William Kremer

Biography

William Kremer was born October 29, 1946 in Superior, Wisconsin. He served in the Army National Guard from 1964-69. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Superior In 1969 with a BFA degree In ceramics and painting. Kremer was accepted into the fine arts graduate program at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 1969. He received an M.A. degree in 1970 and graduated with an MFA degree in 1971.

Kremer was hired to teach ceramics and sculpture at Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, Louisiana in 1971. In 1973 he was hired to teach at the University of Notre Dame and to set up a ceramics program in Notre Dame’s Old Field House. He spent ten years building kilns, tables, shelves, potter’s wheels and acquired studio equipment. During this time the ceramic graduate program grew to twelve students. Six National Ceramic Summer workshops were held featuring the best-known ceramic artists of the day. In 1984 the ceramic and art studio programs were moved to the renovated Riley Hall of Art & Design and the Old Field House was torn down. In his forty-nine-year career at Notre Dame, more than forty-five graduate students have gone on to take teaching positions around the country.

Kremer’s artistic activity in ceramic art represents both sculpture and traditional pottery. He is known for his work and innovations using large-scale molds as a means to construct sculptural vessel forms. The resulting works are fired in a wood-fired anagama kiln. Kremer’s work has been exhibited around the country and has been represented by numerous galleries. His work has been shown in more than one hundred and fifty exhibitions and workshops and featured in Ceramics Monthly magazine.