Eric Pilhofer

"I think of my work as reflecting a spiritual resonance that spans from ancestral musings to refined organic contemporary. Inspired by the timeless narratives found in cultural artifacts, I strive to create work that reflects a meditative dialogue between past and present. My process is as much about discovery as creation, where sculpting becomes a ritual, revealing the spirit of the piece and the celebration of transformation, honoring both the historical and the personal. Through this, I aim to evoke a universal sense of connection, where ancient traditions and modern expressions converge."

My work is primarily hand-built using a modified pinch-method of construction. Small dabs of clay are added one by one until the form is complete. This pinch technique is slow, tranquil, and meditative, allowing the spirit of the form to evolve. The surface treatments—carving, stains, and underglaze—enhance the tactile connection to the material, inviting viewers to contemplate texture, form, and the quiet resonance of the handmade.

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Selected Exhibitions & Awards
Best of Show Award, Midwest Juried Sculpture Show, Minnetonka Arts Center, Minnetonka, MN, 2013
Best of Show Award, Juried Show, MacRostie Arts Center, Grand Rapids, MN, 2012
American Crafts Council 2020 Show, St. Paul Minnesota, St. Paul, MN , 2020
EROS AND THANATOS JURIED EXHIBITION, BUCKHAM GALLERY, Flint, MI, 2020
25TH ARTS NORTH INTERNATIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hopkins, MN, 2020
A GENEROUS KINGDOM 4 JURIED EXHIBITION, VERUN ULTIMUM GALLERY, Portland, OR, 2020
Hopkins ArtStreet Public Art Juried Exhibition, Hopkins, Hopkins, MN, 2016
Homo Faber 2024 The Journey of Life, Venice, Fondazione Giorgio Cini, 2025
Concerning the Spiritual, Juried Show, Foundry, St. Charles, MO, 2016
Best of Show Award, 70th AIA Convention, Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN, 2014