Sanders has taught both ceramics and sculpture at several major universities in Southern California. After graduate school, he began his career as a ceramic artist. Within a decade, Sanders' focus shifted to large scale, site specific, and installation work. The post-modern movement and the critical influence it has on contemporary art is exemplified in his extensive body of work.
Select Press
1972 Master of Arts, California State University, Long Beach, CA
1970 Bachelor of Arts, California State University, Long Beach, CA
1966 Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA
1963-65 Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, CA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2017
"Day to Night" | Elizabeth Gordon Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2016
"Surface Tension | New Work 2016," Michael Stearns Studio 347, San Pedro, CA
2008
"49," Marymount College, Palos Verdes, CA; curated by Paul Eastup.
2006
"Three," Unit E Gallery, Long Beach, CA; Kamran Assadi, Director | REVIEW
2005
"Spades Project," Southampton College, Southampton, New York; curated by Paul Eastup.
1988
"Four Peaks," System M Gallery, Long Beach, CA.
"John Sanders New Work,” Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, CA; curated by Roy Mc Cowan.
1982
"John Sanders Recent Work,” Jennifer Dumas Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
1971
"Hard Edged Constructions in Clay," Gallery C, California State University, Long Beach, CA.
SITE-SPECIFIC WORKS & INSTALLATIONS
2008
"49," Marymount College, Palos Verdes, CA; curated by Paul Eastup.
2006
"Three," Unit E Gallery, Long Beach, CA; curated by Kamran Assadi.
2005
"Spades Project: Optical White," Avram Gallery, "Grove" campus grounds, Southampton College, Southampton, New York;
curated by Paul Eastup.
1999
"Super Chief," Jovenes Art Park, Los Angeles, CA; curated by Ernesto Montano.
1998
"Zephyr," "Light As Substance Exhibition," Cypress College, Cypress, CA; curated by Jerry Burchfield.
"Liberty," Bike Station, Long Beach, CA.
"New Flyers," Bixby Park, Long Beach, CA; City of Long Beach Public Art Commission.
1995
"House," California State University Los Angeles, CA; curated by Joe Soldate.
1993
"Greyhound," "Site Specific/Sight Pacific Exhibition," Marymount College, Palos Verdes, CA; curated by Paul Eastup.
"Studio - An Exploration In Perception," El Camino College Art Gallery, Torrance, CA; curated by Susanna Meires.
1991
"Flyers," (third edition), Fuller Glass Company, Long Beach, CA.
1989
"Flyers," Bixby Park, Long Beach, CA; City of Long Beach Public Art Commission; director: Dixie Swift.
1988
"Line Installation", Mt. San Antonio College Art Gallery, Walnut, CA.
"NHS," "On Site Exhibition," California State University, San Bernardino, CA.
"Veiled Bolt," Wing Center, Long Beach, CA.
1987
"Two Pair,” Mount St. Mary's College, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.
"Primary and Secondary Editions," The Works Gallery, Long Beach, CA; director: Mark Moore.
1986
"Spand," Hamilton Center, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Torrance, CA.
"A Role of The Dice,” The Works Gallery, Long Beach, CA; director: Mark Moore.
1985
"Flyers," (second edition), Bixby Park, City of Long Beach, CA.
"Magenta Flats," The Works Gallery, Long Beach, CA; director: Mark Moore.
1984
"Flyers," (first edition), The Works Gallery, Long Beach, CA; director: Mark Moore.
"Veiled Gray Timber," Collection of Jim and Lynn Jenkins, Pope Valley, CA.
1983
"Slate Timbers," Timothy Walker Associates, Los Angeles, CA.
1982
"Blue Floater," Mount Washington, Los Angeles, CA (private commission).
1981
"Veiled White Timbers," Pacific Palisades, CA (private commission).
1980
"Red Ridge, Contemporary Clay Exhibition," Mount St. Mary"s College, Brentwood, CA; curated by Jake Gilson.
1979
"Butte, 30 Years of Clay Exhibition,” California State University, Long Beach, CA; curated by Ward Youry
1975
"Work Piece," "Mixed Masters" exhibition, Long Beach, CA; curated by Michael Auping.
