Mandy Henebry

Bio

Mandy has been working in clay for over 2 decades and has been a full-time studio potter fo r the last 7 years. Clay is a never-ending lesson of perseverance for her, constantly discovering the endless possibilities of clay. She recently moved from Denver Colorado, to Meridian Idaho with her husband in December 2019. Mandy has been actively showing her work in exhibitions such as “Butter” at the International Museum of Dinnerware Design, Strictly Functional in Lancaster Pennsylvania and was featured by West Elm in a solo pop-up shop. She also participates in several national juried art festivals every summer. Henebry worked as the studio manager at Arapahoe Community College and taught classes at her local art center in Castle Rock Colorado. Mandy is currently enjoying her new studio in Meridian Idaho as a full-time studio potter.

Artist Statement

The work I create is designed to suggest purpose and engage curiosity and interest through patterns and form.  I look at design elements in everyday life such as textile patterns or a beautifully decorated home.  I then contemplate over how I can incorporate visual beauty into my work through texture, colored slips,and stenciling by adding those elements to graceful forms.  I look at the surface of my forms as a blank canvas.

Influences and inspiration came largely from nature and the repetitive geometric patterns that can occur in nature.  Having grown up on a farm in Wyoming, my childhood memories of vast fields of grain flowing in the wind and colorful flowers growing in my grandmother’s gardens define a large portion of my surface design and color pallet.    I am also drawn to the clean crisp lines and precision of digitally crated images and the endless possibilities technology continues to play in the world of ceramics.  Being able to explore the three-dimensional world of nature and intertwining it with a two-dimensional geometric surface is crucial to my creativity.

Utility is important to me when creating new works.  We all have an inherent understanding of function which is why form cannot be dismissed:  perfecting the curve on a mug to nestle in your hand as you drink your morning coffee or the bowl that holds the perfect amount of bread dough proves the importance of utility.  I enjoy forms that fulfill specific purposes such as salt and pepper shakers, nesting bowls, canister, platters and mugs.  With form, clay gives itself focus and the element of purpose.  I design pots that I would enjoy using in my own home.

Exhibitions