Ashley Peterson, a ceramic artist from Houston, Texas, focuses on conceptualizing the repurposing of clay, rooted in the principles of sustainability. She completed her Bachelor of Arts at Oklahoma State University and honed her craft during an eight-year tenure as an instructor at Purple Glaze Studio. Deepening her community ties, she worked as a children's ceramic teacher at a private art studio and contributed to a university-affiliated community arts center as a studio monitor and instructor. Now based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ashley actively seeks exhibition opportunities, recently showcasing her work at the "Art that Tells Stories" exhibition in Laguna Beach, CA.
Artist Statement
My work combines the concept of repurposing clay with the notion of sustainability. This is evident through unique loops made from the neck of different vases and repurposed into new ceramic vessels. The form of each piece is also repurposed by the stacking of prior vessels. The forms are a visual narrative that highlights the reutilization of materials. I am inspired by the beauty of functional ceramics and their capability to serve a purpose while transcending mere practicality into objects of art. I aspire to harmonize these dual aspects through the meticulous loops that are central to the cohesion within my work. In simpler terms, ceramics involves the repurposing of earth into artistic creations, and this process serves as the inspiration for my work.
As a ceramic artist, I am drawn to the versatility of clay while lending myself to the unpredictability that glazing has to offer. By layering glazes there are unique characteristics around the surfaces of each piece. These moments create fluidity while encircling the forms with a sense of motion and movement leading to the idea of transformation.
My art mirrors the transformative journey of ceramics—shaping the earth into artistic creations becomes a metaphor for my creative process. I strive to create a sense of wonder and connection, inviting viewers to contemplate the intersection of the functional and the sculptural within the boundaries of reutilization.
