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Artist Bio: Bobby Scroggins

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Birth Place: Kansas City, Missouri
Nationality: American
Education: MFA, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville; BFA, Kansas City Art Institute
Lives and Works: Kentucky
Signature Medium(s): Sculpture, Ceramics

Artwork in collection: Mediaramic Wall Sculpture

Bobby Scroggins was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri where he began his artistic career. At a very young age he developed a strong interest in the visual arts and began to develop skills as a sculptor and painter. Scroggins studied sculpture and ceramics at The Kansas City Art Institute where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1976. While a student there he was commissioned to create The Leon M. Jordan Monument in Kansas City. This was the first public monument to be erected to an African American leader in the state of Missouri and commissioned by an African American artist. He later received a Master of Fine Arts Degree in the field of sculpture from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in 1980 where he was a University and Ford Foundation Fellow. In 1990 he joined the art department at The University of Kentucky as head of Ceramics, and has been an associate professor since 1996.

With his inventive development of sculptural technique "mediaramics," his art takes a magnificent leap into the future. Scroggins' ceramic vessels and mixed media sculptures have been featured in exhibitions throughout the United States, books and publications.

Artist Statement:
"My artistic career has spanned a period of over thirty years. Such a proclamation would normally be made by a person many years my senior. The fact is that at a very young age I became involved in a pursuit of the lofty goal of becoming highly skilled, and famous sculptor...A creator of rare, beautiful, and thought provoking objects...An innovator. Over the years some parts of that dream have been realized. Needless to say, others are still in the balance. Although my work continues to evolve in new directions I still find it necessary to re-visit styles, techniques, and ideas from the past. Of course, this means that for me, a series of work is never completed. Every time I return to a previous style or technique I address it with a greater degree of experience and maturity."