Tom Bartel is a ceramic sculptor whose work explores the human condition through stylized surrogates of the body—dolls, toys, figurines, and other vernacular forms. Working from his studio in Athens, Ohio, where he serves as Professor and Ceramics Chairperson at Ohio University, Bartel creates richly surfaced “human objects” that investigate disguise, identity, fertility, mortality, and the passage of time. His work has been featured in over 300 exhibitions and is held in numerous public and international collections, with publications including American Craft, Ceramics Monthly, Clay Times, Ceramics Art and Perception, and other leading periodicals. He received his BFA from Kent State University and his MFA from Indiana University-Bloomington.