1974
"Force," "Mixed Masters" exhibition, Long Beach, CA; curated by Paul Eastup.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2009
"Inner States, John Paul Jones and His Circle," Coastline Community College, Huntington Beach, CA; curated by Jay Sagen.
2007
"A Few of Our Favorite Things," SAC Art Gallery, Santa Ana, CA; curated by Mayde Herberg.
"First Tuesday Group Exhibition," Portfolio Gallery, Long Beach, CA.
"The Koen Project," California State University, Los Angeles Art Gallery; curated by Duchamp's Leg.
"Textnological," California State University, Los Angeles Art Gallery; curated by Duchamp's Leg.
"Intersection," Eagle Rock Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA; curated by Margaret Adachi, Executive Director.
2003
"About Face, Artist's Interpretations of Masks," El Camino College Art Gallery, Torrance, CA; curated by Suzanna Meiers.
2001
"Sculpture/Painting," California State University, Los Angeles, University Art Gallery; curated by Lemont Westmorland.
2000
"Apron Strings: Ties to Ingenuity,” El Camino College Art Gallery, Torrance, CA; curated by Suzanna Meiers; (exhibition catalog).
1999
"First Tuesdays," Portfolio Gallery, Long Beach, CA.
1998
"Light as Substance," Cypress College, Cypress, CA; curated by Jerry Burchfield; (exhibition catalog).
1997
"The Big Wave," Andrew Shire Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; curated by Hae-Sook Choi.
"Artist's Chairs," Andrew Shire Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; curated by Hae-Sook Choi.
1996
"Dirty Windows," Berlin, Germany.
1993
"An Exploration in Perception," El Camino College, Torrance, CA; curated by Suzanna Meiers.
"Site Specific/Sight Pacific," Marymount College, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA; curated by Paul Eastup.
1990
"Sculpture," Rio Hondo College Art Gallery, Whittier, CA; curated by Bill Lane.
1989
"From Many Visions," Homeland Community Arts Center, Long Beach, CA (traveling show).
Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, CA; curated by Dixie Swift.
"On Site," California State University, San Bernardino, CA; curated by Michael Vargas (catalog).
1987
"908 Exhibition," Long Beach Arts, Long Beach, CA.
1983
"Group Sculpture Exhibition," Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA.
1981
"Contemporary Clay," University of California, Irvine, CA; curated by Gifford Myers.
1980
"Contemporary Clay," Mount St. Mary's College, Brentwood, CA; curated by Jake Gilson.
"Long Beach Artist Studio Tour," Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA.
1979
"Thirty Years of Clay," Gallery B, California State University, Long Beach; curated by Ward Youry (exhibition catalog).
1977
"Definition Clay L.A.," Group Exhibition, Rancho Santiago Community College Art Gallery, Santa Ana, CA; curated by Mayde Herberg.
"Geyer, Sanders and Soldate," Mount San Antonio College Art Gallery, Walnut, CA; curated by Roy McCowan.
1976
"California Design," Los Angeles Design Center, Los Angeles, CA; Jurors: Richard Shaw,
Bernard Kester & Dextra Frankel and Eudora Moore.
"Ceramic Conjunction," Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA; Juror: John Mason.
"Cerritos Invitational, John Sanders, Joe Soldate, George Geyer, Tom McMillan, and Larry Shep," Cerritos College, Cerritos, CA;
curated by Gil Steele.
1975
"Mixed Masters 75," Long Beach, CA; curated by Michael Auping.
"Ceramic Conjunction," Brand Library, Glendale, CA; Juror: Tom McMillan.
"Pottery Four," California State Polytechnic, San Luis Obispo Art Gallery, CA; curated by Tom McMillan (Purchase Award).
"Cerritos Ceramic Annual," Cerritos College Art Gallery, Norwalk, CA; Jurors: Lukman Glasgow and Tom McMillan.
1974
"Ceramic Conjunction," Brand Library, Glendale, CA; Juror: James Sullivan (catalog).
"Mixed Masters '74," Long Beach, CA; curated by Paul Eastup.
"Double Matinee-Feature 2," Downey Museum of Art, Downey, CA; curated by Beverly Inman.
