Flower Pillows

Giselle Hicks

porcelain

each around 8 1/2" W x 3 1/4" D x 5 1/2" H

This set of wall pillows is soft and elegant, and will undoubtedly evoke a sense of serenity and add a gentle touch to the home. The two pieces of this set are similar in color and design, but the added flourishes of geometric patterns, floral motifs, and the differing sculpted flowers make this set diverse and unique. Perhaps placed in the kitchen or in the living room, these wall pillows will effortlessly make your space all the more lively and naturalistic. They are a perfect purchase or gift for any botanical and floral enthusiast.

Artist Statement

Giselle Hicks makes artwork that provides beauty and depth to one's daily life. She believes living with hand-made objects enriches the home with stories, meaning, and connection to a shared human experience. She makes artwork inspired by sculpture, paintings, and iconic forms throughout ceramic history. Her works are formal explorations of shape, volume, color, and composition.Giselle works with design galleries, shops, and interior design firms to place work in hotels, restaurants, and homes.

Artist Biography

Originally from Southern California, Hicks received her BFA from Syracuse University and her MFA from Alfred University in New York. She has participated in various artist-in-residence programs including the Anderson Ranch Art Center, the Arts/Industry Program at the Kohler Company, The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, Greenwich House and The Archie Bray Foundation. Her work has been exhibited at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, The John Michael Kohler Art Center, the Bellevue Art Museum, the Southwest School of Art, the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, and the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.

Giselle currently lives and works in Helena, Montana

From the collection of Arlene and Bernard Solomon

• All winning bids are paid in full before artwork leaves The Clay Studio. Winning Bids are automatically billed at the close of the Auction at 10:30 pm.
• Shipping is NOT included in the winning bid.
• Items can be packed and shipped, and the winner will pay the cost.
• Items can be picked up at The Clay Studio for no additional cost.
• Items with alcohol CANNOT be shipped.

Red Spiral Vase

Jim Connell

stoneware

11 3/4" Diameter x 12 1/4" H

Unwaveringly daring and effortlessly elegant, this pot by Jim Connell speaks for itself. Informed by dynastic Chinese ceramic practices, Connell interprets Tang Dynasty and Yixing pottery styles into his work, creating pieces that lie in the intersection of beauty, function, elegance, and risk. The swirling motions across the pot's body evoke a sense of organic movement-like that of water-but the color of rust and red allows the vase to diverge from the naturalistic to the realm of the abstract-an evocation of the surreal and impossible. There is an ethereal quality to this vase, and surely this piece is meant for the home of the thinker or the academic-a vessel of contemplation, mystery, and timelessness.

Artist Statement

"I strive for beauty and elegance in my pieces. On my very best days in the studio I get glimpses of it and it keeps me going. It is all about that eternal elusive quest for beauty.

My work is inspired by nature and guided by historical precedent. I was taught, and, now I teach my students, to look to the past for ideas and inspiration. I have always looked to China for my main source of inspiration. My love of Chinese ceramics was originally centered on the work of the Sung Dynasty. I deeply admired the great porcelain pieces of this period and they profoundly affected my understanding of form and proportion.

Artist Biography

Jim has been an active studio artist for over twenty years. After finishing his BFA in ceramics from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1982, he continued on and received his Masters in 1984 from the University of Illinois. He says, "I strive for beauty and elegance in my pieces. On my very best days in the studio I get glimpses of it and it keeps me going. It is all about that eternal elusive quest for beauty."

From the collection of Arlene and Bernard Solomon

• All winning bids are paid in full before artwork leaves The Clay Studio. Winning Bids are automatically billed at the close of the Auction at 10:30 pm.
• Shipping is NOT included in the winning bid.
• Items can be packed and shipped, and the winner will pay the cost.
• Items can be picked up at The Clay Studio for no additional cost.
• Items with alcohol CANNOT be shipped.

Dreams of Julia, c. 2008

Isaiah Zagar

mixed ceramic, wooden frame

29" L x 17" W x 2.25" H

Don't miss your chance to own a piece of Philadelphia history! In a city known for its murals, Isaiah Zagar's work stands out in glittering splendor. This beautiful framed mosaic is indicative of Zagar's practice, bringing together disparate textures, colors, and forms to create an assemblage that demands close looking. At the center of this piece is a large terracotta colored oblong with the artist's self portrait. Similar to Zagar's other self portraits on view at Philadelphia Magic Gardens, this image shows Zagar with four right arms. This representation is meant to convey the artist at work, applying pieces of mosaic at such a speed that it appears as if he has more than just two arms, while also taking inspiration from depictions of the Hindu god Shiva. Beneath the self portrait, a large white tile towards the bottom of the piece reads "DREAM." To the left of this, individual letters spell out the name of Zagar's wife beneath another, smaller figurative piece in teal.

