Upcoming Shows
Grove City Arts in the Alley: September 18th-20th
​
Hops on High - Holiday Hop: December 5th 11am-8pm
About Ottaway Clay
Clay has been a part of my life for nearly two decades, although it was never something I originally imagined pursuing as a career. I first discovered ceramics in high school in 2006, where I learned the fundamentals of working with clay. When I entered college, I initially pursued Game and Simulation Art Design, but it quickly became clear that it wasn’t the direction I wanted to take. At the same time, I was taking ceramic courses as electives, and with each class I found myself becoming more drawn to the medium. What began as an interest gradually became a passion and ultimately led me to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in ceramics, along with a minor in Art History.
After college, I spent several years traveling and working in different ceramic environments to further develop my skills and gain a broader understanding of how pottery studios and clay businesses operate. I participated in an artist residency in St. Petersburg, Florida, and later spent a year in Whitefish, Montana, apprenticing at a production pottery. These experiences gave me the opportunity to learn not only different approaches to making, but also the practical side of producing and selling functional ceramics.
Eventually, I returned home to Columbus, Ohio, with the goal of building something of my own. In 2017, I started Ottaway Clay and began selling my work at art and craft fairs. What started as a small venture has continued to grow into an evolving studio practice centered around creating functional pottery with a strong connection to history, geometry, and craftsmanship.
Today, Ottaway Clay operates out of my home-based studio in Grove City, Ohio. I purchased the property in 2019, and the space has an interesting history of its own—it previously operated as a hair salon for many years. I remodeled the space and transformed it into a 600-square-foot ceramic studio.
The studio is intentionally simple. A single potter’s wheel and kiln are used to create all of my work, while shelving lines the walls for drying and storing pieces. A small area is dedicated to mixing glazes and finishing work. While the space is modest, it provides everything I need to create, experiment, and continue developing my practice.
For me, there is something fitting about working in a small, personal studio. Ceramics has always been a process rooted in simplicity—clay, hands, tools, fire—and I enjoy maintaining that direct connection between myself and the objects I create. As Ottaway Clay continues to grow, I hope to eventually expand the studio to accommodate small classes and share that experience of working with clay with others.
About The Forms
There are many aspects of ceramics that draw me to the medium. I’m fascinated by the enduring nature of pottery and the traditions embedded within it. I especially enjoy creating objects that are meant to be used—pieces that can become part of everyday life while still carrying a sense of history. The fact that ceramic traditions have remained recognizable for thousands of years is particularly meaningful to me. Working with clay allows me to participate in that ongoing tradition and create a connection between the past and the present.
​
My work explores recurring themes of triangles, the number three, and ancient cultures. The tripod form, which is central to much of my work, was initially inspired by ancient Chinese ceramic and bronze vessels from the Shang Dynasty. Dating from approximately the 13th to 11th centuries BC, these vessels were designed with three legs to increase the surface area exposed to a cooking fire. While my work is not intended for the same function, I’m drawn to the tripod as a form that naturally reflects the symbolism and visual strength of the triangle.
​
The number three and the triangle have long held symbolic significance across cultures. They can represent the interconnected physical and spiritual aspects of existence: past, present, and future; body, soul, and spirit; birth, life, and death. The equilateral triangle, with its three equal sides supporting one another, can also suggest balance, stability, and completion.
​
The orientation of the triangle introduces another layer of meaning. An upward-pointing triangle has traditionally been associated with masculinity, fire, heat, wisdom, and truth, while a downward-pointing triangle can represent femininity, water, cold, the body, and the natural world. I explore these contrasting qualities through both the geometry and orientation of my forms. The tripod legs further emphasize this relationship, creating a sense of balance while giving each piece a distinctive visual character.
​
Ultimately, my work brings together function, geometry, symbolism, and history. By reinterpreting forms and ideas that have existed for thousands of years, I’m interested in creating contemporary objects that still feel connected to something much older.
Traditional Pottery
Store Coming Soon!
Check back Winter of 2027!