Louis Mendez Artist, Educator, Bon Vivant

Endowment

Alfred Ceramic Art Museum

These Louis Mendez works are part of the permanent collection.

Scholes Library of the NYS College of Ceramics at Alfred University

This Louis Mendez piece is part of the permanent collection.

Louis Mendez '52 Endowed Fund

Louis Mendez was a versatile artist in many media. His work explored human and animal forms with equal intensity in large-scale sculpture, graphic images, mask designs, traditional ceramics, graphics photography and painting. Born in New York City, Mendez earned BFA and MFA degrees in industrial design from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. The artist was a recipient of a Louis Comfort Tiffany grant for design and development of large-scale ceramic art in architectural settings. Although he always maintained an independent studio and active exhibition schedule, Mendez also held professional positions in both industry and higher education. His work is included in numerous public and private collections in the Americas, Europe, Australia and Asia.

In recognition of his transformative student years at Alfred, members of the Artist's Family have established the Louis Mendez '52 Endowed Fund to support travel for educational purposes for Alfred University students enrolled in the School of Art & Design. During his long and highly productive career, Mendez derived great inspiration from his extensive travels. He was an ardent advocate for the efficacy of organized and purposeful travel to shape students' perceptions of others and themselves, as well as the connections we all share across time and cultures. Opportunities made possible by this fund will complement students' studio work and studies, connecting them with other artists and the world of art in ways essential to achieving maturity in their personal and professional development.

Past Beneficiaries

Period Student Activity
2024 Phoebe Neubauer Interdisciplinary Art-Biology study of the revival of a bee colony from seasonal dormancy. Apprenticeships with prominent New York State beekeepers Peter Sieling and Dan Volk; construction of a custom-built hive to faciliate time-lapse photography and illustrations.

Artist Statement:
My practice is focused around the intersection of the artist and the environment communicated specifically through natural materials, plants, fungi, and insects. I view plants and insects as my teachers and collaborators. I use these materials to talk about one's intimate and corporeal relationship to the earth and as an exploration of femininity. My work often takes the form of drawings, expanded drawings, and sculptural pieces.
2023 Salyn Yancey Internship at The Grange Gallery and Ceramic Studio Work at the Featherstone Arts Center, Vineyard Haven, MA
2022 Daniela Marie Murphy Mold Making Master Class with Ashley Thomas, Yellow Moth FX LLC, Harrison, NJ
2021 Trey Millward Internship at Light Work, a residency & photography center affiliated with Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
2020 Andrew Sensenig Studio Assistant for artists Nina Rizzo, Anna Kunz, Michelle Wasson and Frank Trankina, Chicago, IL
2019 Sophia Weiss Internship at Bridget Donahue Gallery — Studio Assistant to Artists, Lauren Clay & Ruby Sky-Stiler, New York City
2018 Mariah N. Addis Residency, Red Lodge Clay Center, Red Lodge, Montana
2017 Alexandra P. Smith Internships, Mitchell-Innes & Nash Gallery, Gina Beavers Studio, New York City
2016 Michael Mycola Haleta Audio Research Project, Elektronmusikstudion, Stockholm, Sweden

You can participate

Thank you for your generous support of carefully selected, highly talented and deserving students.

Tax deductible contributions may be made to the Mendez '52 Endowed Fund.

Direct link to donation form:
Make a Gift to Alfred University

Step-by-step from the Alfred University homepage:

  1. Visit https://www.alfred.edu.
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