A highlight of The Clay Studio's home for 35 years in Old City was the beloved 4 story stairwell encased in Zagar mosaics. Take this piece of Isaiah Zagar's mosaic as a reminder of the many wonderful creative memories made in that building.

Artist Statement

My whole life as an artist is a journal; the way I'm feeling every day, the way I'm thinking, the things I'm thinking about. They all enter into my work life, into my drawing life, so it's constantly changing. The immediacy of what you're seeing and feeling is your trip, your journey, your journal. You will see what you want to see.

Artist's Biography

Isaiah Zagar was born in 1939 in Philadelphia and raised in Brooklyn. He received his B.F.A. in Painting & Graphic s at the Pratt Institute of Art in New York City. When he was 19 years old, Zagar discovered the art environment of Clarence Schmidt in Woodstock, New York. This shaped his ideas of what art could be and started a lifelong interest in art environments and their creators. Isaiah's work is included in the collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Fabric Workshop and Museum, the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, and the Brandywine Workshop and Archives. He has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Isaiah participated in residences in China and India and completed mosaic commissions throughout the United States and internationally.

From the collection of Arlene and Bernard Solomon

• All winning bids are paid in full before artwork leaves The Clay Studio. Winning Bids are automatically billed at the close of the Auction at 10:30 pm.
• Shipping is NOT included in the winning bid.
• Items can be packed and shipped, and the winner will pay the cost.
• Items can be picked up at The Clay Studio for no additional cost.
• Items with alcohol CANNOT be shipped.

Cat and Mouse Tea Pot

Ron Meyers

terracotta, underglaze, glaze, bamboo

11" W x 4 1/4" D x 12 3/4" H

One of the most respected and influential potters in the United States, Ron Myers is known for his playful, sharp images of animals and unique, skillfully created pottery forms. Eccentric, unique, and vivid are not enough to describe how dynamic this piece is! On either side, there are scribbled designs of pink, green, orange, and black lines that shape out the face of a cat and mouse. Rapid brushstrokes and vibrant colors create a sense of motion that makes it seem animated and alive. The handle is a woven straw material, a material juxtaposition that makes this piece all the more exciting and refreshing to the eye.You'll never get tired of looking at this piece and by adding this teapot to your collection, you will stimulate the imagination and exhilarate the senses.

Artist Statement

Working in clay and making functional pottery has never been a problem for me. I have never felt the need to dismiss or disregard the concept of function because it was something less than art. I have never found making useful pieces confining or restrictive. In fact, I find that the opposite seems true. The longer I stay involved, the more alternatives and possibilities there are that seem to present themselves. Along with the functional aspects of the piece, I strive to have the end product reflect my own sensitivity and awareness to the material itself and its traditions. The pieces that I'm most pleased with are those that come closest to best integrating the form and surface, the spontaneity and fluidity of the clay along with the object's use.

Artist's Biography

Ron Meyers holds a 1967 M.F.A. degree in ceramics from the School for American Craftsmen, Rochester Institute of Technology, and B.S. (1956) and M.S. (1961) degrees in art education from State University of New York College at Buffalo. He taught at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC from 1967-1972. He then spent the next 20 years teaching at the University of Georgia in Athens where he retired as Professor Emeritus.

Ron has an extensive history of professional activities within the ceramics community. He has presented numerous workshops and demonstrations in the United States and abroad, most recently at the Lill Street Studio in Chicago, Il, Arrowmont School of Crafts, the Huntington Museum of Art, University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the Curaumilla Clay Studio in Chile.

He was the recipient of the National Council for the Education of Ceramic Arts Excellence in Teaching Award and the Northern Clay Center's 2008 Regis Masters Award which honors senior artists who have had a major impact on the development of 20th and 21st ceramics in the United States.

From the collection of Arlene and Bernard Solomon

• All winning bids are paid in full before artwork leaves The Clay Studio. Winning Bids are automatically billed at the close of the Auction at 10:30 pm.
• Shipping is NOT included in the winning bid.
• Items can be packed and shipped, and the winner will pay the cost.
• Items can be picked up at The Clay Studio for no additional cost.
• Items with alcohol CANNOT be shipped.

Lidded Jar

Douglas Peltzman

porcelain, celadon glaze

4" diameter x 3.5" height

Need a place to store your secrets? Looking to spice up your life with a new spice jar? Whatever your need, this lidded vessel by Douglas Peltzman has got you govered. Glazed in a beautiful green with graphic patterning and red dots, this jar has plenty of visual interest. Perfect for a vanity or living room, don't let this jar slip away! This is an example of the body of work that catapulted Peltzman to the highest levels of the pottery world in the US. His current work is also stunning, but if you're nostalgic for this look, here's your chance to add it to your collection!

