What does light talk about? I asked a plant that once. It said, ‘I am not sure, but it makes me grow’ – Thomas Aquinas, 1225 – 1274
Oak trees know. Their roots graft into one flesh so they may share mutual sustenance, benefiting the community as a whole. When one tree is in need, the healthy ones direct their energy in support. Microscopic marine organisms form the basis of all life on our planet and connect in exquisite systems or colonies. These one-cell plankton gems of our ocean provide over 50% of the oxygen for the planet. Rich diversity and reciprocal sharing power thriving communities and environments. This light-giving flow has enabled all life to thrive for eons.
Inherent potential realized moves everything, even light itself.
It certainly moves me. My work is a response to this light. The interdependent forms and projects grow in a continuous heliotropic adventure, energized with every opportunity and connection.
Artist's Biography
Marguerita Hagan is a ceramic sculptor based in Philadelphia. She is an advocate for the thriving of all life in mutually sustainable communities and environments. The concept of interdependence plays throughout her sculpture, teaching and community arts.
Throughout her career, Hagan brings to light the beauty and engineering of our planet’s diverse ecosystems and our powerful role as stewards. Her intricate ceramic shines light on the wonder and respect for the fragile, diverse life with which our lives are intrinsically linked.
She received her MFA from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and her BFA in Ceramics at James Madison University. Her projects include collaborations with artists, scientists and community, environmental art-science residencies, lectures and exhibits nationally and internationally.
Education
2010 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA MFA, Sculpture
1981 James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA BFA, Ceramics, Art Honors Award, Magna Cum Laude
2019 Visiting Artist, Art & Science Integration, Graduate Program, Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA
Alternative Healing Project, Center for Nonviolence & Social Justice, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
2018 Alternative Healing Project, Center for Nonviolence & Social Justice, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Art Residency (Art & Sci) The College of NJ, curator Margaret Pezalla-Granlund, Ewing, NJ
Westtown Friends School Art Residency, ceramic installation with pre K, K & 1st Graders, West Chester, PA
2017 NewCourtland Artist Fellowship, Intergenerational: youth & senior residents, Philadelphia, PA
Wonder: Micro-Macro, Residency Exhibit, NEHS,Teacher H. Thompson, Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2015 - 2017 Print Center Artist in Schools Residency, NE
High School ceramics students & teacher, Philadelphia, PA
2016 Art Partners Residency, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Adaire Elementary School Habitat Project, Philadelphia, PA
NewCourtland Artist Fellowship, Intergenerational: youth & senior residents, Philadelphia, PA
2015 - 2016 Delphi Art Futures Residency & Exhibit, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Monet & Magritte Awards, Philadelphia, PA
2014 - 2015 LandLab, 1 Year Environmental Art Residency addressing Colony Collapse Disorder (30% loss of honey bees), Collaboration between Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education and Center for the Emerging Visual Artists, Philadelphia, PA
University of Delaware Visiting Artist, Ceramic Program, Pit-Fire Workshop, Newark, DE
2000 - 2015 Resident Artist, Divine Life Church (Yoga), Meditation Garden (bronze), Interior Art, Baltimore, MD
2011 - 2012 Delphi Art Futures Residency & Exhibit, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Brancusi & First Place Awards, Philadelphia, PA
