Hunter Smith

Bio

Having grown up in and around Starkville, Mississippi, Hunter began working in clay as a student at Berea College in Kentucky. There he worked as a student apprentice and intern in the ceramics department under the supervision of [then] Resident Potter Philip Wiggs. He would eventually go on to complete his bachelors of fine art at Mississippi State University. At present he is completing a post baccalaureate study in the ceramics department of the University of Kansas. He resides in Lawrence, Kansas with his cat, Ladybird, and 10 roommates and is in the process of determining the next move in developing his craft.

Artist Statement

While I often draw inspiration for my work from historical pieces, I have always been fascinated with tactility. From planting and harvesting vegetables, to the process of preparing and baking bread I often find myself drawn to labor that engages and dir-es my hands. Working in clay allows me to engage with both a physical medium that I can touch, and a cannon of archival work that I cannot.

When making functional objects I strive to create work that invites touch and exploration. My hope is that these pieces, which cary the imprint of my hands, will find a place of belonging in someone else’s. Like the people who use them, no two are totally alike and none are perfect. In fact, I believe it is these subtle variations and human irregularities that give handmade objects their appeal - serving to evoke a sense of familiarity or intimacy that can elevate our daily rituals.

As I shape and fire ceramics I am engaging with materials as they move between states of fluidity and solidity. I am particularly drawn to atmospheric firing processes (such as wood firing) because they produce surfaces that capture the metamorphic drama of the materials as they transition in and out of flux.