Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie DeArmond.
Hi Stephanie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a ceramic artist and I love the tactility of clay both in the making of objects and in the joy of using handmade wares in my kitchen. The solid nature of a unique piece of ceramics affirms my values of authenticity and truth. My work uses fingerprints as a central motif. I use porcelain to shape pieces, then carve images of botanicals, birds, animals, poetry and symbols into the surface. I have been lucky to show my work in venues such as the XXIst International Biennial of Vallauris, Kohler Art Center, and Design Miami. I have featured in publications such as the New York Times, American Craft and Ceramics Monthly. I received my MFA in Ceramics from University of Colorado-Boulder. I love to teach and have taught ceramics for many years at University of Minnesota and other venues.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have had lots of obstacles and challenges but I go back to my connection to community as something that continues to feed my practice as well as my enjoyment of looking at historical ceramics for inspiration. I also struggle to explain and define my practice to others, as ceramics is a craft medium that continues to evolve in how it is valued in the arts scene. I see it as a media with a lot of potential for sculptural and installation directions as well as enjoying functional clay pieces in my home. You have to be strong and certain in defining your own value as an artist because you may have a lot of obstacles that can tear away at your self-worth.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have always centered craft and the object in my work. I have worked with clay using a variety of processes; I obsessively explore books of historical images and plant illustration. I draw into the surface of the clay and fill the lines with colored slip. This process is called Mishima or slip-inlay and was developed hundreds of years ago in Korea. I color the result with glazes in pastel tones. I draw images that are important to me and use them to send care into the world. I live in Minneapolis with my family. We are lucky to be near so many wonderful parks and natural areas, I can walk there to look at trees and watch birds and it always leaves me calmer. I love learning about native plant species and incorporating that into my work. I am considering the web of life, and how all beings are connected to each other for survival.
What matters most to you?
Community, friendship, love, all kinds of family, the pursuit of self-improvement, learning and justice.
Contact Info:
