Ruth Borgenicht to Show Work at Ceramic Invitational

The work of Ruth Borgenicht, an adjunct in the Department of Art and Design, will be on display at the River Gallery 20th Annual Ceramic Invitational, on view from February 8 – March 29, 2025. This landmark exhibition celebrates two decades of showcasing exceptional ceramic artistry, featuring works from an outstanding roster of both emerging talents and veteran artists. This show is renowned from presenting a stunning variety of ceramic works that highlight the creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation within the field, featuring pieces that range from functional pottery to sculptural art, offering a visual journey into the versatility of ceramics.

Borgenicht has a background in mathematics, and discovered her passion for ceramics during her undergraduate years at Rutgers University, where she shifted from analytical pursuits to creative expression. After completing her MFA, she embraced socially engaged and participatory art projects, broadening her artistic practice and community impact.

Her ceramic expertise has been honed through residencies at institutions such as Hunter College, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Greenwich House Pottery, and the Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, among others. Recognized with two NJ State Council on the Arts Fellowships, Borgenicht has taught workshops and served as a visiting artist at numerous schools. At Montclair State University, she teaches the courses 3D and Extended Media and Process and Media: Space.

Borgenicht is known for her Interlocking Works. Worn under Medieval armor, chain mail is made of tiny interlocking metal rings designed to protect a body in motion. She uses the chain mail pattern and other woven patterns to create ceramic works that conjure up a sense of permanence and defensive concealment. Like the ancient armor, her pieces are made of a fabric of moveable interlocking rings. Using clay to make a protective mesh is contradictory; for how can it defend anything, much less itself? Visually stone-like, the pieces appear strong and impenetrable, belying their inherent fragility.