Artist Statement

"I have always let my daily observations find their way into my work. I break things down to their essence (line) and make abstract references of things that inspire me."

As a potter, I strive to craft a balance between dynamic surface and inviting form. When I began working in clay, the transition from my early studies in painting felt natural as I came to realize the potential in ceramics. I work in cycles, shifting between porcelain and earthenware clay bodies. This practice keeps me engaged and responsive to various material and conceptual developments. The detailed handwork in my pieces serves as a conduit to heighten one's perception and sensitivity about what a pot can be. Lines, dots, dashes, texture, and color are counterpoised to create structure, movement, and depth. Marks are both blurred and enhanced by the gravitational movement of glaze. Creating utilitarian objects with layered and active surfaces is an outlet for playful yet structured investigation. Essentially, I aim to produce well-crafted functional objects that provide lasting experiences and moments of pause in day-to-day life.

Artist Biography

Doug Peltzman is a potter living and working in Shokan, NY. His overarching goal as a maker is to craft ceramic objects that tell a story and serve as a conduit for conversation, interaction, and celebration. He creates utilitarian objects to bring focus to the intimate intersection between art and life.

From the collection of Arlene and Bernard Solomon

• All winning bids are paid in full before artwork leaves The Clay Studio. Winning Bids are automatically billed at the close of the Auction at 10:30 pm.
• Shipping is NOT included in the winning bid.
• Items can be packed and shipped, and the winner will pay the cost.
• Items can be picked up at The Clay Studio for no additional cost.
• Items with alcohol CANNOT be shipped.

Lidded Vessel

Shawn Spangler

porcelain, glaze

14 1/4" Diameter x 13" H

This gentle giant is another beautiful pot for the collection. The curves of this lidded pot are soft and elegant, complemented by the pastel colors of green and white. Thin red lines trace the surface of the green glazes, forming a pattern that is reminiscent of organic motifs such as petals, leaves, and other organic shapes. The green glaze drips towards the bottom of the pot, adding texture to what is otherwise an all around smooth and clean surface. This is undoubtedly a piece that is meant to adorn the living room space and will surely be worth bringing home with you today!

Artist Statement

The anxieties of a first kiss, the loss of identity in a foreign country, the spontaneous curiosity of touch demonstrated in a finger mark on a piece of wet clay, are occurrences I find intoxicating. Working on the potter's wheel, clay stretching between my fingers, I find a location, a capability outside of concept. It is similar to courtship or viewing a sunset, the act of throwing a vessel is never insipid; it is suggestive and full, it's offering is slow.

I don't intend for my work to have a singular meaning. It is a chronology, an overview and illustrative pause in time... It is a stretching of a moment to explore progression and development of an abstracted event. Through ceramics, I am investigating issues of process and provenance, manifested as a collection of ideas, images and objects.

Artist Biography

Shawn Spangler is a ceramic artist currently living and working in Hawaii. Spangler's work draws inspiration from historical artifacts, design, and technology. His projects raise questions concerning authorship and collaboration, while highlighting both the connections and margins between digital and analog processes. His wheel-thrown porcelain forms can be complex, yet clearly articulated, oftentimes created through the combination of multiple parts. He states. "My work is an amalgamated map of the world I reflect upon. Producing vessels is a kind of play; a regenerative act ripe with reverence, revealing the human hands enduring connection to creativity. It guides us through stories of our past remaining as a cultural signifier to help us locate where we once were and where we are going. " Spangler holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Pennsylvania State University (2001), and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Alfred University (2006). He was a resident artist in Jingdezhen, China, The Clay Studio in Philadelphia PA, and Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in Maine. He has exhibited internationally and has taught workshops at numerous art centers, colleges, and universities throughout the United States. Spangler was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Western Illinois University before currently serving as an Associate Professor at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. He is also a founding member of the artist collective Objective Clay, a member of ArtAxis, a peer-reviewed educational, and contemporary art community. As well as being Inducted into the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC). IAC is an official UNESCO Partner, recognized internationally as the principal organization demonstrating excellence in the field of ceramic art globally.

From the collection of Arlene and Bernard Solomon

• All winning bids are paid in full before artwork leaves The Clay Studio. Winning Bids are automatically billed at the close of the Auction at 10:30 pm.
• Shipping is NOT included in the winning bid.
• Items can be packed and shipped, and the winner will pay the cost.
• Items can be picked up at The Clay Studio for no additional cost.
• Items with alcohol CANNOT be shipped.