Shepherd + 1
An Exhibition of Terry Shepherd & Doug Monroe
Generously sponsored by
Tanya Davis
Key Dates
Exhibition Dates:
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Opening Reception:
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About the Exhibition
This December, The Art Center presents an exhibition featuring the work of two accomplished Grand Junction artists: ceramic artist Terry Shepherd and multidisciplinary artist Doug Monroe. The exhibition pairs Shepherd’s innovative ceramics with Monroe’s distinctive digital imagery, offering visitors an engaging exploration of artistic expression across two mediums.
Doug Monroe
Joining Shepherd this year is Doug Monroe, whose creative practice spans digital art, painting, printmaking, filmmaking, and graphic design. Working primarily on an iPhone or iPad, Monroe creates whimsical, lyrical images that reflect a highly personal and recognizable visual language.
A lifelong artist who began drawing cartoons as a child in New York, Monroe studied printmaking before discovering filmmaking through a Super 8 film course. One of his drawings of Stephen Colbert was featured on The Late Show’s Fan Art Friday segment, and for the past 16 years Monroe has served as Director of Photography for the HBO/TLC series Sister Wives. His career has included work for HBO, ABC, CBS, NBC, Sundance, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, PBS, and award-winning independent documentaries.
“I’m pleased and honored to have Doug Monroe exhibit with me,” says Shepherd. “I was immediately captivated by his lively, whimsical, and energetic work. His intuitive approach and broad range of subjects make his work a visual treat.”
Terry Shepherd
Terry Shepherd, Director of Ceramics at The Art Center, has led the ceramics program since 1984. With a career spanning more than 55 years, Shepherd studied and collaborated with influential ceramic artist Paul Soldner and co-founded a ceramics studio in El Jebel, Colorado, before returning to Grand Junction in 1983.
This year’s exhibition highlights Shepherd’s continued exploration of functional and sculptural ceramics, including glazed stoneware and porcelain vessels, Raku-fired pieces, saggar-fired work, and altered forms created through low-fire salt-vapor techniques. He embraces the interaction between flame, kiln atmosphere, and natural materials, allowing the firing process to help shape the finished work.
“In my work, I strive to communicate a personal visual language while celebrating the strength and spirit of clay,” Shepherd says. “I aim to create pieces that bring joy, mystery, and excitement to the viewer.”
Shepherd’s work can be found in public and private collections nationwide, including the Soldner Center for Art and Innovation in Aspen and HopeWest in Grand Junction. He has taught workshops throughout the United States and was an invited artist in Standing Room Only, a 2004 exhibition honoring Soldner’s influence on contemporary ceramics.
