| Cuper Studios LLC |
| Eric K. Cuper |
Eric Cuper was born and raised in central New Jersey. He spent many summers in Florida where he
developed a fascination with nature and its forms. The time in Florida especially influenced Eric to
appreciate the forms in the aquatic environment starting a lifelong fascination and a often recurring
element in his early sculptural works. These sculptures can be viewed on the sculpture page.
Eric is an artist who can design or develop other's designs to create lasting, unique decorative
architectural elements. He has a Master of Fine Arts, specializing in Blacksmithing, and an Art
History Certificate from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois. Since his first moment
at the forge, Eric has been relentlessly pursuing a career in the field of Blacksmithing. He has
combined the imagery of his experiences with forged and fabricated steel, and other metals to
create a unique body of work. He shows work nationally and is in The Horn Collection of
Contemporary Craft.
His studio is located in Easton, PA and is well equipped to take on any number of commissions. He can
work directly with the home owner, contractor, interior decorator or architect. The forge is well
situated to cover any sites on the Eastern Seaboard or anywhere in the nation.
Education
2002 Master of Fine Arts, Specializing in Blacksmithing, Southern Illinois University at
Carbondale
2002 Art History Teaching Certificate, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
1999 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major: Blacksmithing, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
1994 Associate of Arts (with honors), Major: Studio Arts, Raritan Valley Community College, North
Branch, NJ
Awards/Honors
2001 James Renwick Alliance , Craft Weekend 2001, Student Competition, 1st Place
1999 Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award, Senior Competition in Art and Design, Southern Illinois
University at Carbondale
1994 Certificate of Excellence in Studio Arts, Raritan Valley Community College
1992-1999 Deans List
Professional Experience
2003-present Artist-Blacksmith, Cuper Studios LLC, Easton, PA
2001-2002 Graduate Assistant, Blacksmith Studio Technician, Southern Illinois
University at Carbondale
2000-2001 Graduate Instructor, AD 405D Beginning Blacksmithing, Southern Illinois
University at Carbondale
1999-2001 Graduate Research Assistant to Rick Smith, Assistant Professor of Art,
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
2000 Summer Assistant at Peters Valley Craft Education Center : Assistant to
John Rais, JD Smith, Jim Wyckoff, Frank Turley, John Graney, Dan Radven, Peter Joseph, Robert
Griffith, Phill Baldwin
1999-2000 Graduate Assistant Curator of Art, University Museum , Southern Illinois
University at Carbondale
1998-1999 Undergraduate Student Worker, Blacksmith Studio Technician, Southern
Illinois University at Carbondale
Related Experience
2002 Independent Curator, Working Drawings, University Museum , Southern
Illinois University at Carbondale , January 15-March 29
1999-2002 Fiscal Officer for Southern Illinois Metalsmiths, a Registered Student
Organization, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
2000-2001 Conference Organizer, Carbondale Metals Conference and Benefit Auction,
Student Run Conference at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Donated Auction Piece
Every Year
1998-2001 Volunteer at Repair Days, Weekend Fund Raiser for the National Ornamental Metals
Museum , Memphis , TN , donated auction piece 2001
2001 Demonstrator, Ironwood Conference, A Conference Bringing Together Wood Sculptors and
Blacksmiths, Little Rock , AR , March 1-3
1999 Co-Organizer Carbondale Metal Conference and Benefit Auction, Southern
Illinois University at Carbondale
1999 Co-Curator Southern Illinois Metalsmiths Members Exhibition at University Museum,
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
1997 Summer Assistant at Peters Valley Craft Education Center In Exchange For
Tuition: Assistant to Jim Wycoff, Frank Turley
1996-1997 Workshops attended at Peters Valley Craft Education Center : Steve Yusko,
Japheth Howard, Doug Wilson, Glen Gardener, Dan Radven, Noellyn Pepos, Andy Buck
Exhibition Record
2002 Metal from around the Midwest: Western Illinois University Art Gallery , Macomb, IL,
Regional, Student and Faculty Invitational, February 8-March 8
2001 James Renwick Alliance Craft Weekend 2001 Student Exhibition, National, Juror:
Kenneth Trapp, First Place , April 26-29, Website, March 15, 2001–March 15, 2002Metal Works:
2001: Arts Iowa City , IA , National, Juror: Donald Friedlich, Catalog, March 26-April 28
2000 Metal Marvels Exhibition: The Arts Center , St. Petersburg , FL , National, Juried,
May 12-June 30
Art in the Open: The Peters Valley Gallery Without Walls Morristown , NJ , July1 -
September 30
1999 Playful Intent: Craft Alliance , St. Louis , MO , National, Juror: Richard Mawdsley,
April 30-May 31
Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award Exhibition, University Museum , Southern Illinois University
at Carbondale , Senior Competition
Ceramics and Jewelry/Metals Exhibition: Southwest Missouri State University ,
Springfield , MO , Regional Student and Faculty Invitational, February 26-March 12
1998 Illinois Ozarks Craft Guild Exhibition: Art Alley, Southern Illinois University at
Carbondale , Local Competitive Exhibition, 2nd Place , November 15-December 5
Members Gallery: Artists-Blacksmith Association of North America Conference, University
of North Carolina at Asheville , National, June 17-20, 1999
Collections
The Horn Collection of Contemporary Craft
Publications
Meilach, Dona. Architectural Iron Work, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. 2001.
