Marissa Vitolo

Marissa Vitolo is an art teacher, and a fused glass and ceramics specialist. She works with ARTreach in our Community Programs. Her current project is engaging students from Katy Junior High School in the design of the Katy ARTreach Car. A colorful project that engages many people in our "Driving the Arts to Katy" campaign. Honk if you love Art! 

Growing up with in an artistic family greatly influenced Marissa’s choice to be an artist. Her mother was a graphic designer but now teaches art at the elementary level. Her father was a draftsman, creating technical drawings for oil companies. He now enjoys being retired and working at a golf course.

Marissa graduated from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos with a BFA in Studio Art and Art Education. In college, Marissa was exposed to all the disciplines of art. Excelling at all, Marissa chose to show what she learned to children. The first job she chose was an elementary position in Alief ISD. After two and a half years, she moved up into the secondary level, eventually arriving back in Katy.

During this time, Marissa grew more involved with clay and glass. Both media melt, flow, and change with heat. Both can be colored, layered, and experimented with until the final look is achieved. These aspects of clay and glass are what fascinates Marissa and what draws her toward them.

Balancing teaching, her three children, and the time spent on her art work is challenging. However, Marissa is driven and cannot stay away from what she loves. She labors happily in her garage studio making functional and decorative ceramics, as well as, wearable fused glass jewelry, fused glass platters, and fused glass tiles. Marissa’s work is earthy with splashes of color. She works in various sizes, preferring large scale pieces. She creates con- trast through color, texture, or size. Marissa is exploring new ground by enlarging her work, changing and improving her surface decoration, and working on making her pieces look more refined.

She is currently working on the final design touches for the ARTreach Art Car sponsored by Don McGill Toyota of Katy. She facilitated a number of workshops with her students at Katy Junior High School to help paint the original design. She is also getting ready to start a new line of clay jars, large pots and functional ware. In the past, Marissa has exhibited in juried shows with her ceramic pieces and has had much work in galleries around the nation. She also does many commissioned pieces.

While working on her art, she also holds a place on the ClayHouston Board as secretary and works closely with ARTreach to plan art shows for the charity’s benefit.  You can commission Marissa for custom dinnerware, home decor, wearable art and more.

Email Marissa.