2011 NewCourtland Artist Fellowship, Intergenerational: youth & senior residents, Philadelphia, PA
2010 NewCourtland Artist Fellowship, Intergenerational: youth & senior residents, Philadelphia, PA
2019 Co-Authored on science publication by Dr. John Jungck, Director Interdisciplinary Sciences Institute, Dept of Biological Sciences and Dept of Mathematical Sciences, University of Delaware: "Theory in Biosciences: Art Forms in Nature: Radioaria from Haeckel and Blaschka to 3D Nanotomagraphy, Quantitative Image Analysis, Evolution and Contemporary Art", published on 100th anniversary of Ernst Haeckel’s passing, Berlin, Germany
2021 Michener Art Museum, The Beautiful Woman Has Come/Nefertiti, Doylestown, PA
Fellowship of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Weedy Sea Dragon Shield, Hamilton Building, Philadelphia, PA
2019 The Civic, Okapi Shield, Philadelphia, PA Curator: Eric Preisendanz
2018 City of Seattle, Director of City Planning Office, City of Peace, Seattle, WA
2014 Nell Thorn II Restaurant, (ceramic sculpture & custom dinnerware) Skagit Valley, La Conner, WA
2005 Nell Thorn I Restaurant, (ceramic sculpture) Skagit Valley, La Conner, WA
2000 Wild Iris Restaurant, (ceramic sculpture) Skagit Valley, La Conner, WA
Commissions
1985 - Present Numerous ceramic commissions
2018 Director of City Planning, City of Seattle, City of Peace, Seattle, WA
2014 Custom dinner & espresso ware, New Nell Thorn Restaurant, Skagit Valley, La Conner, WA
2010 Patapsco River Wildlife, exterior glass mosaic installation on contemporary private home over the Patapsco River, Ellicott City, MD
1994 - 2008 Numerous public community projects throughout the Seattle area
2005 Leaded-Glass Memorial Transom, Michael’s Sun, Seattle Academy, Seattle, WA
2001– 2004 Donor Plaques (Glass & Stainless) for new Art Center, Seattle Academy, Seattle, WA
Public Projects
2018 Primary Artists, Primary Producers Permanent Installation, Westtown Friends School Chester, PA
2014 Picasso Project, 1 Year Collaboration with ArtWell & Rhoads Elementary funded by PCCY, Philadelphia, PA
2011 - 2014 Youth Advocates Clay Program for youth in transition held in Marguerita Hagan Studio, Philadelphia, PA
2013 Lila Installation, The Fairgrounds Community Sculpture Grounds with neighboring residents, Philadelphia, PA Curator: Angela McQuillan, Little Berlin Collective
2010 Wissahickon Wall Installation, East Falls Eco-Arts Project, Philadelphia, PA Juried
2008 Parkwood Elementary, Coming To America Exterior Entrance Murals with ELL students & Unity in Generations Interior Entrance Tile Project with entire school & families, Shoreline, WA
2004 Parkwood Elementary, Coming To America Exterior Entrance Murals with ELL students & Unity in Generations Interior Entrance Tile Project with entire school & families, Shoreline, WA
2000 Stevens Elementary Cultural Chairs, Seattle Arts Commission Grant for 6 steel-concrete chairs with student mosaic celebrating cultural focus by grade along Cultural Walkway (1994), Seattle, WA
Intergenerational Mosaic Installation, Seniors Making Art (SMA, founded by Dale Chihuly), Burien Public Library, Burien, WA
Professional Experience
Present - 1985 Marguerita Hagan Studio Classes, Independent Projects, Philadelphia, PA & Seattle, WA
2011 - 2017 Moore College of Art & Design, Visiting Critic, Environmental Art & Design, Philadelphia, PA
2011 - 2015 Abington Art Center, Ceramic Instructor Adult Class, Jenkintown, PA
2011 College of St. Elizabeth Ceramic Instructor, Morristown, NJ
Lectures
2022 Venture Café, University Science Center, Art & Science of Diatoms, Invisible World of Water Exhibit, Philadelphia, PA
2021 Back from the Field lecture, Invisible World of Water Exhibit, Academy of Nat Sciences, Philadelphia, PA
CraftNOW Philadelphia First Friday Preview, Invisible World of Water, Academy of Nat Sciences, Philadelphia, PA
