🎧 2026 Emerging Artist: Be Rose, Horseshoe, North Carolina Ceramics Monthly

The audio file for this article was produced by the Ceramic Arts Network staff and not read by the author.

Ceramics Monthly: What is the most valuable advice you’ve received as an artist? 

Be Rose: The first bit of advice that comes to my mind is a quote from Sunshine Cobb: “The most important tool in your studio, when it comes to making work, is you!” To me, this speaks both to how our hands are excellent instruments for shaping clay and to the wider responsibility of caring for my body and well‑being. I’m fortunate that my studio practice is full time; however, I am learning the hard way that I have to stretch and move and not just shrimp in front of my pots for 9 hours. 

I would also say that, regrettably, another important tool is social media. Promoting myself online feels vulnerable, embarrassing, and sometimes just silly, but sharing my process has opened unexpected doors by connecting me with other artists, collectors, and galleries. As my mentor Laurie Caffery sums it up: “just gotta do it.” 

CM: What do you do to push yourself to stay engaged and develop new forms in the field of ceramics? 

BR: My studio practice is a habit I’ve developed over the years. I show up every day regardless of how I feel and start where I am, trusting that consistency builds momentum. I also work in collections and seasons, so there’s a sense of renewal each time I finish a sale and start the next cycle. I aim to introduce at least one new form in every set of work, keeping the process fresh and exploratory. I have a long mental list of vessels I’d like to experiment with, and I look forward to trying and refining them over the rest of my ceramics career. 

Learn more at www.claybybe.com or follow on Instagram @clay.by.be. 

May 2026: Table of Contents

Must-Reads from Ceramics Monthly

• 🎧 The Ceramic Bell Jar
• 🎧 Artist's Voice: Q&A with Dusty Pants Studio
• 🎧 Beacon