After years of wrestling to commit to the right career path, choosing a safe option and studying computer science, or committing to his passion and lifelong dream of becoming an artist.  Joseph Kowalczyk decided his love for art was greater than his fears, making him become who he is today: a successful artist and teacher. 

Kowalczyk is a professor in Art Studio in the Art & Art History department at Sonoma State University. He currently teaches Beginning Ceramics and Intermediate & Advanced Ceramics and has been teaching at Sonoma State University for five years. Kowalczyk is an award-winning sculptor who has been dedicated to his work since receiving his BFA in ceramics from California College of Arts and Crafts in 2006.

Kowalczyk has been an artist ever since he was a kid. When he was in college, he struggled with the idea that art wasn’t a realistic career choice. Kowalczyk then decided to study computer science and IT but eventually took a leap after realizing he was meant to be an artist. Kowalczyk proves many wrong about the ability of having a successful career as an artist and his story serves as a lesson for other students who may be fearful of following their dreams.

Riley Volz, a fourth-year Studio Art major, has taken both of Kowalczyk’s ceramics classes. She enjoys ceramics because it “gives me a chance to step away from 2D work, my emphasis and experiment with something new by making 3D ceramic art.” Volz believes Joseph is an “excellent instructor who is very knowledgeable in the world of ceramics.” What stands out is his ability to “teach and demonstrate well while providing good insight into each student’s projects,” Riley said. 

Kowalczyk’s family discouraged him from having a career as an artist. He eventually decided to pursue a career in art knowing he “didn’t know where it was going to take him” but that it was what he wanted to do. “I’ve been an artist all my life,” he said.  

Kowalczyk founded FM Oakland, an art gallery and artist studio space in 2010 to showcase and support local artists. Outside of teaching, Kowalczyk is a kiln repairer at NorCal Kiln Repair. 

Kowalczyk’s job as a kiln repairer influenced him to become a teacher. He said he remembers going to a school where the “teacher had no knowledge about ceramics and how to fire work,” he ended up doing a workshop for the teacher and was eventually hired. Kowalczyk then taught for 15 years at the Creative Growth Art Center, a center for artists with developmental disabilities. Kowalczyk also taught workshops and different kinds of clay demonstrations at various schools.  

Kowalczyk has several pieces of art in museums across the world. His work can be found at The Yingge Ceramics Museum in Taiwan and The American Museum of Ceramic Art in Pomona, California. Kowalczyk also has work in public collections such as the John Natsoulas Collection in Davis, California. 

Skyler Gabriel, a fourth-year Liberal Studies major, said Kowalczyk “never limited our creative ability” but instead, “pushed us when he knew we had more to give.” Professor Kowalczyk “is very passionate about what he is teaching and you can tell it is something he truly loves.” 

Kowalczyk’s favorite part of teaching is seeing “when people are enjoying themselves and you can see that they’re investing their own time in it and developing as artists.”