Heather Lepp MFA | Thesis Exhibition: Commonplace Series

×

Expand

Heather Lepp MFA, “ Thesis: Commonplace Covered Pitcher (24.69),” 2024

low soda-fired earthenware, 12.5 x 7.5 inches. (courtesy of the Gallery)

An exhibition showcasing her thesis project in celebration of her newly earned MFA. The artist completed her Master’s Degree in Ceramics at West Virginia University in 2024.

“I am inspired to create pottery that fits a need in my daily life with an emphasis equally placed on beauty and practicality. In opposition to our current fast-paced society, my conceptual framework is shaped by poets, philosophers and artists which call to be present in small daily pleasures. Commonplace wares such as mugs, bowls, vases, and plates are my focus. My work evolves as a continuum through repetition of forms that change slowly through time, examination, and use. In my studio practice, I chase the minute details of a pot; the way the belly of the form holds volume and space, how the handle feels between index and thumb, the emotive quality of the colour.

Through a search for connection and beauty, my practice is rooted in process and celebration of the handmade. With historical folk pottery as inspiration, I strive for my work to appear comforting and simple yet have an underlying contemporary complexity of form through alteration. In reference to my childhood cabin, my work is trimmed by hand giving the appearance of being hand-hewn. The pieces are then fired in an atmospheric kiln which creates a subtle surface that appears worn as if well-loved through years of use. Confounded by the seemingly simple task of creating functional ceramics, I am challenged to inquisitively search for improvement. With this intention, it is my role as a maker to create thoughtful utilitarian wares that are used to enrich the everyday."

— Heather Lepp, 2024