Paul Dresang

Paul Dresang (born 1948 in Appleton, Wisconsin) is an American ceramic artist and professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Working mainly with glass, porcelain, and clay, Dresang’s “highly individual, sensuous, salt-fired porcelain forms are decorated with an obsessive amount of detail.” He defines his work primarily as “post-modern fertility pieces".” Dresang aims to create surreal images with ceramics by often focusing on everyday items in his work, and by exploring “opposing ideas of constraint and breaking free”. After receiving his MFA, Dresang has gone on to become a highly sought-after potter. He has presented his work in countless group exhibitions, and is featured in many permanent collections nationally. He is currently located in Edwardsville, Illinois.

After growing up in Appleton, Wisconsin, Dresang attended the University of Minnesota, where he earned a MFA in Ceramics in 1974.

In January 1975, Dresang began his first teaching position in Advanced Ceramics at the Wisconsin State University at Oshkosh.

After leaving this post in May 1975, he became an Instructor at The Cleveland Institute of Art, where he remained until 1977.

From 1977 to the present day, Dresang has been teaching at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as a Professor of Ceramics and Glassblowing.

He attained the rank of Distinguished Research Professor in 2008.

"My greatest hope is that when people approach my work they will be challenged to decide what they see in it. In a way they have to risk themselves, especially if they share their observations. Anyone who views my work and cares about it cannot avoid investing something of themselves in the process."

–Paul Dresang

Dresang’s work is part of the following public collections:

Dresang has exhibited at museums and galleries of note in the United States and Taiwan, including the following: