2026 Martin Shallenberger Artist-in-Residence: Maura Wright

Cheekwood’s 2026 artist-in-residence presentation introduces the work of Kansas City ceramic artist Maura Wright. Her earthenware vessels and sculptural forms use ornate handles, floral imagery and layered surface treatments influenced by decorative arts, folk traditions and historical ornament.

During the residency, Wright draws from Cheekwood’s porcelain collection, gardens and historic architecture. Her installations combine sculptural ceramics with painted settings that evoke decorative interiors and explore how crafted objects relate to ornament and the spaces around them.

Wright earned an MFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University and a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute. Her work has appeared in galleries and institutions across the United States.