Watkins combines creative practice, academic connections in art

Watkins combines creative practice, academic connections in art

For Veronica Watkins, creating art doesn't stop when a piece leaves the studio. The process continues through exhibitions, collaboration and, ultimately, the students at Northwest Missouri State University who look to her as an expert in her field.

Watkins, an associate professor of art and art program coordinator at Northwest, recently had work accepted to three juried exhibitions across the country - in Hand III, hosted by Mikhail Zakin Gallery at the Art School at Old Church in Demarest, New Jersey; the Kansas City Clay Guild Tea Bowl National in Kansas City, Missouri; and "Please Elaborate: An Exploration of the Ceramic Surface" at the Clay Studio of Missoula in Montana.

Watkins said exhibitions are more than an opportunity to be recognized. They often become part of the creative process itself.

"I look for shows that would encompass something I'm working on at the time," Watkins said. "Or, I will specifically make work for a show I'm interested in. That would be the case with the Kansas City Clay Guild Tea Bowl National this year. I think it is really important to connect with regional art organizations so that my students may gain opportunities and also see me practicing as an artist, not just as a teacher."

The 2026 Tea Bowl National opens with a reception Oct. 2 and runs through Nov. 2 at the Kansas City Clay Guild. Northwest plans to host Louis Reilly, the executive director of the Clay Guild, and resident artists at the Olive DeLuce Art Gallery in the spring, giving students the opportunity to interact with working artists.

The connection between professional work and teaching is central to Watkins' work at Northwest. She says maintaining creative practice gives students an example of what it means to continue developing as an artist after college.

"As faculty, we are always trying to balance our teaching, service and support of students and scholarly and creative work," Watkins said. "Things get busy, and there are many demands. It is important for students to see that we are more than teachers; we are practitioners of our expertise areas. Ultimately, this gives us credibility as they see us doing what we are encouraging them to do. The research is especially important because it is what feeds our work for a lifetime, and that is what we want students to continue as they leave academia."

Additionally, Watkins is focused on ceramic research, which is reflected in her inclusion in "Please Elaborate: An Exploration of the Ceramic Surface." The exhibition opens Oct. 2 and continues through Oct. 31, bringing together artists whose work begins with or references function and extends beyond utility as a fixed outcome. Work from the exhibition will also be featured in next month's Ceramic Monthly issue.

"It always feels good to get the work out to an audience," Watkins said. "It is especially nice to be recognized by artists that can appreciate the technical and conceptual underpinnings of what you are trying to do."