About

Graceson Aufderheide is a Southern California based artist-scientist. He received his BA in both art and physics from Pomona College in Claremont, CA. His work explores the systems used to build the world, and he seeks understanding through fundamental knowledge.

Born and raised in Ojai, CA, Aufderheide has always been creating. Since elementary school he has been drawing, painting, and photographing. In high school he began working with precious and semi-precious metals to make both sculptures and jewelry. He also began building structural elements using wood and steel.

In college, Aufderheide began studying furniture design and functional sculpture. He also began to shoot medium and large format black and white film. Using these mediums, all of his work began to investigate how the world is constructed through formal observations.

Currently, Graceson is back in Ojai where he is busy producing new work for an upcoming book collaboration with his classmates from college.

Graceson holding some pomegranates

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Education

Pomona College, Claremont, CA.
BA Double Major in Art and Physics, May 2020
Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi

Midland School, Los Olivos, CA.
Valedictorian, May 2016
QuestBridge Scholar

Exhibitions

2020 - No Need For Shower Shoes, Chan Gallery, Claremont, CA
2019 - 2020_Rough, Chan Gallery, Claremont, CA
2017 - Ojai Studio Artist Scholarship Show, Ojai City Council, Ojai, CA
2016 - Flora and Fauna: Midland School, Wildling Museum, Solvang, CA

Awards

Matthew Klopfleish Memorial Prize in Art, Pomona College, 2020
The Marta Nelson Award, Ojai Studio Artists, 2020
The Beatrice Wood Scholarship, Ojai Studio Artists, 2017
Applause Visual Arts Scholarship, 1st Place, Arts Outreach, 2016
Applause Visual Arts Scholarship, 3rd Place, Arts Outreach, 2015

Leadership Experience

Peer Mentor, Pomona College Physics and Astronomy Dept., Jan 2019-May 2020
- Assist students with coursework and build department community

Orientation Adventure Leader, Pomona College Outdoor Education Center, Fall 2018 and 2019
- Lead backpacking trips of 15 students for four days

Orientation Adventure Coordinator, Pomona College Outdoor Education Center Summer 2017
- Organize four-day outdoor trips for over five hundred new Pomona students.

Work Experience

OEC Staff, Outdoor Education Center, Claremont, CA, Aug 2016-May 2020
- Clean, repair, and lend outdoor equipment

Sculpture Studio Assistant, Pomona College Art Dept., Claremont, CA, Jan 2017-May 2019
- Organized, clean and maintain wood and metal shops

Photography Lab Assistant, Pomona College Art Dept., Claremont, CA, Feb 2017-May 2018
- Maintain darkroom and camera equipment

Shop Apprentice, David Whipple Goldsmith, Ojai, CA, Feb 2017-May 2018
- Jewelry fabrication and casting