Maryland Made.
Wild Clay Ceramics is rooted in the landscapes and waterways of Maryland.
Each piece begins with materials that are gathered, not bought, sourced from the places I live in and move through.
I work with wild clay dug from the ground, oyster shells collected from local restaurants, and algae ash developed from harmful algal blooms in collaboration with environmental researchers. These materials are processed, tested, and transformed into functional ceramics through a combination of traditional studio practice and ongoing experimentation.
My work sits between craft, science, and environmental care. I’m interested in what it means to make objects that hold not just food or water, but also the conditions of the land they come from. Each glaze, surface, and form carries a record of local ecosystems, both thriving and under stress.
At its core, this work is about connection. Between people and place. Between everyday objects and larger environmental systems. Between making and responsibility.
Every piece is made to be used, held, and lived with.
This process is ongoing and collaborative. I’ve been developing algae-based glazes in conversation with researchers at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology and through work connected to Johns Hopkins. These partnerships shape how I approach the material, not just as a surface, but as something tied to larger environmental systems.
The finished pieces hold that process. They carry traces of the places they come from and the conditions that produced them. What begins as excess, waste, or overgrowth is reworked into something functional, something meant to be used and lived with.
