SHELLY SHWARTZ
CERAMIC ARTIST & POTTER

Shelly fell in love with clay 20 years ago and has been working with it ever since. Originally self-taught, she joined the Echo Ceramics studio where she learned from Ki Cho, a master potter, and teacher. She loves the fact that ceramics consists of the Greeks’ four elements: earth, water, air, and fire. Inspired by abstract patterns and geologic strata, much of her pottery involves spiraling and marbling. With an emphasis on experimentation and discovery, her work, both on the wheel and hand building, has evolved through several distinct periods. Most recently she has been exploring the possibilities of mixing clays to create agateware in the Japanese style of Nerikome.
Nerikomi Technique:
"I make the striped and patterned pieces by layering slabs of different clays, either naturally colored or mixed with stains. I stack, fold, and slice the slabs into thin strips, and then rearrange them so that the stacked layers appear as fine undulating lines. If I glaze a piece, I use a transparent glaze to reveal the intricate patterns and coloring."
Her work is held in multiple private collections around the world.