Fire & ice: Dubuque artist’s travels inspire her latest work

Jenni Brant loves to get her hands dirty.

The 46-year-old artist has long had a love affair with clay, creating tumblers, plates, wine stoppers and other usable ceramic pieces decorated with delicate designs on a backdrop of bright pastel hues.

But recently, Brant’s work took a detour, inspired by a destination in the world that has come to hold a special place in her heart: Iceland.

“I had traveled to Iceland two times before, and it was during a previous trip that I saw the use of black clay,” she said. “It had always stayed in my mind as something I wanted to try and work with.”

In November 2024, Brant participated in a month-long artist residency in Iceland, alongside six other ceramic artists from across the globe.

While there, she integrated the use of black clay into her work, allowing it to serve as the solid backdrop, while continuing to use pastels in the intricate designs set upon each piece.

Additionally, Brant explored wearable ceramic art, such as earrings, for the first time.

The creations that resulted during her residency recently were unveiled as part of an exhibition at the Dubuque Museum of Art, running through June 8. (Read more on page 10.)

“Iceland is an interesting landscape because you’re basically just bouncing around on top of old volcanos,” she said, with a laugh. “But the landscape had a huge influence on my work. I think travel can do that, whether you’re an artist or not, it just shakes up your norm a little bit and encourages you to be exposed to a different perception.”

Formed in the Land of Fire & Ice

Brant’s interest in clay first began taking shape during her high school years.

“But it really took hold during my undergrad,” she said. “I remember being in an art class my sophomore year and just falling in love with it. There was an amazing sense of community behind it. You create together. You have to have enough work to put in a kiln together.”

Earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater — initially studying graphic design, before pursuing pottery — Brant moved on to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It was there where she also met her future husband, Eric Petersen, a fellow potter.

The couple courted for eight years, were wed in 2014, and together, established Burrow Branch Studios to promote and sell their work, traveling to art shows and festivals across the United States.

Three years later, Petersen was diagnosed with inoperable squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

“My first trip to Iceland was one that we took together,” Brant said. “As soon as we got off the plane, there was something about it, where we both just said, ‘We’re home.’ We loved it.”

Brant and Petersen relocated to Dubuque in 2019, where Brant served as the City of Dubuque Arts & Cultural Affairs Manager. More recently, she has taken on the role as the Director of Communications for Greater Dubuque Development Corporation.

Petersen succumb to his complications from cancer and a respiratory infection in May 2020.

Shortly after, Brant’s father also passed away.

“I was supposed to be participating in an artist’s residency in France and ended up not going,” Brant said. “My brother and his wife were going to Iceland and still wanted to give me a chance to get away, so they said, ‘Why don’t you just join our trip?’ Iceland has become very special to me for that reason. I associate it with Eric and my dad. It makes me feel closer to both of them.”

The perks of an artist residency

Artist residencies aim to offer creatives of a variety of mediums an opportunity to hone their practice within a location and environment that focuses the artist, yet challenges their creative process, inspiring growth.

While living in Nebraska, Brant managed several, in addition to participating in others.

“It was a really cool job,” she said. “We would see everything from painters to potters and music composers, so there was always someone and something new and different. Sometimes, you’d get these creatives from much bigger cities coming to this little Nebraska town. That kind of experience can challenge your creativity in a unique way — and sometimes, get you out of a rut and reignite your passion and inspiration behind creating.”

When it came to embarking upon her next residency, Brant knew she wanted to return to Iceland.

“I wanted to find any excuse to be back in this country that really resonated with me,” she said. “But I also wanted to go someplace where the materials were, and where I could work, learn and be challenged in the company of other artists. I also knew I wanted to work with the black clay.”

Brant’s exhibition at the Dubuque Museum of Art, which explores that use, also includes a retrospect of her Icelandic residency, with photos, journal entries and a timeline offering a glimpse of how the travel opportunity shaped her work.

“It reinvigorated me,” she said. “It’s always great to get away and gain a fresh perspective for your work.”

Continuing to create and travel

While Brant continues to actively create, display and sell her work, she has no additional artist residencies on the horizon, but said she anticipates there will be more in her future.

In the meantime, she has held presentations locally about the benefit of such experiences for artists — in addition to helping her brother establish his nearby alpaca farm, traveling with him to trade shows.

Brant also recently invested in a camper and plans to put it to good use this summer.

“I love the idea of single women traveling solo,” she said. “It’s empowering.”

But regardless of one does or how they opt to travel, Brant advocated for making it happen.

“Travel teaches you how to be in the world,” she said. “It makes you better at being human.”

Megan Gloss writes for the Telegraph Herald.