Nancy Ross
Clay has been at the center of my life for fifty years. Living in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Charlottesville, Virginia, I draw daily inspiration from the shifting vistas, the changing light, and the natural world that surrounds me. These landscapes and rhythms have shaped the direction of my work, which now moves along three distinct but connected paths.
My newest explorations involve colored clays and slips, often marbled to create fluid, layered surfaces that echo geological strata and the movement of water and wind. In my Nancy O collection, pieces begin on the wheel and are then altered into organic, almost floral forms. This body of work reflects my emotional response to the paintings of Georgia O'Keeffe—not through imitation, but through a shared fascination with sensual form, gesture, and the quiet power of nature.
A third thread of my practice grows from my years teaching at Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, Virginia. The bottles, vases, and baskets I create using the horsehair raku method carry forward the energy of that period—the immediacy of the firing process, the spontaneity of the markings, and the dialogue between control and chance. Although I retired from Mary Baldwin in April 2022 after twenty years, I continue to be challenged and invigorated by teaching motivated adults at City Clay in Charlottesville.
Rooted deeply in the vessel tradition, I also continue to make functional, wheel thrown pots that enhance daily life. Platters, swirly bowls, bakers, mugs, canister sets, and pitchers remain essential to my practice—objects meant to be used, handled, and lived with.
Across all of these directions, my work is an ongoing conversation with place, material, and the enduring pleasure of making.
Studio 8
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