About

Elisabeth Running is a ceramic artist based in Silver Spring, Maryland. Inspired by quiet observation of the natural world, her porcelain sculptures explore themes of symbiosis, resilience, and interconnectedness by imagining animals, plants, and fungi merging into thriving micro-habitats. Through intricate hand-built forms, she invites viewers to discover the beauty and complexity found in often overlooked corners of nature.

Elisabeth received a BFA in Studio Art with a concentration in ceramics from Syracuse University in 2020. Although she began her studies focused on oil painting, she discovered her passion for ceramics and established a home studio after graduation. She now divides her time between her studio and her work as an archival custom framer. Elisabeth regularly exhibits her work in galleries and art shows throughout Maryland and Virginia.

Statement

Artist CV

When in nature, whether on a trail through the woods or in the familiar surroundings of my own backyard, I find myself drawn to the marginal spaces of a landscape: the base of a tree, the muddy bank along a creek, the detritus and leaf litter that gather along the edge of a path. These overlooked environments are often rich with life and activity, rewarding those willing to slow down and look closely. Through quiet, attentive observation, it becomes possible to discover the small wonders that surround us every day—a cluster of mushrooms emerging from decaying wood, a frog nestled among damp leaves, a turtle basking beside the water, or a slug and snail making their gradual journey across the forest floor. These discoveries are often modest in scale and easily missed by a hurried passerby. Yet it is precisely their subtlety and elusiveness that heighten the satisfaction of finding them. Spotting a creature doing its best to remain unnoticed feels like a gift, fostering a profound sense of wonder, gratitude, and connection to the natural world. These moments are a reminder that unexpected beauty and complexity often exist in places we least expect and can easily pass by.

Expanding upon that sense of wonder, I create artwork that blends the ordinary with the extraordinary, inviting viewers to reconsider the creatures and ecosystems that are frequently overlooked. My work explores themes of regrowth, symbiosis, resilience, and reflection. I draw inspiration from the intricate relationships that sustain life in natural environments. I am particularly interested in the ways organisms coexist and adapt, transforming spaces of decay into sites of renewal and growth. Through my sculptural work, I imagine worlds where animals and fungi become intertwined, where creatures carry thriving microhabitats upon their backs, and where the boundaries between individual organisms begin to blur.

I hand-build my sculptures from porcelain clay, a material whose unique combination of strength and delicacy allows me to push the boundaries of form and detail. Porcelain enables me to create intricate structures that appear fragile while maintaining durability and longevity. Similar to the experience of patient nature observation, my studio practice is grounded in slowness, focus, and careful attention to detail. Every leaf frond, mushroom cap, and petal is individually sculpted by hand and carefully considered in relation to the creature it is inhabiting.

My sculptures invite viewers to engage in the same kind of close looking that inspires their creation. From a distance, the forms may appear familiar, but upon closer inspection they reveal layers of detail that reward curiosity and sustained attention. In this way, my artistic process parallels my practice of observation in nature. Both require patience, openness, and a willingness to notice what might otherwise go unseen. By elevating small creatures and fascinating ecological interactions, I hope to encourage a deeper appreciation for the resilience, interconnectedness, and quiet wonder that exist all around us.

ELISABETH RUNNING

emruning@outlook.com | www.elisabethrunning.com

EDUCATION

2020     Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Minor in Ceramics. Graduated Summa Cum Laude.

2017     Montgomery College, Rockville, MD, Associate of Fine Arts with Honors.

SELECT EXHIBITIONS

2026 16th Annual Workhouse Arts Center Clay International 2026. Workhouse Arts Center. Lorton, VA.

2026 Earth and Fire 2026. Oglebay Institute, Stifel Fine Arts Center. Wheeling, WV. Juried.

2025 Small Wonders 2025. Maryland Federation of Art. Circle Gallery. Annapolis, MD. Juried.

2025 Retrospect 2025. D’Art Center. Norfolk, VA. Invitational.

2025 JRA Craft Day. Chevy Chase, MD. Juried.

2025 Hauntings. Strathmore Mansion. North Bethesda, MD. Invitational.

2025 Labor Day Art Show and Sale. Glen Echo Park. Glen Echo, MD. Juried Group Show.

2025 That’s Baloney! Holtzman Gallery, Towson University. Towson, MD. Invitational.

2025 Flourish. D'Art Center. Norfolk, VA. Juried Group Show.

2025 Small Favors 2025. The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA. Juried Group Show.

2025 Regional Juried Spring Exhibition 2025. Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA. Juried Group Show.

2025 Montgomery Potters Exhibition. The Arts Barn, Gaithersburg, MD. Group Show.

2025 Creative Crafts Council 35th Biennial Exhibition. Strathmore Mansion, North Bethesda, MD. Juried Group Show.

2024 Small Works. Northville Art House, Northville, MI. Juried Group Show.

2024 Labor Day Art Show and Sale. Glen Echo Park. Glen Echo, MD. Juried Group Show.

2024     Annual Juried Show, 2024. Artists Gallery of Ellicott City. Ellicott City, MD. Juried Group Show.

2024     Flora, The Women’s Caucus for Art of Greater DC. Mattawoman Creek Art Center. Marbury, MD. Juried Group Show.

2024     Tiny but Mighty. D’Art Center. Norfolk, VA. Juried Group Show.

2023     Small Wonders 2023. MFA Circle Gallery. Annapolis, MD. Juried Group Show.

2023     Labor Day Art Show and Sale. Glen Echo Park. Glen Echo, MD. Juried Group Show.

2023     Cup: The Intimate Object XIX. Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL. Juried Group Show.

2023    Montgomery Potters Show and Sale. The Arts Barn. Gaithersburg, MD. Group Show.

2017     Montgomery College Student Art Exhibition. Rockville, MD. Group Show.

2017     200 Series, Art Walk. Outdoor Art Installation. Montgomery College, Rockville, MD. Group Show.

2016     Montgomery College Student Art Exhibition. Rockville, MD. Group Show.

REPRESENTATION

2025 City Shop Artist. The Arts Barn. Gaithersburg, MD.

2024 Artists’ Gallery of Ellicott City. Ellicott City, MD.

AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS

2025 Juror’s Choice Award. Small Wonders 2025. Maryland Federation of Art. Circle Gallery. Annapolis, MD.

2024     1st Place Award. Annual Juried Show, 2024. Artists Gallery of Ellicott City. Ellicott City, MD.

2024     Best in Show Award. Tiny But Mighty. D’Art Center. Norfolk, VA.

2023     Jurors Choice 3D Award. Labor Day Art Show and Sale. Glen Echo Park. Glen Echo, MD.

2020     Dean’s List. College of Visual and Performing Arts. Syracuse University. Syracuse, NY.

2019     Windgate University Fellows Scholarship. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Gatlinburg, TN.

2019     Invest in Success Scholarship. Syracuse University. Syracuse, NY.

2019     Roswell S. Hill Painting Award. Syracuse University. Syracuse, NY.

2015     Montgomery Art Association Scholarship. Rockville, MD.