Virginia McKinney attended SUNY College at Buffalo where she earned her B.S. in Art Education. Her graduate work was done at Syracuse University in Fibers, Western Carolina University where she earned a M.A. in Sculpture, and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where she received a M.F.A. in Ceramics. She was Assistant Professor and Chair of the art department at Bethany College in Kansas, taught
design and ceramics at Walters State College in Tennessee and at the Armory Art Center in Florida. She also worked, taught and maintained her studio for many years on the campus of the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Tennessee. She exhibits her work nationally at the American Craft Council shows.

“I work primarily with clay, but incorporate a variety of mixed materials. I combine clay
with steel – creating hand forged and fabricated supports for clay forms. Using a gas forge, I hand forge the metal support pieces, and MIG weld them together making them an integral part of the piece. I frequently include sweet little birds, with their heads popping out of doorways or perched nearby. They offer a little whimsy and a connection to nature. I also create one of a kind, quirky birds. They are loaded with personality, are gauges of environmental health, exhibit amazing skills and are just plain cool. They offer character, metaphor and narrative and are really fun to bring to life.”

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Some of Virginia’s works: