Biography

My journey with clay began in North St. Paul, late in my high school career. Having already decided I would become an engineer like my brother, I enrolled in a ceramics class just to fill my course load. On the first day I became hooked. I was later told by a life long potter that I would be unable to find a cure, I would always find a way to involve clay in my life. He was right.

In 2003 I left the bustle of the Twin Cities for the peaceful pines of Saint John’s University. There I studied under Sister Denis Frandrup as well as Samuel Johnson. This time was instrumental in not only developing my skills as a potter, but shaping my ideas of the craft itself and how I could be a part of the rich tradition.

Upon graduating from Saint John’s I was fortunate enough to find work as a production potter where I was able to further hone my skills. In addition to production work I maintain a studio in Northeast Minneapolis where I am able to let my creativity run wild. I consider everyday a challenge to create new and exciting work to share with the community.

Materials and Techniques

I work almost exclusively on the wheel. Each piece is wheel thrown, altered, then returned to the wheel for further decoration. I add thick slip to the leather hard clay and manipulate it to create depth on the surface of the piece. My work is then glazed in a series of matte and ash glazes to further add depth and color resulting in an elegant yet organic finish. Each piece is made from white stoneware and fired to cone six.