Education
1972 University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont. B.A.
Worked under George Scatchard & Hideo Okino
Experience
2014-Current, History Mugs, Bristol, Vermont.
1990-Current Robert Compton Pottery, Bristol, Vermont
Studio & Gallery
Wood Fired & Salt Glazed Stoneware, Raku, Pit Fired, and Gas Firing
Continued production of high fired Water Sculptures and Aquaspheres.
1993-2006 Summer Workshops
“Experiencing The Fire,” “Kiln Building,” “Thrown and Altered Forms,” & “Throwing Giant Pots”.
1977-1990 Robert Compton Ltd., pottery studio, Bristol, Vermont
Watersculptures, Emphasis of clay work shifted from functional dinnerware to large scale water sculptures. Forming techniques were expanded in 1984 to include slip casting, all work sold via wholesale to national and International shops and galleries.
1972-1976 Mad River Pottery, Moretown & Bristol, Vermont
One Man Pottery Studio
Established clay studio specializing in hand thrown functional stoneware.
Exhibitions 2002-2019
2019 "Homethrown," Art on Main, July & August 2019, Bristol, Vermont, six-person Invitational Exhibit.
2012 Robert Compton - 40 Year Retrospective Show, one-man show, October 1-31, Frog Hollow, Burlington, Vermont
2010 The Art School at Old Church, Demarest, NJ
36th Annual Pottery Show and Sale, December 3,4 & 5th. Invitational Show.
2010 Art on Main, two-person show, Bristol, Vermont
“Emerging Textures,” Invitational Exhibit
2010 Ceramystic, Mystic, Quebec, Canada
“International Guest Artist,” Invitational Exhibit
2010 Bennington Museum, Bennington Vermont
“The State of Craft,” Invitational Exhibit
2010 Art on Main, Bristol, Vermont
“Garden Inspired,” Invitational Exhibit
2010 American Potters, Needham, Mass
“Mastering Raku,” Invitational Exhibit
2008 UVM Living & Learning Gallery, Burlington, Vermont
“Collected Clay,” Invitational Exhibit
2007 Shelburne Art Center, Vermont
“Raise a Cup for Art,” Invitational Exhibit
2006 Living & Studio Place Arts, Barre, Vermont
“Fire Up,” Invitational Exhibit Contemporary Fine Ceramics
2006 Anna Scitzer Center of Fine Arts, PJC, Pensacola, Florida “Gulf Coast Connections,” Invitational Traveling Exhibit
2005 Living & Learning Center Gallery, Burlington, Vermont
"Handed Down: A Tradition Sustained”
2005 Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmore, North Carolina
"The Wood Fired Pottery Show,” Invitational Exhibition
2005 Baltimore Clay Works, Baltimore, Maryland
"Endless Variables Shino Review 2005," Invitational Exhibit
2004 Carroll Reece Museum, Johnson City, Tennessee
"Gas-Fired/Wood-fired, Kilns, Fire and Ceramic Expression," Invitational Exhibit
2004 Currier Museum of Art, Manchester, New Hampshire
"Creations in Clay, Contemporary New England Ceramics,” Invitational Exhibit
2003 L&L Gallery, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
"Different Kilns, Different Pots,” One-Person Show
2003 Shelburne Gallery, Shelburne, Vermont
"The Cup Show,” Invitational Exhibit
2003 Canton Clay Works, Canton, Connecticut
"The Bountiful Fire,” Invitational Exhibit
Exhibitions 1976-2001
2002 Vermont Clay Studio. Waterbury, Vermont
"Two Approaches to Wood Firing,” Two Person Show
2001 Odyssey Gallery, Ashville, N.C.
"Hand Held Cup,” Juried Exhibition
2001 Frog Hollow Gallery, Burlington, Vermont
"In the Garden”, Invitational Exhibition
2000 Johannesburg, South Africa
Altech Potters International Biennale, Juried Exhibition
2000 Vermont Clay Studio, Waterbury, Vermont
Karen Karnes Invitational, Invitational Exhibition
2000 Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Strictly Functional Pottery National, Juried Exhibition
1999 The Wayne Center for the Arts, Wooster, Ohio
Functional Ceramics 1999, Invitational Exhibition
1999 Vermont Clay Studio, Waterbury, Vermont
Karen Karnes Invitational – Invitational Exhibition
1998 Brookfield Craft Center, Brookfield, Connecticut
Salt Glazed Potters, Invitational Exhibition
1998 University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
Ceramics USA 1998, Juried Exhibition
1997 Vermont State Craft Center, Middlebury, Vermont
Touched By Fire, Invitational Exhibition.
