Biographical Information

Merrill Krabill is an artist and educator in Goshen, Indiana. He teaches at Goshen College, a small, liberal arts school associated with the Mennonite Church. Besides the importance of educating the next generation of artists, that environment, seeing young artists engage the world of visual communication with fresh eyes, continually opens new possibilities for him as well.

One important aesthetic influence has been Paul Soldner, who Krabill studied under in graduate school (Claremont Graduate School). Soldner's approach, pace, and general philosophy about art were formative. The impact Japan's aesthetic had on Soldner was also passed on.

In the summer of 2005 Krabill was an Artist-in-Residence at Togei no mori (Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park). The opportunity to work, travel, and visit with artists in Japan has had a lasting impact on his work. The culture is very different from his own, but, in spite of the differences, many ideas resonate clearly for Krabill.

His ceramic education began under Marvin Bartel as a student at Goshen College in the late 70s. Bartel's program produced an exceptional number of artists working with clay for a school Goshen's size.