"Iowa Raised"
Caroline Freese was born and raised on a small farm in Indianola, IA. Always involved in her parents’ farm and 4-H, she has a soft spot for animals and nature. Graduating cum laude from Iowa State University in the spring of 2016, Caroline earned a BFA in Integrated Studio Arts.
Caroline is an emerging multimedia artist focusing in acrylic painting, digital designs, and ceramics. Her art is all connected through her animal designs, which form the base of her brand. She creates unique, folk, animal paintings on wood. These images are then applied to her handmade pottery using black iron oxide printed decals. Caroline uses B-mix clay and a potter’s wheel to create modern, functional pottery. Her forms are unique to her brand, and are fired in an electric kiln to cone 6. She performs every step in the process by hand.
Caroline joined the Creative Artists’ Studios of Ames in January 2018, where she worked in the shared clay area. As of 2022, she moved to Indianola, IA where she set up her own private pottery studio. You can find her work for sale in person at the Octagon Center for the Arts Shop in Ames, IA, The Knittery Nook and Fiber Co in Ames, IA and Mary Rose Collection in Perry, IA, or online at Etsy. If you would like a tour of the studio please contact Caroline to set up an appointment.
First Animal Board painted in 2015
Awards:
2022, Outstanding Young Professional Award, Iowa State University College of Design, Nominated
2022, First Place Ceramics, Iowa State Fair Fine Arts Show, Juried
2022, Merit Award, Omaha Summer Arts Festival, Juried
2021, Honorable Mention Mixed Media, Iowa State Fair Fine Arts Show, Juried
2021, Hazel Hammer Cherished Volunteer, Ames Community Arts Council, Nominated
Articles:
September 8, 2022, Voyage Minnesota: Daily Inspiration: Meet Caroline Freese
June 23, 2022, Little Village Mag Des Moines: An Indianola farm girl finds her way with animal pottery
April 5, 2022, Indianola Advocate: Caroline Freese Design's Open House is Saturday
August 1, 2015, Ames Tribune: ISU student turns Skittles into art