sets the text alignment of the product title on the product list.
Product Item Size - select an image ratio for the product photo on the product list.
Product Image Auto Crop - determines whether product images fill the image area or fit within.
Product Gallery Size - select an image ratio for the product gallery on the product item page.
Product Gallery Auto Crop - determines whether product images fill the gallery area or fit within.
Show Product Price - shows the price on the product list page when enabled.
Show Product Item Nav - shows the 'back to shop' link on the product item page.
Event Styles
Event Time Format - toggle between 24 hour or AM/PM for event times.
Event Icons - enable icons on the address and event time display.
Event Thumbnails - show an image thumbnail in list view.
Event Thumbnail Size - controls the size (ratio width:height) of the event thumbnail image.
Event Date Label - enable date overlay on top of event thumbnail.
Event Date Label Time - include the time of the event with the date overlay.
Event Excerpts - show optional excerpt text of events on the list view when present.
Event List Date - show the full event date (day, month, year) of the event on the list view.
Event List Time - show the time range (start time-end time) of the event on the list view.
Event List Address - show the event location address when present.
Event iCal/gCal Links - show links to add events to Apple or Google calendars.
Event Like and Share Buttons - show Squarespace simple like and share buttons on events.
Event List Compact View - enable a simple stacked view of events in the list view.
Event Calendar Compact View - enable a simpler calendar view optimized for smaller areas.
Social Link Options
Hide Social Links - turn off template specific (non-social link block) social icon links.