Meilach, Dona, Fire Place Accessories (forthcoming)
developed a fascination with nature and its forms. The time in Florida especially influenced Eric to
appreciate the forms in the aquatic environment starting a lifelong fascination and a often recurring
element in his early sculptural works. These sculptures can be viewed on the sculpture page.
Eric is an artist who can design or develop other's designs to create lasting, unique decorative
architectural elements. He has a Master of Fine Arts, specializing in Blacksmithing, and an Art
History Certificate from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois. Since his first moment
at the forge, Eric has been relentlessly pursuing a career in the field of Blacksmithing. He has
combined the imagery of his experiences with forged and fabricated steel, and other metals to
create a unique body of work. He shows work nationally and is in The Horn Collection of
Contemporary Craft.
His studio is located in Easton, PA and is well equipped to take on any number of commissions. He can
work directly with the home owner, contractor, interior decorator or architect. The forge is well
situated to cover any sites on the Eastern Seaboard or anywhere in the nation.
Education
2002 Master of Fine Arts, Specializing in Blacksmithing, Southern Illinois University at
Carbondale
2002 Art History Teaching Certificate, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
1999 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major: Blacksmithing, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
1994 Associate of Arts (with honors), Major: Studio Arts, Raritan Valley Community College, North
Branch, NJ
Awards/Honors
2001 James Renwick Alliance , Craft Weekend 2001, Student Competition, 1st Place
1999 Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award, Senior Competition in Art and Design, Southern Illinois
University at Carbondale
1994 Certificate of Excellence in Studio Arts, Raritan Valley Community College
1992-1999 Deans List
Professional Experience
2003-present Artist-Blacksmith, Cuper Studios LLC, Easton, PA
2001-2002 Graduate Assistant, Blacksmith Studio Technician, Southern Illinois
University at Carbondale
2000-2001 Graduate Instructor, AD 405D Beginning Blacksmithing, Southern Illinois
University at Carbondale
1999-2001 Graduate Research Assistant to Rick Smith, Assistant Professor of Art,
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
2000 Summer Assistant at Peters Valley Craft Education Center : Assistant to
John Rais, JD Smith, Jim Wyckoff, Frank Turley, John Graney, Dan Radven, Peter Joseph, Robert
Griffith, Phill Baldwin
1999-2000 Graduate Assistant Curator of Art, University Museum , Southern Illinois
University at Carbondale
1998-1999 Undergraduate Student Worker, Blacksmith Studio Technician, Southern
Illinois University at Carbondale
Related Experience
2002 Independent Curator, Working Drawings, University Museum , Southern
Illinois University at Carbondale , January 15-March 29
1999-2002 Fiscal Officer for Southern Illinois Metalsmiths, a Registered Student
Organization, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
2000-2001 Conference Organizer, Carbondale Metals Conference and Benefit Auction,
Student Run Conference at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Donated Auction Piece
Every Year
1998-2001 Volunteer at Repair Days, Weekend Fund Raiser for the National Ornamental Metals
Museum , Memphis , TN , donated auction piece 2001
2001 Demonstrator, Ironwood Conference, A Conference Bringing Together Wood Sculptors and
Blacksmiths, Little Rock , AR , March 1-3
1999 Co-Organizer Carbondale Metal Conference and Benefit Auction, Southern
Illinois University at Carbondale
1999 Co-Curator Southern Illinois Metalsmiths Members Exhibition at University Museum,
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
1997 Summer Assistant at Peters Valley Craft Education Center In Exchange For
Tuition: Assistant to Jim Wycoff, Frank Turley
1996-1997 Workshops attended at Peters Valley Craft Education Center : Steve Yusko,
Japheth Howard, Doug Wilson, Glen Gardener, Dan Radven, Noellyn Pepos, Andy Buck
Exhibition Record
2002 Metal from around the Midwest: Western Illinois University Art Gallery , Macomb, IL,
Regional, Student and Faculty Invitational, February 8-March 8
2001 James Renwick Alliance Craft Weekend 2001 Student Exhibition, National, Juror:
Kenneth Trapp, First Place , April 26-29, Website, March 15, 2001–March 15, 2002Metal Works:
2001: Arts Iowa City , IA , National, Juror: Donald Friedlich, Catalog, March 26-April 28
2000 Metal Marvels Exhibition: The Arts Center , St. Petersburg , FL , National, Juried,
May 12-June 30
Art in the Open: The Peters Valley Gallery Without Walls Morristown , NJ , July1 -
September 30
1999 Playful Intent: Craft Alliance , St. Louis , MO , National, Juror: Richard Mawdsley,
April 30-May 31
Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award Exhibition, University Museum , Southern Illinois University
at Carbondale , Senior Competition
Ceramics and Jewelry/Metals Exhibition: Southwest Missouri State University ,
Springfield , MO , Regional Student and Faculty Invitational, February 26-March 12
1998 Illinois Ozarks Craft Guild Exhibition: Art Alley, Southern Illinois University at
Carbondale , Local Competitive Exhibition, 2nd Place , November 15-December 5
Members Gallery: Artists-Blacksmith Association of North America Conference, University
of North Carolina at Asheville , National, June 17-20, 1999
Collections
The Horn Collection of Contemporary Craft
Publications
Meilach, Dona. Architectural Iron Work, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. 2001.
Meilach, Dona, Fire Place Accessories (forthcoming)