
Frank Boyden
Owl and the Moon, 1998
Cliché Verre, edition 7/15
8 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches
Racine Art Museum, Gift of the Artist
Photography: Jon Bolton
Much of What is Seen is Not: Frank Boyden as Printmaker
February 23 – June 8, 2014
This exhibition debuts a selection of prints presented to RAM by the nationally recognized ceramicist, Frank Boyden. This gift of nearly 30 of his prints and folios from the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s depict fish, animals, and insects—which are also subjects in his ceramic work.
While artists are not always interested in—or successful at—exploring their ideas in different dimensions, Boyden has pursued concepts through multiple media for decades. He was trained as a printmaker, painter, and art historian; but he has created sculpture and public art. Boyden admits to being “seduced” by clay, a material he has worked with since the early 1970s. Inspired by Pre-Columbian and contemporary ceramics, Boyden has often chosen to use an anagama—or wood-fired—kiln to produce his clay vessels.
Boyden has produced almost 400 editions since his return to printmaking in 1984. Not only does he design and create the compositions, Boyden also pulls the prints himself, working in a large studio full of equipment that he built. A strong believer in creating art that reflects the natural world, Boyden connects his animal imagery to the species that inhabit the area near his home at the mouth of the Salmon River on the Oregon Coast.
More About the Exhibition
Much of What is Seen is Not: Frank Boyden as Printmaker
February 23 – June 8, 2014

Frank Boyden
Owl and the Moon, 1998
Cliché Verre, edition 7/15
8 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches
Racine Art Museum, Gift of the Artist
Photography: Jon Bolton
This exhibition debuts a selection of prints presented to RAM by the nationally recognized ceramicist, Frank Boyden. This gift of nearly 30 of his prints and folios from the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s depict fish, animals, and insects—which are also subjects in his ceramic work.
While artists are not always interested in—or successful at—exploring their ideas in different dimensions, Boyden has pursued concepts through multiple media for decades. He was trained as a printmaker, painter, and art historian; but he has created sculpture and public art. Boyden admits to being “seduced” by clay, a material he has worked with since the early 1970s. Inspired by Pre-Columbian and contemporary ceramics, Boyden has often chosen to use an anagama—or wood-fired—kiln to produce his clay vessels.
Boyden has produced almost 400 editions since his return to printmaking in 1984. Not only does he design and create the compositions, Boyden also pulls the prints himself, working in a large studio full of equipment that he built. A strong believer in creating art that reflects the natural world, Boyden connects his animal imagery to the species that inhabit the area near his home at the mouth of the Salmon River on the Oregon Coast.
More About the Exhibition
Gallery of Work
Exhibitions at RAM are made possible by:
Platinum Sponsors
The Estate of Karen Johnson Boyd
David Charak
Judith and David Flegel Fund
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Ron and Judith Isaacs
Nicholas and Nancy Kurten
Windgate Foundation
Diamond Sponsors
City of Racine’s Grow Racine Grant
Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation
Ruffo Family Foundation
Ruth Arts Foundation
Gold Sponsors
Anonymous
Tom and Irene Creecy
Richard and Patricia Ehlert
Herzfeld Foundation
Reliance Controls
Ruth Foundation for the Arts
Trio Foundation of St. Louis
W.T. Walker Group, Inc.
Wisconsin Arts Board
Silver Sponsors
Anonymous
Art Bridges
Baird
A.C. Buhler Family
Lucy G. Feller
Ben and Dawn Flegel
Jim Harris
Sharon and Tom Harty
Lise Iwon
J. Jeffers & Co.
Johnson Financial Group
Dorothy MacVicar
Jan Serr and John Shannon
Bronze Sponsors
Ellen and Joseph Albrecht
Andis Foundation
Susan Boland
Virginia Buhler
Butcher & Barrel/Amos Los Tacos
Educators Credit Union
Express Employment Professionals
Tony and Andrea Hauser
Bill and Debbie Keland
Susan Manalli
Jean and Alex Mandli, Jr.
The Prairie School
Cathy Stanghellin
Georgiana Treivush
Twin Disc, Inc.