Brian Grossnickle ( he/him )

I create coil and hand built vessels in shapes and surfaces that I find to be curious. Often my curiosity involves the exploration of shapes in relation to a historical context and moved to a modern table setting. Or the exploration of varying surface treatments and layers. Surfaces can range with a gem like depth to the characteristics of an eroded fresco wall. These different avenues of curiosity may lead me down different firing techniques or multiple firing techniques.

While my vessels will always be evolving with shape and surface they will always be intended for daily use. Ancient Roman and Turkish ewers with their tall necks and elongated spouts were primarily used for washing, but for today's household modernizing a ewer for olive oil in the kitchen or a wine decanter keeps my curiosity creating. Observing vessels from over 2000 years ago allows for a connection to our ancient roots in understanding why certain vessel styles were brilliant designs that have as much relevance and functionality today. Coil building is also one of the most ancient pottery techniques.

My curiosity into surface decoration is ever evolving. Even from batch to batch slight adjustments are made to see how it will affect a surface. Surfaces and decorations need to flow with the shape of the vessel. Lately I have been using terra sigilattas along with flashing slips in an attempt to create a colorful yet ancient surface. Textures appearing crackled and withered with medieval fresco colors emerging. Salt and soda firings are utilized in an attempt to enhance the layers 

While studying for a BA in Anthropology at DePauw University Brian fell in love with ceramics. He began spending more time in the pottery studio than his regular classes. After college he moved to northern New Mexico where he started a two year apprenticeship with Jicarilla Apache master potter Felipe Ortega. Living and learning how to make coil built cookware from clays harvested in Felipe’s ancestral clay pits. These two years were spent living amongst Felipe’s family and seeing the importance of community. By the time the apprenticeship was over Brian was represented in galleries in Santa Fe, Taos, and Albuquerque. For about twelve years he owned and operated his own pottery studio, selling to galleries, instructing workshops, and teaching at the Santa Fe Community College. Work from that era was showcased in numerous shows and obtained by private collectors.In 2013 Brian moved his family to Northern Michigan and abruptly retired from pottery. From full time potter to full time tractor driving vineyard manager. It was during the long hours of tractor driving that he realized he would rather be spending long hours in a studio creating again, something was missing while growing grapes. After a ten year stint as a vineyard manager Brian is once again creating in clay. He is currently getting back to his stoneware roots using a small wood fired soda/salt kiln. Explorations in clay now involve how to create elevated pots and layers of slips to create patinaed vessels.