Harry Moxley
Experimentation and the exploration of new ideas and techniques are at the heart of all my work. I find beauty in that which is imperfect and unintentional. I create wheel-thrown, functional stoneware, and my firing processes include the electric kiln, wood fire, and raku. I have always been drawn to the spontaneous and unpredictable results that atmospheric wood-firing and raku methods produce. The uniqueness of the vessels that emerge from these firing processes inspires me to seek similar results using the electric kiln. To create those one-of-a-kind, unexpected, and intentionally imperfect results, I experiment with different clay bodies, surface designs, textures, glazes, slips, and intentional alterations while often varying the firing program.
While I teach pottery at City Clay, I consider myself, first and foremost, a perpetual student of the craft. I am an avid follower of the work of many contemporary potters, and I draw much of my inspiration from the diverse work of past teachers and contemporary ceramic artists such as Nick Joerling, Martina Lantin, Takuro Shibata, and Akira Satake. I am also strongly influenced by the natural elegance of traditional Japanese forms, glazing, and firing techniques. This has led me to embrace the wood firing process, where I have participated for several years on Kevin Crowe’s bi-annual firing crew, producing some of my favorite work.
Studio 21
