Caitlin Ezell Waugh is a New Orleans based sculptor, preserver, and historical restoration artist. She explores decay, vulnerability, growth and time through the treatment of glass, found objects, light, and plant material. Relationships between plants and people, especially in the context of ceremony, birth and abortion are central to her studio practice, research, and civic engagement.
Waugh received her MFA in glass sculpture from Tulane University in 2022, and her BA from Hampshire College with an intersectional focus on sculpture and literary journalism. While at Tulane, she was awarded a community-engaged Mellon fellowship, which offered an opportunity to more fully integrate her studio practice with her social justice commitments.
Waugh has been running her one-woman sculpture and historic restoration studio in New Orleans for more than fifteen years. As curator and a primary resident-artist she co-created and co-operated the art space Potence Collective from 2017 to 2020. She is diligently working to forge a path as a sculptural journalist.
RELEVANT EMPLOYMENT
2006—present Established Paraph Studio LLC.
2023—24 Professor of Record, Glass Sculpture, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
2017—20 Co-founder and owner, curator, Potence Collective Art Gallery, 5700 Magazine st. New Orleans, LA (an artist-run cooperative gallery)
2018 Instructor, inventive kiln technique course, YAYA Inc., New Orleans, LA
2013—16 Instructor, stained glass technique courses for adults, Glassworks, New Orleans, LA
2006—07 Instructor, Jan-term stained glass intensive courses at Hampshire College Amherst, MA
2006—07 Apprentice Glazier/ Studio and Field assistant, Luminosity Studio Waitsfield, VT
EDUCATION/ AWARDS
2024 Platforms Research Grant recipient
Lampworking course with Lisa Demagall at Pilchuck Glass School
Pilchuck Partner Scholarship, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA
2022—2024 MFA in glass sculpture,, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
2022—2024 Community Engaged Research Mellon Fellow, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
2022—2024 Changemaker Catalyst Award recipient, Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design
2022 Penland School of Craft, summer scholarship recipient for course in glass blowing by Jason McDonald
2020 Gentilly Resilience District Civic Arts Fellowship, Arts Council New Orleans
2018 Pilchuck Glass School, Anne Petters, mold techniques, hot glass/ pate de verre, kiln forming
2013 Pilchuck Glass School, Wonjoo Park, inventive kiln glass techniques
2006 Traditional glazier/ stained glass apprenticeship, Luminosity Studio Waitsfield, VT
2003—current Vice President, Devon Waugh Memorial Fund (awards annual educational scholarships)
2004 Woodcarving mentorship with Abel Barroso, Havana, Cuba
2001—05 BA, Sculpture/Literary Journalism, Spanish minor, Hampshire College, Amherst MA
SELECTED GALLERY EXHIBITIONS
2025 Solo Exhibition Recipient at Antenna Gallery, New Orleans, LA
2024 ‘Vegetal, Vitreous,’ Solo Show, Whereyart Gallery, Royal St. New Orleans, LA
‘Excrescence; the promise of growth,’ Solo Show, The Front Gallery, New Orleans, LA
MFA Thesis Show, ‘We Inherit The Fire’, Carroll Gallery, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
2023 ‘Louisiana Contemporary’, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA
2022 ‘Artists Respond: Post Roe Louisiana’, group show, Newcomb Institute, New Orleans, LA
‘Abundance’, permanent installation Second Harvest Food Bank, Metairie LA
‘Tongue and Groove’, group show, Good Children Gallery, New Orleans, LA
‘I Am Woman’, group show, Old #77 Hotel, New Orleans, LA
Dance for Social Change ‘Through Our Eyes’ installation, Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans LA
2021 ‘Behind Every Beautiful Thing: Encountering Bodies, Wrestling the Human Condition’, group show, Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, LA
2020/2021 ‘Pandemic Collage’ & ‘In Relation’, two series bodies of work shown at both Cherry and Old Road coffee shops in New Orleans while galleries were closed during the pandemic
2020 ‘Fluid’, permanent installation, Music Box, New Orleans, LA
Femme Fest WCALA, group show, New Orleans, LA
2019 “300 More”, group show, Old #77 Hotel, New Orleans, LA
2018 “Masterpeace”, group show, Whereyart gallery, New Orleans, LA
2017 Curator, “Agitprop: A Poster Show”, 5700 Magazine st gallery, New Orleans, LA
Curator, “Self Love is Revolutionary”, 5700 Magazine st gallery, New Orleans, LA
Curator, “Vessels of Resistance”, 5700 Magazine st gallery, New Orleans, LA
2011—16 Dozens of installations, ceremonies, performances, event hosting with New Orleans Society of Fly
Ladies, particularly on St. Claude 2nd Saturdays at Dancing Grounds (original and current site)
2014 “Terratour”, Prospect 3+ collaborative interactive public art installation, St. Claude Ave, New
Orleans LA
‘Park(ing) Day’ interactive, collaborative shorterm public art installation, Julia Street, New
Orleans, LA
2016 “Enverre” HBHC, New Orleans, LA
2015 “Crossroads”, co-created with Jeremy Paten Whereyart Gallery, Julia St., New Orleans, LA
2013 “Verre Efflorescence”, Nola Potter, Algiers Point, New Orleans, LA
“Mirror”, Foundation Gallery, Julia St. New Orleans, LA
2010 “Do you want gold?”, collaboration, Life is Art Foundation, Honeyspace Gallery, Chelsea, NY
“Lost”, Lost Love Lounge, New Orleans, LA. April 2010
2007 “Flight”, Burnett Gallery, Amherst, MA. December 2007
“The City Generation #1”, Pushkin Gallery, Greenfield, MA. February 2007
2006 “La Primera y El Tercer; The First and the Third”, APE Gallery, Northampton, MA. July 2006
2005 “El Borde No Aguanta Tierra Agua Ni Viento/(Health in Venezuela)”, Hampshire College
Main Gallery, Thesis Installation
2004 “Gusanos en la Madera”, Solo Installation, UNEAC, Havana, Cuba
then at Pennacook Art Gallery, Rumford, ME
REPRESENTATION
Since 2005 Hundreds of custom projects for private collections, design and restoration work installed in homes, hotels, offices and hospitals throughout New England and the Mississippi Delta
Since 2019 Andrew Pollack Glass, New Orleans, LA
2016—20 Potence Collective, group and solo show as both artist and curator, New Orleans LA
Since 2018 Burner Home Gallery, Cass, WV
Since 2014 Whereyart, New Orleans, LA— online as well as consistent participation in group showings in the Whereyart gallery space and other spaces they curate
Since 2008 Arts Council Juried Art Market, semi-monthly, New Orleans, LA