Tim Rowan, born in 1967 in New York City and raised in Connecticut along the Long Island Sound, is a distinguished ceramic artist known for his minimalist and elemental works. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the State University of New York at New Paltz in 1992. Following his undergraduate studies, Rowan apprenticed for two years with renowned Bizen potter Ryuichi Kakurezaki in Japan, an experience that significantly influenced his artistic approach.
Upon returning to the United States, Rowan worked in various studios across Massachusetts and New York before pursuing a Master of Fine Arts at Pennsylvania State University, which he completed in 1999. In 2000, he established his kiln and studio in the woods of the Hudson Valley, where he continues to live and create with his family.
Rowan's work is characterized by its directness and minimal embellishment, focusing on the intrinsic qualities of materials and the firing process. Predominantly a handbuilder, he often utilizes native clays and incorporates natural elements into his creations, resulting in pieces that exude a quiet strength and simplicity.
His art has been showcased internationally in both solo and group exhibitions and is included in museum collections such as the Currier Art Museum in Manchester, New Hampshire, and the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Massachusetts. Rowan has also participated in artist residencies at institutions like the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Montana, and the Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in Newcastle, Maine.
Throughout his career, Rowan has received several accolades, including the prestigious Janet Mansfield Ceramic Award from the International Ceramic Magazine Editors Association in 2013 and the Ruth and Harold Chenven Foundation Grant in 2015.