Meghan Bergman
Meghan Bergman Ceramics
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Website
www.meghanbergman.com
Email
meghan@meghanbergman.com
Do you have a preferred pronoun?
She/Her/Hers
Artist Statement
Each ceramic piece I make is a study of texture, capturing negative space through organic movement and creating shadows through depth and layered surfaces. I find inspiration from organic objects and underwater life in nature as well as Japanese culture, especially the idea that things should be wabi-sabi or 'perfectly imperfect'. Just as in nature, there are millions of shells and no two pieces are exactly alike, the same is true for my ceramics. Expanding upon my early work, which featured wood firing, now in my studio I mostly fire in an electric kiln and use techniques that mimic the results a wood firing. I use shells and other natural materials to create a strong texture on my work, and then stilt the vessel on its side with sea glass and a combination of glazes and allow gravity the chance to work its magic, resulting in a waterfall of colored glass.
Studio Description
I'm Meghan Bergman - ceramic artist, art teacher, and maker of handcrafted pottery and ceramic sculptures inspired by nature 🌊 I've been making ceramics for over 15 years, and I love ceramics because it is a magical medium with endless possibilities from a single lump of clay. From the tiniest barnacle sipper to sculptures that barely fit in my kiln. I am proud of every handmade treasure that has made its way into the homes of art collectors near and far from my studio in Kennett Square, PA.
What type of clay do you use?
Stoneware
What temperature do you fire to?
Cone 6
What is your primary forming method?
In my studio every piece of handmade pottery starts as a single ball of clay. I use several different methods to create ceramics, forming by hand, throwing on the wheel, or using a slab roller.
Do you make any of your own tools?
I use objects found in nature (like sticks or shells) to create tools and apply texture to my ceramic artwork.
What one word would you use to describe your work?
Barnacles
I'm dyslexic and struggled early in school. I was told at one point I might never go to college, but I worked hard to graduate with honors, land a rare teaching job, and obtain my Master's degree in Education. I like to think I proved the naysayers wrong.
What did you first piece look like?
My idea for my barnacle cups originated in Denmark while traveling abroad for a ceramics workshop. Quite by accident I was making spikey work, which bumped into clay and made a hole, and I started exploring what barnacles would look like.
Art is the lens through which I view the world, and I tell my students that everyone has an artist inside. One of the many things I love about clay is creating community and sharing my passion for ceramics with others.
