The Clay Studio | Mike Helke

Feb 21st - Mar 10th, 2014

Mike Helke is using intuition matched with attention to detail, skill and a great sense of form and color to produce some of the freshest work around. There are influences - other potters, mentors, and history, so much history. But this is undeniably Mike Helkes work.
These pieces are bold. Each feels as if it were made only moments ago, a testament to Mikes skill set. His work plays with two and three dimensions, appearing at times completely flat, only to reveal its volume as you turn a piece around. It is often the spaces in between that complete the forms - the cut out triangles that make up a handle, or the loops on a basket.

This is someone to watch, follow, collect and encourage. Mike is in it for the long haul. Are you?

Mike Helke grew up in Minnesota's St. Croix Valley. He received an MFA from Alfred University, NY and recently relocated to River Falls, WI where he lives, teaches and maintains a ceramics studio.