Ben Ahlvers is the Education Coordinator at the Lawrence Arts Center. Ben holds a BFA in Ceramics from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and a MFA in Ceramics from Ohio University in Athens Ohio.
Ben grew up in Granite City Illinois (just east of St. Louis Missouri). He began his interest in art in high school where he received numerous awards including "Class Artist", voted on by faculty. His passion for ceramic art developed in his undergraduate schooling. As a young artist, he had many unique opportunities to work with and fire kilns with many established artists around the country. In 1997 he spent 4 weeks in a small village in southern Mexico working with local potters.
As an artist, Ben’s work has been shown in various solo and group exhibitions around the nation. Recently his work was included in the 2004 NCECA Regional Student Juried Exhibition, Taking Measure 2. U.S. Student Ceramic Art at the Turn of the Century,Jingdezen China, Midland Grand Invitational, London England and American Ceramics and Prints from Ohio University, Barcelona Spain. Complimenting his busy exhibition schedule, Ben has presented his work both at the Art Institute of Chicago and at Ohio University. He also has extensive experience working as an artist’s assistant building sculptures international ceramic artists and has the opportunity to build and fire several wood kilns around the country.
While maintaining an active career as an artist, Ben is also a dedicated educator. He has taught full time at the elementary level teaching art, social studies, language arts, science and math. At Ohio University, he taught 3 dimensional design, throwing, hand-building, drawing and painting. He also spent a year as the director of an arts center for residents of a military base in Illinois.