Jonathan T. Ginnaty
Born to an Irish/Catholic accountant father and a Swedish immigrant mother in October of 1976, I was fortunate to grow up in Huntington Beach, California. As latchkey kids, my brother Marcus and I enjoyed the freedom to play and explore all that Southern California has to offer adolescence. All of the time spent surfing, skateboarding and playing soccer as a youth eventually paid off, as I received a full athletic soccer scholarship to attend California State University, Fullerton.
While at Fullerton, I found a passion for ceramics and art. In 2000, I received the John & Flora Olsen Scholarship and in 2001, I won first prize and the purchase award in the student art show for my“untitled” ceramic vessel which is on permanent display in the Titan Student Union. I earned my BFA in ceramics in 2001.
I received a full scholarship and a teaching assistantship to attend Bowling Green State University, Ohio where I earned my MFA in ceramics in 2003. While there, I was awarded the Aaron Macy memorial scholarship.
After grad school, I returned home to California and began teaching and exhibiting my artwork. In 2009, while teaching at Chapman University and Saddleback College, I was the named the grand prize recipient of the Orange County Art Grant and in February of 2010, I had my first large solo-exhibition at CSUF Grand Central Art Center titled, “The American Dream in Terra Cotta”. 2009 was additionally important as I re-meet and feel madly in love with my beautiful wife Jennifer. In 2011 and 2013 we welcomed our daughters Harper and Delaney into our family.
In 2018, I switched teaching career paths and began teaching at the high school level. Currently I am the head of ceramics at Dana Hills High School in Dana Point, CA. In 2018 I also partnered with Donaldson/Hill to set up a private ceramic studio and exhibition space in San Clemente, CA.