C.A. “CAT” TRAEN

Bio

C.A. “Cat” Traen is an international teaching artist working in clay since 2002, leading to a BA and MEd from University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Motivated by enriching others through community building and collaboration, Cat has mentored thousands of students and teachers to equip and ignite the next generation in clay. Since relocating to Memphis in 2017, Cat serves as faculty in the ceramics department at University of Memphis and Christian Brothers University in addition to working as an educational consultant for regional school districts with a mission to support start-up clay programs at underserved public schools. Internationally active since 2015, Cat teaches workshops, exhibits, and is collected in the US, Europe, and Asia. Notable awards include Bronze Medal in the 2020 International Gold Teapot Prize in Taiwan and Silver Award in the Fu Le Ceramic Arts Museum Emerging Artist Exhibition in Fuping, China. Beyond her work as an emerging international teaching artist, Cat and her partner, Robert LaWarre III are developing a 3D arts incubator space in Memphis to connect people and expand professional opportunities worldwide through clay.

Exhibition Statement

Shift | Drift

This collection of autobiographical sculpture represents my personal journey through uncertainty and emotional recovery toward an illuminated purpose. The process of painting and sculpting the human form using mirrors for reference provides me an anchor to reality in an effort to see my physical self for grounded perspective in an outward image. Atmospheric clouds and ether refer to timeless human curiosity and our longing for understanding of that which is greater than ourselves. We drift through each shift in fragments of time, gradual changes lead to sudden realization that we no longer recognize our past.