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Biography
Born in Oakland, California, Zephyr Taurel was raised by her mother on the island of Trinidad, in Mexico City, in the countryside of Holland, and in Wisconsin. After a life of bartending in rock clubs and working in tattoo shops, she returned to college. Initially interested in genetics & medicinal botany, her major eventually changed to a more creative field, and she received an Associate’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Merritt College in Oakland, Ca in 2015. Returning to school again in 2017, she received a B.F.A. in Ceramics from California College of the Arts in 2019, and now works out of her home studio in the spare bedroom of her apartment in East Oakland.
Artist Statement
The sculptures I make are heavy with a mix of ritual symbolism and my perception of unusual or uncommon elements, both visually and as related to the narrative. Being captivated by both overt and subtle details around me, I have found various essential properties in: an unsettling shade of green; old, arthritic fingers; sense memories; or the mouthparts of an insect. As the most exceptional and unusual things a person comes across will become embedded in their memory, so do the many bits of information I’ve collected on folklores, mythologies, and religions. Having been drawn to those subjects from a childhood, I consider their supernatural narratives and symbolism to be some of the most interesting things in the world.
CV Zephyr Taurel
Zephyrtaurel@cca.edu
Zephyrtaurel.com
zephyr_thee_zephyr@instagram.com
Education & Qualifications
2019 BFA, Ceramics, California College of the Arts, Oakland, Ca, USA
2017-2019 Ceramic department Studio Technician, California College of the Arts, Oakland, Ca, USA
2017 San Francisco State University, San Francisco, Ca
2015 AA Degree in Landscape Architecture, Merritt College, Oakland, Ca, USA
2011-2015 Landscape Department intern & teacher’s aide, Merritt College, Oakland, Ca, USA
2009-2011 Horticulture Department work study intern, Long Beach City College, Long Beach, Ca, USA
Exhibitions
2023 Aqua 2022, Gallerium Art, http://www.Gallerium.art
2023 Biafarin Awards Exhibition, http://www.Biafarin.com
2019 BFA Exhibition, California College of the Arts, Oakland, Ca, USA
2019 Senior Exhibition, California College of the Arts, Oakland, Ca, USA
2019 Honors Exhibition, California College of the Arts, Oakland, Ca, USA
2019 Fall 2019 Ceramic Guild Exhibition, California College of the Arts, Oakland, Ca, USA
2019 CCACA Exhibition, Sacramento, Ca, USA
2018 NASAD Exhibition, California College of the Arts, Oakland, Ca, USA
2018 CCACA Exhibition, Sacramento, Ca, USA
2018 Ceramic Guild Exhibition, California College of the Arts, Oakland, Ca, USA
2018 Junior Review Exhibition, California College of the Arts, Oakland, Ca, USA
2017 Silent Liaisons, College Avenue Galleries, Oakland Ca, USA
2017 Super Flat, College Avenue Galleries, Oakland Ca, USA
Awards
2023 Talent prize, 5th Figurative Art Competition, Artshow International Gallery, http://www.artshowinternationalgallery.com
2019 All-College Honors Award, California College of the Arts, Oakland, Ca, USA
2019 (Fall) Faculty Honors Scholarship, California College of the Arts, Oakland, Ca, USA
2019 (Spring) Faculty Honors Scholarship, California College of the Arts, Oakland, Ca, USA
2018 Faculty Honors Scholarship, California College of the Arts, Oakland, Ca, USA
2017 Faculty Honors Scholarship, California College of the Arts, Oakland, Ca, USA
2017 Martin Wong Scholarship, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, Ca, USA
Zephyr Taurel 