Sean lives in Battle Lake, Minnesota where he operates Pomme de Terre Pottery. Originally from Dayton, Ohio Sean earned his BFA from Ohio University and his MFA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He teaches workshops to clay lovers of all ages and abilities. 

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Artist Statement: 

I create pottery to enrich the experience of storing, serving and consuming food and drink. Each piece is intended to be an interactive component in a collaboration between maker, user and environment. Special consideration is given to utility, appearance and tactility and how these elements will affect the user's appreciation of the work. The colors and patterns are meant to evoke the richness of the rural landscape where I live and the forms allude to the human body and a diversity of historical precedence.

 

I construct vessels by hand with slabs and coils and use the simplest of tools. Handles, spouts and knobs are pinched and prodded from very soft clay. The majority of my work is made from Endicott Brick Clay which I refine and personalize. Each piece is nurtured through the building process and spends an inordinate amount of time in my hands. Texturing, slip trailing, and carving embellish the surface and reveal the methodical attention given to each piece while drawing the user closer. I finish the work with a variety of custom glazes chosen for their surface quality and color.