"Objects In Clay, George Geyer, Frank Molnar & John Sanders," 58F Gallery, Orange, CA; curated by Michael Davis.
1972
"Cerritos Annual," Cerritos College, Norwalk, CA. Juror: Jerry Rothman.
1971
"Pottery One," Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA. Juror: Mike Arntz.
1970
"Santa Ana College Ceramic Invitational," Santa Ana College, Santa Ana, CA; curated by George Geyer and Sharon Ford.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
2000
Set for production of first opera "Euridice," (Jacopo Peri, c.1600), Long Beach Opera, Herold M. Williams Auditorium, The Getty Center, Brentwood, CA.
1974
Curator, "Bruce Nauman-Yellow Triangular Room," Santa Ana College Art Gallery, Santa Ana, CA.
1973
Curator, "Roger Sweet and Gary Beydler," Santa Ana College Art Gallery, Santa Ana, CA.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2006
Gottlieb, Shirle; "Three," Long Beach Press-Telegram, June 16.
Scarborough, James; "Three: Site Specific Installation by John Hillis Sanders," July. | LINK
2005
Harrison, Helen A.; "When Nature Is The Subject And The Canvas," (Grove), New York Times, May 15th (photo).
"Breaking Ground. Grove," Southampton Press, April 28 (photo).
"Avram Hosts Site-Specific Show" (Grove), Southampton Press, February 24 (photo).
McLean, Christian; "Shovel This.” (Grove), Dan's Papers, Southampton, May 13 (photo).
Gottlieb, Shirle; "New On View Spades" (Optical White), Long Beach Press Telegram, April 22.
2002
Poole, Bob; "An Art Gallery With Car Culture Appeal,” (Super Chief), Los Angeles Times, Dec. 19 (photo).
1998
Curtis, Cathy; "Illumination From Light As Substance" (Zephyr), Los Angeles Times, September (photo).
Walsh, Daniella; "Let There Be Light," (Zephyr), Orange County Register, September 20.
Schoenkopf, Rebecca; "Good Light, Bad Lies", (Zephyr), Orange County Weekly, September 24.
1993
"Site Specific/Sight Pacific," Art Exhibit (outdoor installations), Greyhounds, Today, Volume 18, Number 2, Summer 1993, Marymount College, Palos Verdes, CA
"Running In Place," Greyhounds, Daily Breeze, June 2.
Frank, Peter; "Site Works," Greyhounds, Long Beach Press Telegram, May 6.
1987
Takahama, Valerie; Hearth of The Arts, Long Beach Press Telegram.
1986
Takahama, Valerie; Art Goes Public, Long Beach Press Telegram, September 28.
1980
Bauman, Jim; One-Stop Studio Tour, Artweek, May 3.
1975
Auping, Michael; Cerritos Ceramic Annual Exhibition, Artweek, January 25.
AWARDS
1999
Individual Artist Fellowship, Arts Council for Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
TEACHING
1998-01 California State University, Los Angeles, CA
1987-91 California State University, Domingus Hills, CA
1978-81 University of California, Irvine, CA
1975-76 California State University, Fullerton, CA
1972-76 Santa Ana College, Santa Ana, CA.
1971-73 California State University, Long Beach, CA
GUEST LECTURES / SEMINARS
2008
"49" Installation, Marymount College, Palos Verdes, CA
2005
"Spades Project," Southampton College, NY.
2004
Sculpture and 3-D Design, Department of Fine Arts, California State University, Los Angeles, CA.
1998
Department of Fine Arts, Cypress College, Cypress, CA.
1996
Summer Academy for Fine Arts, Arrabida Monastery, sponsored by Companhia do Trangulo, Lisbon, Portugal.
1993
Site Specific Site Pacific Symposium, Lecture and Panel Discussion, Marymount College, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.
1989
Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine, CA.
1988
John Sanders New Work, Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, CA.
1987
Art Forum, Rancho Santiago College, Santa Ana, CA.
1980
John Sanders, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI.
1978
Geyer, Sanders and Soldate, Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, CA.
30 Years of Clay, California State University, Long Beach, CA.
1974
Current Clay Directions, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI.