Alyssa May

Alyssa May

[BFA] Ceramics

My forms draw upon the traditions of handmade pottery with colors, textures and surface patterns that are inspired by the landscape in which I live. I find inspiration in the endless fields of corn, open skies, rolling hills, and common garden flowers found in western Missouri and eastern Nebraska. I enjoy using the uniformity of the potter’s wheel to create functional vessels that can then be manipulated to mimic the midwestern landscape with added curves and undulations that bring movement and visual stimulation to the piece. Combining this movement with low relief images creates a space for not only the eyes but also for hands to explore. Feeling and seeing the images of cornfields and garden flowers informs physically as well as visually and creates a place for engagement and conversation. Applying this to functional pottery provides a place to commune and communicate, engage, and enjoy the company of one another.

Alyssa May is a ceramic artist from Kansas City, Missouri. She attended Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri, before transferring to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she will soon complete a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. Working primarily in porcelain, May creates functional tableware that is inspired by the midwestern landscape. The forms incorporate the rolling hills of the prairies while the surfaces are carefully decorated with imagery of corn fields and common garden flowers. Her glaze palette incorporates the rich greens and yellows of summertime in the Midwest. May’s professional activities include internships at 323 Clay in Independence, Missouri, and at the LUX Center for the Arts in Lincoln, Nebraska, as well as a teaching assistantship with ceramic artist Steven Hill during his annual glazing workshop.

Website:
https://www.florenceavepottery.com/

Email:
alyssadmay00@gmail.com

Instagram:
@Alyssa_danielle.ceramics

Facebook:
Alyssa May