Red Lodge Clay Center – Long-Term Resident 2025-2026
Born and raised in rural Northern Nevada, Montana-based ceramic artist Joe Taylor explores the emotional state of wonder through his abstract sculptures, which investigate the intricate relationships between people, landscapes, creatures, and the natural world. Rooted in curiosity and play, his work reflects a fascination with the microscopic and macroscopic, the human and the geological. A former K-12 art educator for 15 years, Taylor embraces inquiry as a transformative learning tool. He has recently completed a MFA in Ceramic Sculpture at the University of Montana.
I create abstract ceramic sculptures that blend elements of the human body with features of the natural world. My practice is deeply rooted in curiosity about the world and the belief that wonder and play are powerful avenues for learning.
My work exists primarily as Biomorphic Abstraction which draws on nature to create forms that allude to being alive. Elements of my works can also be considered “Blobjects” as identified by Designer Kareem Rashid, and thus possess qualities that simultaneously reference ancient and futuristic construction. By blending forms found in nature with forms that reference the human body I am exploring the ways they relate to each other and to their environment.
My non-objective artworks challenge the efficiency and logic of our modern age by rejecting traditional utility and identification. By placing these mysterious, organic forms in built environments—such as our homes—creates an acknowledgment of our intrinsic connection to nature. Through this, I aim to foster a deeper sense of belonging to the natural world, making our inhabited spaces more livable and meaningful.