Biography
Chloe Ann Van Becelaere is an interdisciplinary artist and academic from Pittsburg, Kansas. She completed BAs in Global and International Studies and Spanish with a minor in Visual Art at the University of Kansas in 2022. Chloe was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) grant in 2023. She subsequently taught English at the Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (SENA) in Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia, until 2024 when she began teaching at Universidad Católica de Oriente (UCO) in Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia. During this time, Chloe continued her ceramic practice through working at private studios, giving artist talks and instructional workshops, and traveling throughout Colombia to meet with traditional ceramicists and explore their techniques and oral histories. Chloe's academic investigation is concerned with government policies and social movements in the Western hemisphere, specifically how arts and culture relate to structural and direct violence. Her ceramic practice is often influenced by her academic work and lived experiences, and focuses heavily on experimental techniques involving clay and fibers. She utilizes various materials such as clay, cotton, and found objects to explore themes of identity, fragility, resilience, and womanhood.