1992 Vermont State Craft Center, Burlington, Vermont
The Art of Craft in Vermont, Invitational Exhibition.
1992 T.W. Wood Art Gallery Montpelier, Vermont
In The Garden, Invitational Exhibition.
1992 T.W. Wood Art Gallery Montpelier, Vermont
Larger Than Life, Invitational Exhibition.
1980 Kirkland Gallery, Millikin University Decatur, Illinois
Architectural Ceramics, One man exhibition.
1980 Vermont State Craft Center, Middlebury, Vermont
Architectural Ceramics, One man exhibition.
1980 Riverworks Gallery, Savannah, Georgia
Two Visions, Two person exhibition.
1979 Guggenheim Estate, Long Island, New York
Designers Showcase, Invitational exhibition.
1979 Burlwood Gallery, Salado, Texas
Water Sculptures and Architectural Ceramics, One man exhibition.
1976 The Silo Gallery New Milford, Connecticut
Water sculptures & Architectural Ceramics, One man exhibition.
1976 Robert Hull Fleming Museum, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
Four Artists, Invitational exhibition.
Commissions 1981-2000
2000 Doug Griswold & Lori Rowe, Burlington, Vermont
Custom Lavatory Basins
1995 Middlebury Congregational Church, Middlebury, Vermont
Wood Fired Alter Vases
1994 Second Congregational Church, Jeffersonville, Vermont
Baptismal Font
1993 McDermitt Architectural Services, Stowe, Vermont
Residential Lavatory and Tiles
1990 Boston Health and Swim Club Boston, Massachusetts
“Wall Spring Watersculpture Series II,” 16 ft. wide by 7 ft. high.
1989 Palm Garden, Windsor Place Hamilton, Bermuda
“Watersculpture Medley”
1988 The First Congregational Church, Burlington, Vermont
Pair of Alter Vases
1981 Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Parker, Odessa, Texas
“Waterfall”, 10 ft. high.
Professional Associations
1990-2007, Studio Potter Network, Goffstown, New Hampshire
Program director: International Potters Bed & Breakfast Program.
1993-94, Shelburne Craft School, Shelburne, Vermont
Board of Trustees
1993, Vermont Craft Council, Montpelier, Vermont
Board of Trustees
1978-1982, Vermont State Craft Center, Middlebury, Vermont
Board of Trustees
Video & Motion Picture features
2007, Media Production – Selected Artists Videos & DVD’s
1990, California Film Consortium for Soviet/American Understanding.
Documentary on small American Enterprises. In Russian with English subtitles.
1982, Paramount Pictures, Hollywood, California
“Creep Show” a parody film using Robert Compton's Aquasculpture as a featured visual element.
Juried Craft Shows
1991, Vermont Hand Crafters, Burlington, Vermont
1972-1974, 1984-1986, 1988, Buyer’s Market of American Crafts, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
1987, Buyer’s Market of American Crafts, Boston, Massachusetts
1986-1987, Vermont State Craft Show, Killington, Vermont
1984-1985, American Craft Council, Springfield, Massachusetts
1977, 1979, 1980, 1985, American Craft Enterprises, Baltimore Winter Market, Baltimore, Maryland
1975-1979, 1982-1983, American Craft Council, Northeast Craft Fair, Rhinebeck, New York
1981-1982, American Craft Enterprises, Craft Fair at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
1982, American Craft Enterprises, The Fair at Newport, Newport, Rhode Island
1972, American Craft Council, Northeast Craft Fair, Bennington, Vermont
Permanent Collections
2007 American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA
Wood Fired & Salt Glazed Pilgrim Vessel
2006 Anna Scitzer Center of Fine Arts, PJC, Pensacola, Florida
1995-2010 John and Yasuko Dower, Boston Mass.
Wood Fired and Salt Glazed Vessels
2001 Ben Cayetano, Governor of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
Vessel
1998 University of North Texas -Ceramics USA- Denton, Texas
Altered Salt Glazed Vessel
1987 Library of University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado
Watersculpture
1986 T. W. Wood Art Gallery Montpelier, Vermont
Watersculpture
1985 George Harrison, personal collection Maui, Hawaii
Hanging Stoneware Aquarium
1984 George Harrison, personal collection London, England
Stoneware Waterfall Fountain
1983 Baron von Hilton, personal collection Honolulu, Hawaii
Stoneware Standing Fountain
1980 Kirkland Gallery, Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois
10′ Cascade Fountain
