Amy Sanders
Amy Sanders is a potter whose stoneware vessels create a balance of visual elements of form, texture and pattern with utility. Her work is infused with patterns from textiles, architecture, nature and quilting. Amy’s work, which includes functional pottery as well as decorative wall pieces, has the appearance of soft quilted fabric although it is made of fired clay.
Available Pieces
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Amy Sanders Artist Bio
Amy Sanders is a mom, wife and potter whose stoneware vessels create a balance of visual elements of form, texture and pattern with utility. She currently works as a studio artist, teaches adult handbuilding classes at Clayworks Studio and conducts workshops in the region. Sanders recently completed a large-scale public art piece for the city of Charlotte and was an 18-month Affiliate Artist at the McColl Center for Visual Art in Charlotte, NC in 2006. Her work is exhibited in galleries throughout the United States, several publications and at American Craft council shows. Sanders has been awarded Regional Artist Grant through the Arts and Science Council in Charlotte, NC.
Growing up in southern Ohio, Sanders spent her early years watching her mother and grandmothers sew. Upon moving to Charlotte in 1999, she did not have a clay studio in which to create; Sanders began to sew herself. Her experiences with sewing began to breathe life into her clay work. Patterns, textures and seams from fabrics and textiles appeared in her stamped clay vessels.
Sanders received her BA in art and secondary education from Centre College in Danville, KY, where she also worked as an assistant in the clay and drawing studios and served on a professional glass blowing crew. For two summers Sanders was interim manager at Clayworks. Sanders' honors include: Exhibiting Member of Piedmont Craftsmen, "Best of Show: Award of Distinction," Blowing Rock Art in the Park, "Best Booth Design," Ohio Designer Craftsmen, numerous artist-in-residence experiences including Huntingtowne Ridge Elementary School, Garinger High School, and Bruns Ave. Elementary School.
Amy Sanders Artist Statement
The physical and creative nature of working with clay satisfies my desire to play, construct, experiment, and yes, to get dirty. Patterns in textiles, architecture, nature and quilting inspire me to create works that invite touch and evoke a sense of nostalgic comfort. Early in the construction process, clay is soft and pliable; I enjoy building pieces that reflect these properties even after the clay has become hard from firing. I often make pieces with the intention of showing them in a grouping. Much like people, each piece interacts with another, creating a rhythmic conversation by leaning or even touching.
The isolation of working alone in my studio has heightened my awareness of the importance of people and true community in my life. I experience this community through sharing food, celebrations, worship, teaching, athletic competition, group traveling, and music, as well as interactions with the city itself. My desire for a sense of place and history while living within a fast-paced, urban environment is reflected in my work.
