October 2021

Biographical Narrative

Pender received his MFA form the University of Florida Gainesville in 2002 and was an Adjunct Instructor at Central Piedmont Community College from 2002-2014. Pender also served as a lecturer at Wingate University from 2003-2006. His work has been featured in Ceramics Monthly, Ceramics Monthly emerging artist online, American Craft and Craft and Art of Clay 2012 edition. He has held an Affiliate Artist position at McColl Center for Visual Art and has received grants including the Arts and Science Council Regional Project Artist Grant in 2003 and 2008 which sponsored in part shows at NCECA in 2004 and 2009. He currently has two bodies of work. One is sculptural based, featuring interactive life sized work made from clay fused with glass. The second and new body of work are drawings on paper and wood. This work deals with abstract concepts, geometric abstraction and inspirations from science, space, science fiction and the metaphysical world. The drawings as seen on this website were conceived during the height of the pandemic and are currently a major focused of his work. Jeff currently lives in Mooresville, NC and works in his studio at home, participates in fine art shows up and down the east coast and west to Chicago, while performing stay at home dad duties when not traveling.