BIO

Born in Atlanta Georgia, Preston Saunders received his Bachelor of Fine (BFA) Arts at Shorter College in Rome Georgia, and his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Ceramics and Metals from School for American Crafts, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). After graduating Preston moved to Kanazawa Japan to work alongside Toshio Ohi the10th generation potter of the Ohi family. There he helped produce and fire the families traditional ceramic ware used in the Japanese Tea Ceremony. Upon returning to the US he took a teaching position at RIT. In 2001, Preston became an exchange professor teaching ceramics at Seoul National University of Technology in Seoul Korea. While teaching there he actively participated in several International ceramic expositions and was involved in developing and coordinating the International Raku Symposium in Daegu, South Korea. After returning to the states, Preston accepted a full time position as the Assisting chair for the School for American Crafts at RIT. Currently Preston is a full Professor at Bridgewater State University teaching Ceramics and Metals. Preston continues to work in the studio and exhibits both internationally and nationally, he has participated in several international workshops and residences programs including the SODA (Sculptures objects and design) studio located in Western Australia and the annual wood firing exhibit in Japan at the Echizen Japanese training center and the A.I.R. residency in Vallaris France during his recent sabbatical. Preston Has also curated several exhibits at BSU and co-authored and exhibit catalog on Japanese’s wood firing “The Heart of Echizen, woodfired work by contemporary Echizen masters”