Red Lodge Clay Center – Short-Term Resident (AIA) 2026
Nolan McPherson is a ceramic artist and educator based in Durango, Colorado, whose work explores human interaction and routine. His process emphasizes the nuances of each piece, fostering a tangible connection between the user and the artwork. As an educator and artist, he contributes to the community through teaching and technical expertise. His work serves as a vessel of comfort and shared human experience.
“When a potter not only knows his job but delights in it, when technique and inspiration become identified, the glow of life will begin to appear in his pots” – Michael Cardew, 1969
My artwork is intended to be used and handled in routine instead of through passing and observation. This brings my artwork a sense of place, where the viewer can not only imagine but physically use my artwork in their daily lives and routines. The user can recognize the handmade qualities of my artwork and treat it as a receptacle of comfort and ease.
My studio practice is multi-faceted with a focus on functional soda fired ceramics. I embrace the unpredictability of soda firing, allowing the nuances of the surfaces to provide my artwork with unique qualities that allow the user to slow down during routine and feel connected to the individuality of the vessel. The labor-intensive firing process provides me with a deep connection to my pots and makes each kiln cycle a moment of discovery that demands attentiveness in the process.
I invite the viewer to use my artwork and recognize the significance of a handmade vessel, realizing it holds so much more than just nourishment. Even when it’s empty, it carries great meaning and is the vessel in which I offer human connection to an object. My artwork strives to engage the viewer from a visual and physical point of view, where the artwork creates two different experiences that are interlaced and related to each other through craftsmanship and an evolving relationship between user and object. Embracing the complex nature of human interaction and relations with objects allows me to discover new ideas that inspire intention and purpose through functional forms.