Clay Art Center is celebrating Black History Month with programming highlighting Black ceramic artists.
This February marks the 46th annual Black History Month, a celebration of the achievements and advancements of Black Americans who have added to the history of America. We are excited to take part in Black History Month by providing ceramics works for sale and programming celebrating Black ceramic artists throughout February. We are partnering with Rich Brown to offer a series of special edition mugs celebrating Black History Heroes that will be available mid-February in the shop. Black History Month programming includes a Virtual Artist Talk with Black ceramic artist Lydia Thompson along with continuing to host our online virtual exhibit “Concepts in Clay: Artists of Color” featuring the work of 10 Black ceramic artists from across the US (Winner Best of Westchester: Best Art Exhibition 2021). Additionally, hear from Black ceramic artists who have presented recent artist talks for Clay Art Center in our online Virtual Library which is free to access anytime on our website.
Quick Links
Lydia Thompson Virtual Artist Talk: Reclaim (February 23 @7pm) Register Online
Black History Heroes Mug Series by Rich Brown. Shop Online starting mid-February
Concepts in Clay: Artists of Color Virtual Exhibition. View Online
Black Ceramic Artists presenting past virtual artist talks. Watch in our Virtual Library.
View Clay Art Center’s Anti-Racist Agenda Commitment Statement
Read the Port Chester Patch Editorial
Rich Brown – Black History Heroes Mug Series For Sale Exclusively in the Clay Art Center Shop
Rich Brown Special Edition Mugs
Rich Brown (former Westchester Native) has created a series of special edition mugs to celebrate the 28 days of Black History Month. The series depicts both historical and contemporary figures who are heroes in Black History, from Black ceramicists to Black athletes, politicians, writers and musicians. "I have long wanted to make a series of functional works that are also art pieces," says Rich of the project. "I have had the vision for a long time, but I was waiting to put all the parts together." The works are wheel thrown in Rich's studio, and surface finishes include decals, underglaze, sprayed glazes and brush on glazes. Although the mugs use printed decals as part of the surface treatment, each piece is unique. Rich says, "I wanted to work with Clay Art Center on making these pieces available to the public since we have built a great working relationship. Clay Art Center has supported my work with both Shop and exhibition opportunities, and now they are supporting this project." The series of mugs will be available both directly from Rich's studio, and a limited quantity will be available both onsite and online through Clay Art Center in Port Chester, NY. The project is expected to roll out in mid-February, and details will be announced on Clay Art Center’s website.
Rich Brown graduated from Lehman High School and continued on to Westchester Community College. He started his career with teaching, but shifted into pottery after taking classes and discovering a passion for clay. Now based in Georgia, he makes work that is meant for everyday use in the home, yet with an aesthetic that constantly explores the beauty of the medium and glaze finishes.
The Mug project builds on the relationship that began with Clay Art Center’s Award Winning online exhibition Concepts In Clay – Artists of Color. Rich was a participating artist in the exhibition, and later presented a Virtual Artist Talk which is available to view through Clay Art Center’s Virtual Library (a free public access resource). Rich is also one of the many artists whose work is available to Westchester Community through the Clay Art Center Shop, which is open for in-person shopping, or online shopping.
Virtual Artist Talk
Our popular virtual artist talks feature some of the top ceramic artists practicing today. We are honored to host Black ceramic artist Lydia Thompson. We will continue to support Black ceramic artists throughout the year and look forward to future talks.
Lydia Thompson: Reclaim, February 23, 7 – 8pm
As part of Clay Art Center’s celebration of Black History Month, Lydia C. Thompson will present a Virtual Artist Talk that explores her work and processes to date. The artist states, “My current research investigates various geographic landscapes and how its natural resources impact culture and social practices in the surrounding communities. The repetition and collection of objects provide meaning and insight to the interpretation of objects and human practices. Agricultural forms speak subtly about the connectivity of atmosphere, earth and humans. Organic forms resonate with me and continues to reappear in my work as the human figure, plant life, organs, and bolis from banaman tribe in Mali. I’m interested in how matter is controlled by commodity and by nature. The physical space sometimes produces a visual silence, notions of commodities and value, and desperation provide insights to cultural practices and traditions.”
Concepts in Clay: Artists of Color Online Virtual Exhibit
Co-Curated with Paul Briggs
Best of Westchester Winner: Best Art Exhibition 2021
Concepts in Clay(which opened in 2021) features works of celebrated Black ceramic artists from across the US, and brings together a collective voice that speaks about a variety of themes and processes as part of the continuum of artists of color working in clay in the US today. Clay is the vehicle that amplifies these voices, and within this collection, these artists not only share their work with us, but their thoughts on what present-day America means to each of them.
The artists selected here make clay works that are wide ranging in the treatments of surfaces, processes, forms, materials and subject matter. This collection also investigates a variety of themes unique to the Black experience in America, from human relationships and interactions, identity and image of self, social justice and activism, to the outward expression of inner experiences.
Featured artists include: Adero Willard, Kyle and Kelly Phelps, Morel Doucet, Paul Andrew Wandless, Syd Carpenter, Donte Hayes, Lydia C. Thompson, Nathan Murray, Paul Briggs, and Rich Brown
View the Exhibit Online
Black Ceramic Artists Talks in our Online Virtual Library
Browse our online catalogue of past Virtual Artist Talks and Demos by some of the top Black ceramic artists in the US such as Vinnie Bagwell, Paul Briggs, Rich Brown, Wesley Brown, Syd Carpenter, Earlene Cox, Donte Hayes, Sana Musasama, Kyle and Kelly Phelps and Paul Wandless along with a panel discussion “The Role of Art in the Fight for Social Discussion”. Our virtual library is free to access anytime to learn from these ceramic artists in their insightful videos. Visit our website to watch videos.
Clay Art Center Anti-Racist Agenda Commitment Statement
Clay Art Center believes that the arts can touch and enrich lives and play a significant role in social change. We believe that Black Lives Matter, and we will work towards ensuring that diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion are a part of our core values. We will offer stimulating and culturally diverse programs in our studio practice, exhibitions and education to better serve diverse communities. We will engage with these communities and institutions to understand, evaluate and ensure how we can best succeed at achieving diversity, accessibility and inclusion. We will actively work to ensure that we have the resources to accomplish these objectives. To learn more visit our website.