CraftNOW Philadelphia First Friday Preview, Biospheres Exhibit, HotBed Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Venture Café Virtual First Thursdays, presenting Biospheres Exhibit, HotBed Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2020 Venture Café Virtual First Thursdays, w/ Laura Igoe, curator Rising Tides, Michener Art Museum, PA
Rising UP Panel, Rising Tides Exhibit Youth Activists, Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, PA
CraftNOW Philadelphia First Friday Preview w/ Laura Igoe, curator Rising Tides, Michener Art Museum, PA
Random Tea Room Talk w/ Rich Gretzinger, installation collaborator at Michener Art Museum, PA
Earth Day Panel, Rising Tides Exhibit, Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, PA
Inaugural Virtual Studio Visit, Venture Café, University Sci Center, Host/Curator: Angela McQuillan, Philadelphia, PA
Guest Artist Lecture: Wagner Free Institute, Philadelphia, PA
2019 Global Climate Change Awareness Panel: 24 Hours of Reality, Co-Coordinated, Hosted by Al Morales and teenage daughter Alana Morales from Climate Reality Project (Al Gore Program), 4 artists, Dr. Erik Cordes & Dr. Alexis Weinnig, Guest Scientists, HotBed Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Trans-disciplinary Conversations with Dr. Erik Cordes & Austen Weymeuller, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Springs Eternal: Art, Water & Change Exhibit Panel, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ
2018 Coral Reef Ecosystem Panelist, American Geophysical Union Conference, Washington D.C. (Team of 2 artists and 4 international scientists presenting at annual U.S. gathering of 26,000 Earth & Space scientists at morning poster session and afternoon panel)
Guest Lecture, Artist Speak, Community in Art Practice, Philly Stewards & CFEVA, Philadelphia, PA
2017 Guest Lecture, GEO Colloquium Series, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Guest Lecture, Science Museum of Virginia, Art & Science of Micropaleontology, Richmond, VA
2016 Guest Lecture, Penn Network Visualization Program, Sci-Art Residency, Philadelphia, PA
Selected Exhibitions
Solo
2018 Love Letters to Earth, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Historic Landmark Museum Alumni Gallery, Philadelphia, PA Curators: Morgan Hobbs & C.J.Stahl
2017 La Mer: People Protect What They Love, Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond, VA Curator: Laura Hughes
La Mer & Wildlife, Philadelphia International Airport: 63’ case, Terminals C & D, Philadelphia, PA Curator: Leah Douglas
2016 La Mer Installation, ArtBox Inaugural Exhibit, Philadelphia, PA Curator: Center for the Emerging Visual Artists
2015 - 2016 Scintillare: La Mer Exhibit, Esther M. Klein Gallery, University Science Center, Philadelphia, PA Curator: Angela McQuillan
Group
2022 The Work of Art, Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, PA Curator: Tara Kaufman
MIXTURE, Center for the Emerging Visual Artists Juried Membership Exhibit, Philadelphia, PA Curator: CFEVA
2021 - 2022 Invisible World of Water, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA Invitation as solo artist among 19th & 20th c science pioneers and one contemporary scientist Curator: Marina McDougall
2021 Fellowship of PAFA Annual Exhibition, selected for Gross McCleaf Gallery Exhibit & Virtual Exhibit, Philadelphia, PA Juror: Rebecca Segall, Gross McCleaf, owner/director
The Gift, Terri Saulin & Marguerita Hagan, No.5 Butchie Alley Gallery, Philadelphia, PA Artist Curated
Summerhouse, HOT • BED, Philadelphia, PA Juror/Curator: Bryan Hoffman, HotBed, owner/creator
Virtual Exhibit Honoring Philadelphia Arts Business Council Award to Maida Malone, Philadelphia, PA Invitation as artist in Maida Malone’s collection Curator: Center for the Emerging Visual Artist
Biospheres, Marguerita Hagan & Ana V. Rankin, HOT • BED, Philadelphia, PA Curator: James Oliver
Small Favors Annual Exhibit, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA Annual Guest Juror & Curator: Jennifer Zwilling
