Colleen Sidey’s figurative ceramic artworks are three-dimensional illustrations from a modern day fairy tale. Her works blur lines between whimsical fantasy and the realities of everyday life. She typically uses her children as inspiration models for exploring psychology and identity through a reinterpretation of mythical characters. The meticulously hand-built figures often include textured, patterned surfaces of glazed paintings to add a candy prettiness to the emotive content. Viewed through the doorway of familiar tales, her pieces reflect an uncertainty about the future while projecting a quiet hope and strength. By contrasting the sweetness of big-eyed children and the expected content of magical fairy tales with subversive undertones, Colleen is interested in preserving and exploring a beautiful, yet complex, human condition.
Colleen was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. In 2004, Colleen graduated with Honors with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from Humboldt State University. She continued her formal education as an artist-in-residence in the Ceramics Department at San Jose State University from 2005-2007. Colleen has exhibited her works throughout the United States and has had her art featured in galleries, colleges and prestigious art centers and fairs such as the John Michael Kohler Art Center and SOFA Chicago. Colleen’s sculptures have received numerous awards by noted jurors such as Candice Groot, Richard Shaw, and Patti Warashina.
Between 2009 to 2020, Colleen worked as an Art Instructor at Lake Tahoe Community College teaching Ceramics and Figure Sculpture. From 2018 through 2023, Colleen owned and operated Compass Clay Studio, a gallery and community ceramics studio specializing in classes for adults and children in South Lake Tahoe, CA. Colleen recently relocated to Pinole, CA and is excited to explore making, exhibiting and teaching art in the Bay Area.
Colleen was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. In 2004, Colleen graduated with Honors with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from Humboldt State University. She continued her formal education as an artist-in-residence in the Ceramics Department at San Jose State University from 2005-2007. Colleen has exhibited her works throughout the United States and has had her art featured in galleries, colleges and prestigious art centers and fairs such as the John Michael Kohler Art Center and SOFA Chicago. Colleen’s sculptures have received numerous awards by noted jurors such as Candice Groot, Richard Shaw, and Patti Warashina.
Between 2009 to 2020, Colleen worked as an Art Instructor at Lake Tahoe Community College teaching Ceramics and Figure Sculpture. From 2018 through 2023, Colleen owned and operated Compass Clay Studio, a gallery and community ceramics studio specializing in classes for adults and children in South Lake Tahoe, CA. Colleen recently relocated to Pinole, CA and is excited to explore making, exhibiting and teaching art in the Bay Area.