Bio
I am a ceramic artist currently based in Phoenix, Arizona. I was born in St. Louis, Missouri and grew up in Wellington, Florida. I recently completed my MFA at Arizona State University and am working out of my new studio in Phoenix. Prior to grad school, I lived in Helena, Montana working as a production potter and in Edinboro, Pennsylvania working as a ceramic technician. I recieved my BFA in Ceramics from the University of North Florida.
Artist Statement
My work is rooted in the craftful uses of clay and the importance of utilitarian objects throughout history. I consider the interdependent nature of this world and create forms which connect to each other. This requires one to slow down as they unlock a lid, unstack a bowl, or twist a cup out of its holding place. These physical interactions drive my process with a focus on how the pieces function. A large part of my practice consists of formulating recipes for clay bodies and glazes to achieve my surfaces, and I utilize wheel throwing and coil building techniques to create organic forms and multiples.
Inspired by the Arts and Crafts Movement, my utilitarian wares can simultaneously act as an element of design. I urge people to utilize these seemingly decorative objects, and I believe this will form a deeper connection to one’s surrounding environment. I find similarities in how plants are both decorative and edible and connect functional pottery with fruits and flowers to raise questions of how we design the landscapes around us. My work rewards curiosity and physical interaction by offering surprises to those who dive deeper, so I encourage participants to fill these wares and share moments together.
CV