Sue Tirrell was born and raised in Red Lodge, MT. She received her BFA in 1997 from theNew York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. She currently lives in Pray, MT whereshe maintains a studio creating both her functional wares and figurativesculptures. Her exhibition at TheClay Studio focuses on her tableware, work influenced by her western culturemixed with contemporary folk art influences. Using a white clay-body, Tirrell throws simple forms thatserve as canvases for her vocabulary of animal imagery. Horses, bears, and rabbits to name afew grace the surface of her objects, their forms defined by solid color, theirdetail defined by carving through the color slip to expose the white claybeneath. In combination with plantlife and sometimes figures, the animals possess great character and aremasterfully drawn.
View Sue Tirrell's Work
When speaking about her work Tirrell states, “All my life Ihave loved making things with my hands. Tree forts, doll clothes, sculptures ofanimals, pies, pottery, knitted socks, jam. I love the practice of choosing andassembling materials; getting physical with the process; following the piecefrom idea to tactile, useful, beautiful, delicious object. When I stand backand survey my efforts, I know the best part is yet to come... sharing thesegifts from my hands makes my efforts joyful, the work a pleasure.”
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