Dorothy Bearnson was born in Salt Lake City September 26, 1921. She is one of the nation's most respected ceramists and educators. At various times she has lived in Chicago, Illinois; Palo Alto, California; Charlottesville, Virginia; and Salt Lake City from 1942 to the present.

Bearnson did undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Virginia 1941-42 and at the University of Utah where she earned her B.A. in 1943, and her M.A. in 1945. She has held a number of teaching positions at the University of Utah including: instructor of art 1962-72, associate professor of art 1972-77, and professor of art 1977-99. She recently celebrated her first half century of teaching.

Her work has been shown in numerous exhibitions.

Biographical information on this page was adapted from Artists of Utah.

No additional biography.

Newspaper Articles

"4 Galleries Offer Food for the Soul, Art that Tugs at the Heart Strings." The Deseret News, September 20, 1992.

"10 U. Faculty Members Win Teaching Awards." The Deseret News, July 30, 1991.

"150 Years of Art. 'Art at the 'U' traces history of university's art department." The Deseret News, February 20, 2000.

"Art Canvass." The Deseret News, August 18, 1996.

"Art Canvass." The Deseret News, June 15, 1991.

"Art Canvass." The Deseret News, September 15, 1989.

"Art Notes: Crafts Exhibit Opens in Brigham City." The Salt Lake Tribune, February 4, 1991.

"Art Notes: Wildlife artists offer show in Park City." The Salt Lake Tribune, January 6, 1991.

"Ceramics Expert to Address Women's League." The Deseret News, January 29, 1990.

"Ceramics Teacher Bearnson Will Retire at U., But Her Influence, Artistic Passion Burns On." The Salt Lake Tribune, January 10, 1999.

"Coming Up: Visual Art." The Salt Lake Tribune, March 18, 2001.

"Coming Up: Visual Art." The Salt Lake Tribune, October 5, 1997.

"Craft Alliance Creates an Intriguing Exhibit." The Deseret News, March 25, 2001.

"Galleries." The Deseret News, October 12, 1997.

"Galleries." The Deseret News, December 1, 1996.

"Galleries." The Deseret News, August 11, 1991.

"Galleries Feature Art for All Ages." The Deseret News, September 23, 1990.

"Presentation of Governor's Awards is Friday." The Deseret News, April 15, 1999.

"Reverent/Irreverent Approaches to Art." The Deseret News, June 24, 1990.

"Showing at Local Galleries." The Deseret News, March 26, 2000.

"Texture, Form are Focus in Exhibits." The Deseret News, August 25, 1991.

"U. Instructors Strut their Artistic Stuff." The Deseret News, November 2, 1997.

"U. Fine Arts Group to Honor Ceramist, Patron." The Deseret News, April 11, 1999.

"U. Students and Faculty Members Honor 2 Undergraduate Professors." The Deseret News, March 17, 1989.

"Utah Marquee: Visual Art." The Salt Lake Tribune, January 8, 1999."Visual Art Alvin Gittins Gallery." The Salt Lake Tribune, January 21, 1999.

Books

Olpin, Robert S., William C. Seifrit, and Vern G. Swanson. Artists of Utah. Salt Lake City, UT: Gibbs Smith Publisher, 1999.

Swanson, Vern G., Robert S. Olpin, and William C. Seifrit. Utah Paintings and Sculpture. Salt Lake City, UT: Gibbs Smith Publishers, 1991.

Theodore, Constance Rodman. "Shibusa and the Iron Glaze Ware of Dorothy Bearnson." M. A. thes., University of Utah, 1993.