2020 Rising Tides: Contemporary Art & the Ecology of Water, James Michener Art Museum, Doylestown, PA Curator: Laura Turner Igoe
Wake in the Woods, Anne Bryan Gallery, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA Curator: Kate Samworth
Wharton Esherick - Vision & Influence, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Tuttleman Gallery, Philadelphia, PA Curator: John Greig
Small FavorsAnnual Exhibit, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA Annual Guest Juror & Curator: Jennifer Zwilling
2019 La Mer & Rongorongos, Cosmopolitan Club Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA Invitation, Artist Curated
WaterWorks, Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences, Loveladies, NJ Curators: Gail Sidewater & Guna Mundheim
Every WomanBiennial, La Mama Galleria, New York City, NY Juror/Curator: C. Finely
GoggleWorks Annual Exhibit, GoggleWorks, Reading, PA Juror: Judith Schwartz
Springs Eternal: Art, Water, Change, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ Curator: Margaret Pezalla-Granlund
Community, Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Philadelphia, PA Juried Exhibition
2018 Ethereal/Material, Sculpture Exhibit, Art at City Hall, Philadelphia, PA Juror: Marsha Moss
Art of the State, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA Juried Exhibition
Brave New World, Bodine Cancer Center, Jefferson Hospital, Philadelphia, PA Curator: Eric Preisendanz
Wet Lab, Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Philadelphia, PA Curator: Christina Catanese
2017 OCEAN International Exhibit, Art & Science Collaborations, Inc, NY Hall of Science, New York, NY Curators: Diana Moore, Greenway Art Galleries, Princeton, Art Curator & John Stegeman, Sr. Scientist & Director of the Center of Ocean and Human Health at Wood’s Hole Oceanographic Institute, Science Curator
Cephs Interface in Crete: I Love You More, International Exhibit & Cephalopod Conference, Crete, Greece Curator: Ryuta Nakajuma
Small Sculpture Exhibit, Art in City Hall, Philadelphia, PA Curator: Leslie Kaufman
The Future is Female Art Exhibit, Westtown School, West Chester, PA Curator: Angela McQuillan
Small Favors Annual Exhibit, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA; Annual Guest Juror & Curator: Jennifer Zwilling
2016 Over the Bridge, Wheaton Arts Center & American Glass Museum, Millville, NJ Curator: Noele Alampi
Small Favors Annual Exhibit, The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, PA Annual Guest Juror & Curator: Jennifer Zwilling
2015 SmallWorks, Philadelphia Sculpture Gym, Philadelphia, PA Juried, Curator: Darla Jackson
Found in Transition, Susquehanna Art Museum Inaugural Exhibit, Harrisburg, PA Curator: Lauren Nye
Drawing Conclusions, LandLab Exhibit at Center for the Emerging Visual Artists, Philadelphia, PA, Curator: CFEVA
2014 Process & Progress, LandLab Res Exhibit, Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Philadelphia, PA, Curator: Christina Catanese
Vital Flux, Gallery 107, Downtown Arts, North Adams, MA Curator: Angela McQuillan
2013 Abington Arts Center Faculty Exhibit & Artist Talk, Abington Art Center, Jenkintown, PA Curator: Marge Horner
Growth & Decay, Little Berlin, Philadelphia, PA Curator: Angela McQuillan
2012 Shelf Life Installation, Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, Philadelphia, PA Collaboration with Fellow, Germaine Ingram
2011 East Falls Eco-Arts Exhibit, Philadelphia, PA Curator: Noemi Armstrong
Mainline Arts Center Faculty Exhibit, Haverford, PA Curator: MLAC
2011 Art is Ageless, NewCourtland Fellowship Exhibit, Philadelphia, PA Curator: CFEVA
2010 Art is Ageless, NewCourtland Fellowship Exhibit, Philadelphia, PA Curator: CFEVA
5 into 1 Sculpture Exhibit, Moore College of Art & Design, Philadelphia, PA
Grow, Thesis Exhibit, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
